Andy Forsberg Dominates Toller Memorial
Marysville, CA (February 28, 2016) – Auburn’s Andy Forsberg was perfect in his first race of 2016. Driving the PT Shocks / PitStopUSA / Autism Awareness #7c, Forsberg set quick time in qualifying, won the eight-lap heat race and led the majority of the 25-lap main event. However, with seven laps to go, Forsberg made contact with a lapped car that resulted in a broken right front torsion arm. Tension was high around the racetrack as most people questioned if he could nurse his broken car home to a victory. Not only did he win but held a comfortable lead at the checkered flag. “I have no idea how we survived those final few laps,” said Forsberg post-race. “Our front end is pretty beat up and looks like the front axle is bent.” Yet he noted, “This is a big thing for me. I started my racing career at Ernie Purssell Speedway and that’s where I met Sherm and his family. This is a race I always wanted to win.”
While Forsberg gets the accolades we’d be remised if we didn’t mention Justin Sanders and his charge to the front. Sanders did not start his heat race. This hampered his starting spot in the main event. Sanders would line up on the grid in the eight row, sixteenth spot. Sanders carved his way through the field and were one of the few drivers able to maneuver on the hammer down hooked up track. Sanders races his way up to third on lap 20 but struggled to get by second running Billy Wallace. On the final lap Sanders was able to pass Wallace to secure second spot but was too far behind Forsberg to mount a serious challenge. Wallace finished in the third spot. Two-time Toller Memorial winner Jeremy Burt finished in the fourth spot. Geoff Ensign drove a solid race and finished fifth.
Heat race winners included Forsberg, Ryan Robinson and Wallace. Forsberg won an extra $100 from the Hall family by turning a lap of 12.533 in qualifying. A total of 22 drivers attended the 7th Annual Sherm and Loree Toller Memorial event.
Terry Schank Jr. returned to Marysville Raceway and seemed to blend right back into the groove. Schank Jr. held off a challenge from local resident Josh Vieira to capture the $750 win. Vieira got the better of Schank in the first heat race. Those two drivers were fun to watch tonight. Finishing third in the 20 lap main event was Jimmy Christian. It was a nice comeback for Christian who was involved in an early accident. Christian was victorious in the second heat race. Marcus Smith took a nasty spill going into turn one during the main event. The flip was spectacular but happy to report he exited the damaged car quickly and seemed to be just fine.
Fred Ryland is as good as they come in the Sport Mods. Ryland win the 20-lap main event and looked convincing in doing so. The Cooper team did their best to challenge Ryland but was never quite able to make it happen. Brian Cooper finished in the second spot. Todd Cooper overcame an early race mishap to comeback and finish third. Patti Ryland drove all the way up to finish in the fourth spot. Kyle Chaney survived a wild night of damage to his car and finished fifth. Mike Drake won the first eight lap heat race. Todd Cooper won the second heat race. A total of 17 Sport Mods attended the Toller Memorial.
Full results are available at mylaps.com Next scheduled event at Marysville Raceway is March 12. Please visit http://www.marysvilleraceway.com/ for a list of upcoming races.
