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------------------ Originally Published Friday, July 27, 2001------------------------------
By Bill Poindexter
Record Assistant Sports Editor
The Belletto family is getting involved in the search for missing Modestan Chandra Levy.
Harry Belletto and sons Steve and Jeff plan to drive with a picture of Levy and an informational phone number on their Late Model Sportsman cars. Steve Belletto said Wednesday the plan is to debut the pictures during Saturday's twin 38-lap main events at Stockton 99 Speedway.
''It's a good deal. Anything we can do to help,'' said Steve Belletto, who lives around the corner from Levy's parents, Susan and Dr. Robert Levy.
NASCAR Winston Cup driver Stacy Compton has a picture of Levy on his car, and Burney Lamar of West Sacramento had a picture of her on his car for the Southwest Series race at Sears Point Raceway in June, according to Bruce Cunningham, who gives the invocations and conducts driver interviews at Stockton 99.
''All of us have children, and we're all saddened by this happening,'' Cunningham said. ''(Susan Levy) is encouraged the sport of motorsports has stepped up. She has been touched by motorsports wanting to volunteer to help. Hopefully, Lord willing, they'll find out something.''
Meanwhile, on the track, Steve Belletto is ready to resume his quest for the track championship ... without anymore incidents on the asphalt or in the pits.
He and Dave Byrd, who are running 1-2 in points, drew fines for their disagreements during the twin 38s two weeks ago.
''We hashed out everything, settled our differences. We agreed we were going to go back racing, like we did at the first of the year,'' Belletto said about a meeting the two drivers had last week with track general manager Ken Gross, chief steward Jim Cook and lead tech John Bussey. ''That incident that happened, I dropped from third to sixth in the regional standings. I don't want to do that anymore.''
Especially not this Saturday night. Double points are available in all four categories -- Late Model, but only in the first 38-lap main, Grand American Modified, Pro Stock and Pure Stock. Belletto leads Byrd by 16 points and Jeff Belletto by 18.
Gross also said the track will be treated Saturday morning, which could produce quicker times in qualifying.
Etc.
Two-time Stockton 99 Grand American Modified champion Mark Welch of Orangevale fell to second in the latest NASCAR Pacific Coast Region standings. Bobby Scott, a two-time champion at Watsonville Speedway, took over the lead with a .7763 Competition Performance Index. Welch, who has 12 top-five finishes in 13 starts at Madera Speedway, is at .7637. Aaron Days of Altamont Raceway Park is third at .7619. ... Mike David of Modesto finished fourth in NASCAR Winston West Food 4 Less 250 last Saturday at Irwindale Speedway. The 1999 Tri-Track Challenge champ has two top-10 finishes in four starts. ... The Southwest Series stops at Madera on Saturday for the FoodsCo 125. Eric Holmes of Escalon, Jason Fensler of Elk Grove and Nathan Tucker of Sonora are expected to race.
* To reach assistant sports editor
Bill Poindexter, phone 546-8289
or e-mail sports@recordnet.com