CHICO, Calif. — Justin Sanders mastered a lap-15 restart to secure the lead and went on to win the exciting 35-lap David Tarter Memorial at Silver Dollar Speedway with the NARC 410 Sprint Car Series.
It was the second time he has won the event, the fourth time he has bested the NARC regulars during the current campaign.
“I’m happy to get this win again, and for the whole Tarter family,” said Sanders in victory lane in front of his Farmer’s Brewing Company No. 2x KPC of Mittry Motorsports. “Everyone knows how tragic it was when we lost David, and I knew if I won, I had to park in turn four and point up a No. 35 for David,”
Sander, who previously won this event in 2021, stopped in the final corner on his victory lap and got out of his racecar to celebrate with the fans.
The H.A.M. Construction No. 35km entry, piloted by Tyler Thompson, seized control of the top spot at the drop of the green flag. The Beacon Wealth Strategies dash winner and ARP Quick Qualifier set a fast pace but lost the advantage on a lap nine restart to Sanders.
Sanders powered his way past Thompson on the back straightaway only to be slowed once again by another caution period three laps later. On the ensuing restart, the Bjork Construction No. 7b Maxim of Sean Becker immediately pressured the leader taking the lead on lap 15.
Unfortunately, Becker’s efforts were halted due to the event’s lone red flag for an upside-down Shane Golobic. He was unhurt.
When the race resumed, Becker got a little high on the exit of turn two, resulting in the loss of the lead and a melee for the lead between Sanders and the Tarlton & Son No. 21 Maxim of Cole Macedo. Sanders won the race back to the flag stand and effectively checked out from the rest of the field, despite another caution period and lapped traffic.
“It was nice to have that open red and put air back in the tires,” continued Sanders. I felt like my tires were getting too low on those restarts, and I was getting too tight. I tried too hard to blaze it on the top in turns one and two, but the open red came out. We changed the air pressure a bit, and it gave me a chance to get my head on straight.”
Rookie of the Year contender Dominic Gorden made a late race surge and finished an impressive second aboard his J.I. Apparel Company No. 10 KPC. Macedo wound up third, and Thompson was credited with fourth. Chase Johnson in the No. 24 Maxim rounded out the top five.
The finish:
Feature (35 Laps): 1. 2X-Justin Sanders [3]; 2. 10-Dominic Gorden [5]; 3. 21-Cole Macedo [8]; 4. 35KM-Tyler Thompson [1]; 5. 24-Chase Johnson [10]; 6. 121-Caeden Steele [11]; 7. 7B-Sean Becker [4]; 8. 42X-Justyn Cox [2]; 9. X1-Michael Faccinto [14]; 10. 73-Ryan Bernal [12]; 11. 88N-DJ Netto [21]; 12. 2K-Gauge Garcia [23]; 13. 3-Kaleb Montgomery [9]; 14. 26-Billy Aton [16]; 15. 83V-Dylan Bloomfield [22]; 16. 29-Bud Kaeding [6]; 17. 12-Jarrett Soares [17]; 18. 2XM-Max Mittry [7]; 19. 12J-John Clark [19]; 20. 9-Dustin Freitas [24]; 21. 9M-Michael Ing [20]; 22. 83T-Tanner Carrick [15]; 23. 17W-Shane Golobic [13]; 24. 15-Nick Parker [18]