Ryan Bernal Races Into Gold Cup Feature
PETERSEN MEDIA: Traveling to Chico, CA last weekend to take part in the 71st Gold Cup Race of Champions aboard the Josh Ford Motorsports No. 73 entry, Ryan Bernal raced his way into the feature event but a late spin and a rubber down surface relegated him to a 21st place finish.
“Competing in the Gold Cup was definitely a grind” Ryan Bernal said. “It was a hot weekend, and pair that in with competing against the best in the business and it tests you but thankfully my guys were up for the challenge.”
Taking to the Silver Dollar Speedway for his qualifying run on Friday, Bernal got the weekend kicked off by timing the NOS Energy Drink/Inland Rigging/MPe backed entry in 18th fastest in qualifying time trials.
The special Gold Cup format featured a large heat race inversion, and Bernal took full advantage of lining up on the front row of his heat. Starting and finishing second, the Hollister, CA locked into the preliminary night feature event as he took the green flag from the fourteenth starting spot.
When the race came to life, there was some racing room on the ¼ mile Silver Dollar Speedway surface and Bernal was slowly able to pick up some track position after falling back as far as 18th during the first half of the race.
One the race hit the halfway point, Bernal was able to get pointed in the right direction and begin making up ground in a hurry. Getting in 15thon the 26th lap, Bernal was up to 14th when a late caution set up a green-white-checkered finish.
Getting up to 12th when the race went green, Bernal used the white flag lap to gain another position as he took the 11thspot at the finish and bettered his position for Saturday’s finale.
Lining up in the second row of his Saturday night qualifier, Bernal needed to finish inside the Top-Three to lock into the feature, but a fourth place finish forced him into the last chance qualifier for one final shot at making the Gold Cup.
Battling hard with his NOS Energy Drink Teammate Shane Golobic, as well as his JFM Teammate Brady Bacon, Bernal showcased a very strong car as he ran inside a transfer spot.
Finishing third in the ‘B’, Bernal was locked into the 40-lap ‘A’ where he rolled off the starting lineup from the 23rdposition.
As the race got underway on a very slick surface, Bernal was able to make some ground early as he worked into 18th.
Getting his right-rear up over the cushion on the eighth lap, Bernal spun to a stop and was relegated to the back of the pack.
As the race came back to life, it was apparent that the track was taking rubber and any charge from the rear would be extremely difficult.
Doing all he could, Bernal picked up a couple of positions as he capped his Gold Cup off with a 21st place finish.
“It wasn’t the result we were after but we took the hand we were dealt,” Ryan Bernal added. “Again, huge thanks to my guys for their hard work and getting both JFM cars into the show.”
Ryan Bernal and TDR would like to thank NOS Energy Drink, Inland Rigging, JFM, BOXO, Dunkel Farms, Keizer Wheels, BR Motorsports, Pacific Highway Rentals, King racing Products, HBC, Macerick, RB Inserts, Osborne Speed and Machine, SURECAN, MPe, and Woodland Auto Display for their support.
JFM would like to thank NOS Energy Drink, Inland Rigging, MPe, SURECAN, Woodland Auto Display, Beilman Motorsports, and 1Way Technologies for their support in 2025.
BY THE NUMBERS: Races: 26, Wins: 3, Top 5’s: 11, Top 10’s: 14
ON TAP: Bernal and JFM are right back to it this Saturday and Sunday night as they head to Calistoga Speedway for the Louie Vermeil Classic.
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