Mid-race crash ends Gold Cup Race of Champions bid for Tommy Tarlton on Saturday at Silver Dollar Speedway
By Gary Thomas
Chico, CA – September 14, 2010…Making the haul north to Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway this past weekend current Ocean Sprint Car Series point leader Tommy Tarlton was in search of duplicating a strong Gold Cup Race of Champions performance from last season, but a mid-race collision ended hopes of that in the 40-lap feature on Saturday night.
The 57th annual Gold Cup Race of Champions last weekend marked Tarlton’s first start of the season at the famed Silver Dollar Speedway bullring and was the first time he had competed at the track since the previous year’s event, where he finished sixth on his preliminary night and eighth in the finale.
Unlike in past seasons the Gold Cup in 2010 saw drivers compete in all three-nights of racing, which kicked off last Thursday night with Tarlton timing in 21st quick, missing the heat race inversion by just one car. Making the inversion is critical with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series since the top-two finishers in each heat move into the dash and Tarlton missed it by the slimmest of margins, as Ben Gregg qualified 20th quick with an 11.366 and “TT” at 21st with an 11.367.
Starting from fifth in the 10-lap heat Tarlton brought home a fifth place finish, missing the transfer by one-spot and putting him into the last chance showdown. Going from fourth in 12-lapper the Easton driver was able to hold his ground and cross the line in fourth to transfer into the main event along with Donny Schatz, Roger Crockett and Sam Hafertepe Jr. He then lined up in the 11th row for the feature and was able to make it up to as high as 17th, before coming home in 22nd at the checkered.
The Corporate America Lending, Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, Sharp Insurance No. 21 mount returned to Silver Dollar for Friday’s second prelim night and the evening started off with Tarlton qualifying 29th fastest overall. A sixth place finish in the heat race placed him into the last chance show down for the second night in a row, but an opening lap accident involving a number of cars put him out of contention and brought an early end to the evening.
When points were tabulated following the first two nights Tarlton had earned enough to put him in the fourth row for the first of two last chance showdowns on Saturday night. The 20-lap event transferred the top-six into the feature and the veteran competitor quickly moved into the top-five after a handful of laps and at the conclusion crossed the line in fifth. Just like opening night Tarlton went from the 11th row in the main event and had made his way up to 17th when he was involved in a red flag period on lap 25, which ultimately ended his Gold Cup bid.
Up next for Tarlton will be a visit to the Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway in Hanford this Saturday night for a winged 360 sprint car event. During his last appearance at the 3/8 mile clay he drove the Tarlton & Son Inc., BG Lubricants Maxim to a flag to flag victory and this weekend’s event will be the final show at the track prior to the running of the $5,000-to-win Cotton Classic on October 16.
For more on Tommy Tarlton and Tarlton & Son Inc. log onto http://www.tarltonandson.com/
Photo by Steve Lamothe of http://www.stevesracingphotos.com