CHICO, Calif. — Justin Sanders took the checkered flag on the opening night of the season at Silver Dollar Speedway Friday night.
The first night of the two-day Silver Cup for 360 sprint cars was broadcast on SPEED SPORT Network affiliate dirtovaltv.com. Saturday’s event will also be broadcast live.
Sanders picked up his sixth career win at Chico driving Dale Miller’s beautiful No. 4sa sprint car. A total of 37-winged 360 sprint cars and 26 dwarf cars entered the Friday night show.
The 4,000 seat grandstands and bleachers were empty because of Covid-19 restrictions.
Max Mittry and Joel Myers Jr. started on the front row. Mittry jumped out to the lead. Those two teenagers ran first and second for the first seven laps. Sanders moved into the second spot on lap eight.
The victory on night one of the @sdspeedway Silver Cup went to @Justin17Sanders, but it wasn’t easy! Can he sweep the weekend? Watch night two TONIGHT at this link: https://t.co/SaCSoix1RH pic.twitter.com/Kh0yLMsm6r
— SPEED SPORT TV (@speedsporttv) March 6, 2021
Andy Forsberg was able to move from his fourth spot to third on lap 13 when he passed Myers Jr. On lap 16, Sanders passed Mittry for the lead. Sanders rocketed to the top spot and began to pull away. Blake Carrick brought out the final caution on lap 19. Sanders was able extend his lead after the restart and won the race with ease. Mittry finished a career best second.
Forsberg ran third. Myers hung on for fourth and Tanner Carrick rounded out the top five.
Ryan Winter won the dwarf car main event.
The finish:
Justin Sanders, Max Mittry, Andy Forsberg, Tanner Carrick, Willie Croft, Robbie Price, Caden Sarale, Sean Becker, Michael Ing, Landon Brooks, Billy Aton, Brad Bumgarner, Blake Carrick, Steel Powell, Jimmy Trulli, Chase Goetz, Isaiah Vasquez, D.J. Freitas, Garen Linder, Tyler Thompson, John Clark.