4/7/2010
Sprint Source
McMahan brings Racing for the Troops to second top five GSC finish
Team now heads to Tulare to continue King of California tour at the annual Faria Memorial
[i By Bill Sullivan, Racing for the Troops]
[b WEST SACRAMENTO, CA] – At the beginning of the season Bobby McMahan and the Racing for the Troops sprint car team set out to compete in a "California Outlaw" race schedule. The plan was to make no commitments, take no prisoners and race to win without the focus on championship points. Despite his gypsy dreams, McMahan has found himself in the top running of the Golden State Challenge Sprint Car Series after two events and will return to the popular series again this Saturday night.
"We set out on the idea of being California Outlaws and that's still what we want to do," said McMahan, who now ranks third in the GSC point standings after two events. "But we've gotten off to a good start in this series, so for now that's what we will continue to run and just see how things go."
Two weeks ago, McMahan started the 2010 racing season with momentum in the form of a podium finish in the Golden State Challenge Series opener at Placerville Speedway. The stellar run was a fine tribute to his late car owner and the founder of the Racing for the Troops Team, Steve Harris, who lost his life to cancer just before the season began. The top finish was also rewarding for McMahan as his passion lies in 410 sprint car racing and he started his career at the foothill speedway at just 16 years of age.
Following his success in the opener, the Racing for the Troops team chose to carry their momentum into round two of the King of California campaign this past weekend at Antioch Speedway. Racing in freezing temperatures near the California coast didn't phase McMahan and the talented soldiers that Harris put in place to continue his dream. McMahan drove to his second consecutive top five finish in the 30-lap feature event.
"It was a top five finish but I wasn't really happy with it," said McMahan, who started third in the race. "All night long we were fighting the set up of the car, we were too loose the whole time before the feature then we let it get ahead of us in the main and fought a tight car the whole time. I can't complain about another top five but I know I could have done better."
Despite the handling woes, McMahan raced the #26b ART Chassis into fifth place and he sits third in the series point standings, just 10-points out of the lead. Although it is early in the season and the 2009 Silver Dollar Speedway champion is reluctant to commit to a full tour, sitting third among California's best competition is a good place to be to start the season.
"Right now we are happy with how were doing here. So we will give it another run this week and come Monday we will see what next week brings," said McMahan.
In preliminary action on Saturday, McMahan qualified fourth with a 12:090 second lap. In his heat race he drove from fourth into second and then advanced from fourth to third in the qualifying dash to start on the inside row of the feature event.
Saturday night McMahan was joined by teammate Sean Becker in the Brian Sperry-Racing for the Troops #51 car. Becker's night consisted of 9th quick in qualifying, a third place finish in his heat race and he retired with a flat tire in the feature event to officially finish in 14th.
This week McMahan will head to the exciting Tulare Thunderbowl for the Faria Memorial event, round three of the GSC tour. He will be joined by his teammate Kyle Harris who took the past weekend off from competition. Becker will defect from the team for this week to compete in the Civil War Series in Petaluma for his primary car owner Scott Miller.
"Both Kyle and I really look forward to racing at Tulare, said McMahan."Kyle has had good runs there and I love the place, it's big and it's fast. It's just a bit of a road trip is all."
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. The team invites all of the race fans to their pit area following the races where both McMahan and Harris are available for autographs and photos. Both drivers have brand new t-shirts for sale and each event where they compete. They look forward to meeting fans of all ages.
You can learn more about the Racing for the Troops Sprint Car Team including its history and its mission by visiting their website at [b www.racingforthetroops.com.]
Submitted By: Bill Sullivan
