By: Fast Time Media
9/13/23… Chico, California: Wednesday Night, Seth Standley would kick off the 69th Gold Cup Race of Champions with the Sprint Car Challenge Tour. 55 cars would pack the pit area to kick off the 2023 Gold Cup!
He started the night out with time trials where he would not get the lap he wanted. A time of 12.2343 was still good enough to time Seth in 10th quick in his group. The heat race saw Seth roll off from the outside of row five. A stack up in the back of the field on the start would cause Seth to check up. Unfortunately, he would smack the cushion & get sent off the track. His rear end would be knocked out of the car & ended his night.
“I wasn’t able to lay down a good lap in qualifying but somehow still ended up timing in 10th in my group. In the heat race, the car in front of me would get a bad start, which caused me to check up going into 1 & hit the cushion with no wheelspin. I ended up blowing the rear end out of the car, which would end my night early on Wednesday.”
Seth’s Friday preliminary night started out with time trials where he timed in 34th quick out of 36 360’s. That started him deep in the heat race, but he would mount a charge. With help from a caution, he was able to find himself in a transfer spot late. Going into the final corner he would try to get around Allard but had to check up. Rico Abreu would get by, but Seth would get a great run into 3 & 4 which was enough for him to get around Rico Abreu & finish in the 5th & final transfer spot.
“It started off with qualifying, where we usually struggle. I ended up 33rd out of 36 cars. I was running around the 8th spot the entirety of the heat race. 3 cars would go out at the end of the race & I restarted 4th with 2 to go with 5 cars transferring. I ended up holding on and finishing 5th, being the only 360 to lock in to the show.”
Going into the feature, Seth was the only 360 to make the show. That wouldn’t stop him from charging forward as he found himself in 14th at one point from 20th. Unfortunately, Seth made a mistake & slid off the track in 3 & 4. He continued on but wouldn’t be able to gain any spots & finished 14th.
“In the feature, I started 20th and quickly got to work. I was up to 14th, when I made a mistake and slid off the track in 3 and 4. After this, the rest of the feature ran green and I wasn’t able to pick off anyone so I ended up 24th.”
Saturday started out with a tough heat race. Seth started 11th & would finish 12th. That put him in the D-main where he rolled off from the pole. With 410’s behind him, he had to get a good start. He would do just that & grab the lead. Seth would run away with the D-main & grab the win.
That allowed Seth to transfer on to the C-main. He would roll off from the 12th spot & would need to get moving to transfer on. After starting 12th, Seth was able to gain a few spots. He found himself in the 9th spot where finished the C-main. That ended his night, but was enough for him to be the highest running 360 on the weekend.
“I started 6th row outside in my heat race, and ended up 11th. This put me in the D main, where I started pole. I had to get out front and stay out front. That’s exactly what I did, & I went on to win the D. In the C, I started 6th row inside and passed a few cars throughout the race. I ended up 9th, and this made me be the highest placed 360 so I won the bonus of $2,000.”
Overall, it was a good weekend for Seth Standley & his team. After a tough start on Wednesday, they rebounded & had two very good nights with the 360 against the 410’s.
Seth would like to thank his sponsors; SALCO Better Energy, Swimming Pool Perfections, and Yuba City Scrap and Steel.
2023 season stats: 29 events, 18 features, 0 wins, 1 top-5's, 2 top-10's
Next Race: TBA
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