5/4/2010
Sprint Source
McMahan takes home another top ten as GSC returns to Santa Maria
[i By Bill Sullivan, Racing for the Troops]
[b WEST SACRAMENTO, CA] – It had been several years since Elk Grove's Bobby McMahan had raced on the high banked Santa Maria Speedway in Nipomo, California prior to Saturday night. Returning to the famed bullring track aboard the Racing for the Troops #26b sprint car, McMahan fared well in the sixth round of the King of California campaign with his fifth top ten finish of the season.
"Santa Maria is a fast little place, you have to be on top of your game for sure," said McMahan. "It's a lot like Placerville Speedway but its banked all the way around and you are on the gas just about the whole time. We had a pretty good night considering the close calls we had early on."
In qualifying, McMahan was the second fastest car of the night. He clocked a 13:715 second lap, trailing fast qualifier and eventual feature event winner Tommy Tarlton who clocked a 13:707. In heat race competition McMahan started fifth and finished fifth in the second preliminary 10 lap event of the night to secure a starting position in the dash that would determine his starting position in the feature event.
In the eight car dash, McMahan took the green flag in the third position and ended up finishing fourth overall behind Tarlton, Zach Zimmerly and Jonathan Allard. The finishing position put him on the outside of the second row in the feature event outside of Allard, a former King of California champion.
"We ok in the heat and the dash," said McMahan. "Nobody had anything for Tartlon all night long. The guy was just a rocket around that place.."
In the A-feature the green flag came out and McMahan raced wheel to wheel with Allard for position. The two tangled briefly, sending Allard off the track with a flat tire and forcing McMahan to gather himself back up to rally back towards the front.
"It was really a racing deal; we were both racing hard for position. He came up as I came down not realizing just how close we were," said McMahan. "Luckily it wasn't as bad as it could have been. I was able to get on the brakes before we hit really hard. Unfortunately he got a flat tire out of the deal and for me the car still didn't feel right for awhile."
Battling a rough track surface, McMahan rode his way towards the front of the field in the remainder of the event. When the checkered flag waved he finished just one spot out of the top five in the sixth place position. Following his finish, McMahan continues to hold the fifth position in the series point standings.
"We had a good night," added McMahan. "There were a couple of holes out there tonight that really slowed me down. After I hit one of them I think I spent three laps just trying to get my helmet spun around straight. It rocked me pretty good. Tarlton was on fire at that place. I think he lapped up to seventh place and I was next."
This coming weekend, McMahan will return to Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico for the running of the annual Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial. The event is one that is special to McMahan and his colleagues alike as it remembers a fallen competitor at the track where he loved to race.
McMahan will be without his teammate Kyle Harris this weekend as well. Harris remains out of competition following injuries in a recent motocross accident. Sean Becker is expected to be on hand in the Racing for the Troops #51 car for the evening. Becker is a former Silver Dollar Speedway track champion and a former Golden State Challenge champion.
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
