2009 Silver Cup Comes To A Close

When, March 28, 2009
Where, Chico, CA Silver Dollar Speedway
Weather, Nice low 80’s Sunny
Promoter, Handy Racing Promotions
Car Count, 37

Well, with the first night of the 2009 Silver Cup in the record books. Wes was looking ahead to a strong night, in his 2009 ButlerBuilt, Kaeding Performance Maxim chassis.

During the drivers meeting all drivers including Wes was warned again about jumping the starts. Wes made sure to pay attention to this as he would not make the same mistake twice..

With qualifying underway Wes and Crew Chief Robb Russell was trying to keep up with the ever change track conditions. Making a few last minute changes to the 2009 Douglas Wheels, DMI, and Maxim chassis. Wes was able to better his first nights qualifying time with a 12.798 putting him 19th overall. Behind quick time of Willie Croft 12.334 and Roger Crockett with a 12.411, third was Brad Sweet 12.412.

With no experience in Wing Sprint cars, Wes and crew was not sure what changes to make on the 2009 Defnder, Advanced Racing Maxim chassis. Wes made the final call on leaving the car as is. Wes was starting on outside of the front row and when the green flag dropped Wes found himself in trouble has the car was not right for the changing track conditions. Wes did all he could to hang on to 6th place finish missing a transfer spot to the nights main event.

With a semi starring Wes head on, crew member Matt Sargent went and asked friend Rod Tiner of Rod Tiner Racing #83 for some advice on car setup for the challenging track that faced Wes. With Wes starting 7th and with only 4 transfer spot available Wes had to move forward if he wanted any shot at the nights main event. With awesome chassis advice from Rod Tiner, Wes was able to do just that he put the 2009 Butlerbuilt, Kaeding Performance Maxim chassis on the top edge of the track where no one else would dare to go. As the checkers flew Wes had a half a lap lead on second place finisher Logan Forler followed in third by Brett Miller and the last transfer spot going to Nicole Miller in fourth.

With the main event fast approaching drivers like Roger Crockett, Kyle Hirst and Stephen Allard all made it over to the WG Motorsports pit to gain a little insight on tire wear as it was going to be a tuff night on the tires. The WG Motorsports team of Rod Stiles, Luis Gutierrez, Sher Gutierrez, Matt Sargent , and Crew Chief Robb Russell worked fast to make a few last minute changes to Wes’s ride. With Wes starting 14th in tonight’s main event Wes was feeling very comfortable and looking forward to a strong showing. With the green flag waiving Wes quickly found out that he had a very good car and was going to be able to move forward. Wes worked his way around cars on the top and bottom; the car could just about go any where Wes wanted to put it. With Wes running fourth with 6 laps to go Wes was trying to go around Brad Furr one lap down on the outside of turn two and found himself just a little to high and going off the track bringing out a Red flag for fuel. When the crew arrived at Wes’s car on the back straight away, both of his rear tires were loosing air due to no rubber left on them as the track was taking rubber. With only being able to add fuel Wes decided to save the equipment and call it a night, Wes finished in 17th positions. After the race Wes was disappointed with his finish knowing that he could have had a strong top five finish in his only second start.