4/27/2010
Sprint Source
McMahan survives Ocean Speedway GSC feature with 8th place finish
[i By Bill Sullivan, Racing for the Troops]
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – Although he was gunning for a higher finish after two weeks of top ten outings, Elk Grove's Bobby McMahan settled for another top ten finish during round five of the Golden State Challenge "King of California" Sprint Car series Saturday night. McMahan drove his Racing for the Troops #26b sprint car to 8th place in the 30-lap feature event at Ocean Speedway on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.
"It's wasn't too eventful of a night for us," said McMahan. "I just flat out missed the set up in the feature event and I couldn't move up. I was ready for at least a top five but eighth place wasn't bad considering what I was faced with out there."
The quarter-mile Ocean Speedway provided very little room for passing on Saturday night. McMahan, with his challenging set up on the car combined with a very hard packed, dry track surface, advanced from ninth to 8th in the feature event.
"I couldn't get the car to do anything impressive and the track was pretty much a one groove race all night," said McMahan. "They had a play day the night before and didn't have a lot of time to work on it. I didn't use a tear off for the whole night it was so dry."
In preliminary action on Saturday night McMahan drove the World Environmental Energy C& H Service Disabled Veterans Enterprises ART chassis to 9th with a 14:263 second lap. In his heat race he started in the third position and drove to victory over Brent Kaeding and Jason Statler.
"In the heat race it felt pretty good," added McMahan. "Then the track really started drying out and we just didn't keep up with it on our set up for the main. They really run a fast program there and you don't much time to change your mind in the pits. We thought we were good after the heat. I'm still happy, we rolled the car in the trailer in one piece and that's always good."
This Saturday McMahan returns to Santa Maria Speedway with the Golden State Challenge Series. The visit will mark the first time McMahan has raced there since 2000 when he drove the #98x Family Auto Service car at the request of the owner's wife who had passed away that year.
"Its' been awhile since I've been there," said McMahan. "It’s a bad ass race track for sure. The place is banked like Placerville but the straight aways are banked too so it’s a fast bowl. You are on it all the way around that place."
It's expected that McMahan will be joined by teammate Kyle Harris of West Sacramento for this event. Harris has been selective in the events he competes in this season following the passing of his father Steve Harris, owner of the team and his schedule with school. McMahan looks forward to the return of his teammate if he commits to the trip.
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 his teammate Kyle Harris are usually available for autographs and photos. Both drivers have 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 www.racingforthetroops.com.
Submitted By: Bill Sullivan
