Sanders and Law Earn Wins During Opening Night

Justin Sanders Thrills Crowd With Last Corner Pass To Win 2018 Civil War Opener
(PETERSEN MEDIA- Marysville, CA, )- Saturday night in Marysville, CA fans who braved threatening skies and unseasonably cool temperatures were treated to a feature event full of excitement that culminated with Justin Sanders executing a final lap, final turn pass over race long leader Tanner Thorson to win the 2018 Civil War Series pres. by Flowmaster opening night feature event win.
“Wow,” Justin Sanders said. “I saw the flag man get the white flag out, and I could see myself catch Tanner (Thorson) so I went for it. We have been awesome to start the season, and I hope we keep getting better. I can’t thank Mike Phulps and this entire team for this opportunity and giving me such a bad fast race car so far.”
When the green flag flew on the 30-lap feature event, it would be pole sitter and quick time qualifier, Tanner Thorson getting the jump over Kalib Henry. Despite heavy rainfall during the week leading up to this night, the racers would be provided a slick racing surface, but some developing ruts would add in a technical element.
While Thorson looked extremely quick out front, a roll over on lap five would bring out the red and erase his sizeable lead. It would take a couple of restart attempts to bring the race back to life, but once green, Thorson would power away from the field and all eyes would focus on the battles behind him.
Elsewhere in the field, Sean Becker was working his way forward from the tail end of the field as he would race his way into the Top-10 before circumstances forced him into the infield and ended his night.
As Sanders began searching around the track, he would make the high groove work on just before the race’s halfway point as he took command over the seventh position just before the caution flew on the 12th lap.
While Thorson continued to nail his restarts, he would leave the field in his wake as a torrid three car battle for second picked up between Henry, Cole Macedo, and Sanders.
The battle would allow Thorson to pull away and find himself in traffic. Thorson would have a close call in traffic as he would get sideways in turns three and four while battling threw traffic, but he would gather himself up and continue to dominate out front.
As the laps wound down, Sanders and reigning series champion, Andy Forbserg would come alive.
The two veteran drivers would pick off Macedo and look to make things interesting. With Sanders in third, he would move into the second spot with three laps to go, and Forsberg would follow suit and take over the third.
In dense traffic, Thorson would accept the white flag as the race leader, but Sanders had cut his lead down and the crowd came to their feet as they raced down the back stretch.
With Thorson taking the bottom in three and four, Sanders would go to the top as they had two slower cars in front of them.
Coming to the line, Sanders would keep the momentum as he brought the house down and scored a thrilling win by just .173 seconds. The win for Sanders is his fourth career with the series and moves him into a tie for 20th all time with Jason Statler and Shane Scott.
Thorson would end up second, Forsberg would round out the podium as Macedo, Ing, Billy Wallace, Mason Moore, John Clark, and Kyle Standley rounded out the Top-10.
Saturday’s season opening event saw a total of 22 cars check into Marysville Raceway with Thorson grabbing the first honor of the night and earning the Quick Time award.
Heat race wins would go to Jake Haulot, Dustin Freitas, and Cole Macedo. Thorson would win the Flowmaster Dash and lead the field to green for the 30-lap feature event.
Joining the Civil War Series was the IMCA Sport Mods. For them, it was championship point race #1 at Marysville Raceway. A nice turnout of 14 drivers competed and put on a good show. In the end it was local favorite Howard Law holding off another local favorite Brian Cooper. “This is my last year racing,” said Law. “I have another kid on the way and I am going to try to go out a champion here at Marysville.” Cooper in his familiar No.17c was a consistent and pressured Law but was never able to pass him. Andrew Peckham was a force last night. He won his heat race and drove up through the field in the main event to finish third. Damian Merritt came home in the fourth spot. Jake Van Tol led the first part of the race and ultimately drifted back to a fifth-place finish.
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