Sunday, May 7, 2017

Copeland Scores One For The Home Team With Big PCS Shasta Win



ANDERSON, CALIFORNIA (May 6, 2017) - Anderson's Derek Copeland led a strong contingent of local drivers taking on the Pacific Challenge Series regulars on Saturday night at Shasta Speedway, grabbing the Spring Shootout 100 presented by PenneyLawyers.com. Copeland's victory makes him the second first-time PCS winner in 2017 in as many races, joining Madera winner Carlos Vieira in that club.

The victory came in a hard earned 14 lap shootout against a 19 car turnout at the 3/8ths mile speedway.

Jason Romero again flexed his qualifying muscle scoring quick-time with a new track record at 15.406 in his first Shasta PCS start. The series held a pair of dashes with the B Dash for the lower qualified cars won by local Trevor Harrison for $200. Redding's Eric Gannon drew the pole for the A Dash but Romero swept past him on the outside line to take the $500 victory worth the pole for the 100 lap feature.

Romero led the field to the green flag and charged away with fourth starting Copeland rolling the outside to quickly assume second place. 2006 Westcar Series Shasta winner Shannon Mansch pounced on Gannon for third by lap eight and eventually a five car line fought for the position. Cole Moore ran side-by-side with father John Moore for the fourth spot several times as well early in the race.

Romero surrendered the lead with a flat right rear tire on lap 18, allowing Copeland to take control of the race. The first caution did not come out until lap 23 when 2016 Shasta winner Tracy Bolin had contact with Matt Wendt. Bolin's race was over when he retired to the pits with front end damage.

Romero re-emerged from the pits with a new right rear tire although he was four laps behind. A thrilling battle unfolded for the second position with Mansch trying to hold off John Moore, Cole Moore, and Travis Milburn. The battle intensified on lap 47 with Mansch and John Moore sliding off of turn four but the race stayed under green. Mike Beeler and Eric Gannon raced nose-to-tail for the sixth position until Gannon slowed on lap 55 with an issue and a lap later Cole Moore stopped in turn three with a distributor issue. Both Gannon and Cole Moore failed to return to the race.

Copeland motored away on the restart while Milburn took several looks inside John Moore for third. The jockeying continued nose-to-tail until lap 81 when Milburn turned up the wick on Moore and took over third. He worked past Mansch one lap later to run second. A caution for a slowing Ryan Peeples of Anderson on lap 86 set up a 14 lap shootout to the finish. Robert Vining had a wheel come off under caution as well.

Copeland picked the inside line for the critical restart alongside Milburn. The restart went well for Copeland and he drove away from Milburn, who found himself freighttrained by Moore as well. Milburn slid into third with Beeler overhauling Mansch for fourth in the closing stages of the race. Copeland claimed the 1.3 second victory ahead of John Moore, Milburn, Beeler, and Mansch. 2016 Rookie of the Year Matt Wendt ran sixth with Chris Scribner seventh. Jason Romero recovered to finish ninth. Trevor Harrison advanced from 15th to finish eighth to win the Penney Racing Supply Hard Charger.

John Moore will lead Mike Beeler by six points in the championship standings heading into Stockton 99 Speedway, when the series competes in round #1 of the Tri-Holiday Series on May 20th.

For more information on the Pacific Challenge Series presented by PenneyLawyers.com, visit www.PacificChallengeSeries.com or follow them on Facebook or YouTube

The Pacific Challenge Series is presented by: Penney Racing Supply, Penney & Associates, American Racer Tires, Radio Law Talk, Compact-It, Northwest Compactors, Naake Suspension, Sunoco Fuels, Five Star Bodies, BrakeOMeter, Lefthander Chassis, ARP Bodies, Joes Racing Products, Bassett Wheels, Frank's Radio, WrapStar Pro, and Blakesley Sports Media. All PCS Super Late Models race ABC Bodies or Muscle Car bodies on American Racer Tires with Sunoco Racing Fuel.

2017 Pacific Challenge Series Schedule

March 18th - Madera Speedway (Madera, CA) Winner: Carlos Vieira

April 15th - All American Speedway (Roseville, CA) *POSTPONED, NEW DATE TBA*

May 6th - Shasta Speedway (Anderson, CA) Winner: Derek Copeland

May 20th - Stockton 99 Speedway (Stockton, CA)

June 17th - All American Speedway (Roseville, CA)

July 1st - Stockton 99 Speedway (Stockton, CA) Ron Strmiska Memorial

July 29th - Ukiah Speedway (Ukiah, CA)

August 12th - Madera Speedway (Madera, CA)

September 2nd - Stockton 99 Speedway (Stockton, CA)

October 14th - All American Speedway (Roseville, CA) *2017 Championship Finale* w/ North State Modified Series & NASCAR K&N Pro Series, West)

Pacific Challenge Series Round 2: Shasta Speedway results
Finish Car Driver Hometown Sponsors
1 24 Derek Copeland Anderson, CA SK Construction
2 27 John Moore Granite Bay, CA JM Environmental
3 19 Travis Milburn Eagle, ID Neu Energy
4 6 Mike Beeler Modesto, CA Beeler Industries
5 61 Shannon Mansch Roseville, CA Mansch Motorsports Concepts
6 1 Matthew Wendt Galt, CA Cali Style Customs
7 5 Chris Scribner Loomis, CA Quick Quack Car Wash/Scribner Plastics
8 17 Trevor Harrison Redding, CA Horizon Construction
9 8 Jason Romero Cameron Park, CA Folsom Lake Asphalt
10 18 Jack Wood Loomis, CA Velocity Racing
11 5p Ryan Peeples Anderson, CA Arizona Gold Exchange
12 116 Robert Vining New York, NY
13 20m Cole Moore Granite Bay, CA JM Racing
14 75 Eric Gannon Redding, CA Blue Lake Casino
15 31 Ryan Lentz Cottonwood, CA Paul Baker Trucking
16 11j Tracy Bolin Valley Springs, CA Bolin Builders
17 39m Jason Mitchell Redding, CA R&R Meats
18 32 Alexander Mead Watsonville, CA Mead Performance

Sunoco Fuels Fast Time: #8 Jason Romero 15.406
American Racer Dash: #8 Jason Romero
Penney Racing Supply Hard Charger: #17 Trevor Harrison
Lap leaders: #8 Jason Romero 1-18, #24 Derek Copeland 19-100