Manzanita Speedway – September 30, 2006

Chad was ready to do double-duty in the sprint cars and midgets for the “Buddy Taylor Memorial”. The sprint cars qualified for starting positions on Manzanita’s fast 1/2 mile oval, and Chad timed in with a lap of 19.632, which was 7th fastest of the 28 car field.

Chad started his heat race for the ASCA sprints cars on the outside of the third row. He moved into 4th position as the green flag waved and took over 3rd at the halfway point of the race. At the checkered flag, Chad had raced his way into 2nd, earning him a starting spot in the main event.

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Chad had to make a quick change from the sprint car to the AMRA midget for heat race action. Starting on the inside of Row 2, he jumped into the 2nd position on the start. He passed the leader going into Turn 3, but his car pushed high, and the 3rd place car of Nathan High took the lead, with Chad holding onto 2nd place. He was pressured by Jeremy Sherman the last three laps of the race, but Chad took the checkered flag in 2nd place

Chad started sixth in the AMRA Midget main event, and he had his work cut out for him as 2006 ASCA Sprint Car Champion, Jeremy Sherman, started on the front row. Chad quickly moved to second, and began to run down Sherman, driving the John Grau owned Spike Mopar. Sherman had built over a straight-of-way lead, but Chad ran him down and pulled along side with three laps to go. They battled and touched as they headed into turn one, with both cars slowing and getting sideways. Sherman stalled, while Chad was able to keep the Bullet/Mopar going. After the yellow, Chad pulled away for his second consecutive Main Event win of the year.

Chad didn’t have a chance to celebrate, because up next was the ASCA Sprint Car Main. He had an inside second row starting spot for the 25-lap main event. On the start, the car on the outside of Chad, moved down and hit Chad’s car, causing him to get sideways on the front straight-of-way. Chad was able to keep control of his sprint car, going over the 1/3 mile oval, back onto the 1/2 mile. Since the flagman didn’t throw the yellow flag, Chad kept racing hard even though he had lost almost 20 positions. He steadily moved up, even though his car had some damage, and managed a 10th place finish.

Chad’s next race will be in the ASA SpeedTruck on the road course at Firebird Raceway in Phoenix on October 7th.