7/21/2010
Sprint Source
McMahan takes third in Golden State Challenge Series at Antioch
[i By Bill Sullivan, Racing for the Troops]
[B WEST SACRAMENTO, CA –] It isn't often that Bobby McMahan has the opportunity to race a winged sprint car around the tight and fast Antioch raceway. However, whenever the 2009 Silver Dollar Speedway champion does get the opportunity to race there he loves every lap almost as much as the tracks fans enjoy the visiting winged sprint cars of the Golden State Challenge Series.
"This has always been a fun track for me," said McMahan. "I wish we had more winged sprint car races here during the year. The fans here love watching us and it's really a fun track as a driver. We had a good run down there."
After suffering motor damage in the #51 sprint car on Friday night in Chico, McMahan returned to the seat of the Racing for the Troops #26b car on Saturday night for the 22nd round of the Golden State Challenge Series. He was joined on the track by his son Sean McMahan who piloted the blue and yellow #26 car in which he has been rapidly learning the ropes of full sized sprint car racing at various tracks under the guidance of his talented father and the Racing for the Troops team.
"We're really pleased with Sean's progress so far," said McMahan. "He certainly isn't afraid to go fast and he's learning a lot at the different tracks we've been running and from the crew. He had a good running going in Antioch and was trying to catch up to me until he lost his brakes and slapped the wall. He was doing so great it was tough break for him."
In qualifying on Saturday night, McMahan gave his 16-year-old son a quick study session as he went out and turned the third fastest lap of the night with a 12:400 second circuit. Sean later qualified in the 14th position, turning a 13:160 second lap.
In heat racing action, Bobby drove to a fourth place finish which locked him in the dash later in the program. In the six lap dash he took the win and earned the pole for the feature event. Sean rolled to a fourth place position in his respective heat race as well.
In the feature event, McMahan was the first driver to see the green flag but second place starter Kyle Larson of Elk Grove was the second one to see it. Larson used the momentum of the high line to launch himself into the lead of the race. McMahan quickly found himself amidst a fierce battle between both Larson and 13-time King of California Champion Brent Kaeding in the early laps of the race.
Kaeding overtook McMahan and began chasing down his 17-year-old hired gun, Larson, in lapped traffic. McMahan maintained his third place position at the checkered flag to tie his season best finish in the Golden State Challenge Series.
Sean McMahan finished 14th in the feature event. Coming off a strong eighth place finish on Friday night in Chico, the second generation driver drove from the 14th starting position all the way up to 7th place on Saturday night until his brakes failed him and he made contact with the wall and suffered front end damage."
"We can't complain about the weekend to much," said McMahan. "We won the dash, got a top three and we rolled one car in the trailer at the end of the night. Sean was really having a great run tonight, it was unfortunate that he lost the brakes like he did, he definitely had a top ten finish coming."
This weekend, Sean McMahan will return to Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico for championship point racing on Friday night. Saturday night Bobby McMahan will compete at Marysville Raceway Park on Saturday night for the Golden State Challenge Series.
Steve Harris Racing and the Racing for the Troops sprint car team have a number of marketing partners for the 2010 racing season. Proud supporters of the team include World Environmental Energy Incorporated, C & H Service Disabled Veterans Enterprises, Benic Enterprises, Simpson Race Products Butler Built Seats, SS Racing, Art Enterprises, and Redline Oil.
The Racing for the Troops team is proud to honor military veterans and active duty service members. They carry the legacy started by the late Steve Harris by educating the public on the needs of those returning from war and supporting activities which provide resources to America's active military, veterans and their families. You can learn more about the Racing for the Troops Sprint Car Team including its history and its mission by visiting their website at www.racingforthetroops.com.
Submitted By: Bill Sullivan
