Gene Guinn Wins Chico's Enduro for the Third Time - by Troy Hennig

(Chico, CA 5-26-03)...Chico's Gene Guinn is dominating the annual Enduro Race in his hometown. For the third time in four years, Guinn dominates the 200 lap Silver Dollar Speedway Fair Enduro race on Monday afternoon. Guinn led over 150 for the incredible victory. For his efforts, Guinn pocketed $1,000 of the Silver Dollar Fair money in route to the popular victory. His friend and also Chico driver Wes Brown finished second, three laps behind Guinn. Brown is the only other winner of this event.
A total of 25 Enduro cars started the event; however, only eight were running at the end.
Jerry Hawes of Marysville led the first 20 laps until Guinn took over the lead. Hawes soon had mechanical issues and parked his car off of turn three. Guinn's only challenger early on was Brown, yet, he was one lap behind at the first 100 lap segment. When the second 100 lap segment continued, Brown got the jump and within 20 laps had made up his lap and passed Guinn for the lead, however, the left rear tire began to smoke and it was obvious something was going wrong. Soon Brown's tire gave up and he had to exit to the pits and give the lead back to Guinn. Once Brown returned to the race track he was five laps down. Guinn had such a huge lead that Brown was still the nearest competitor even though he was five laps down. Over the next 70 laps Brown was able to make two laps up on Guinn but at the finish it was Guinn the winner being the first driver to reach the 200 lap total. Brown finished second followed by Santa Rosa driver Dan Reed.