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Two contenders, one title, champion TBD
Anderson Jr. would be first Stockton champ

SCOTT LINESBURGH
Record Staff Writer
Published Friday, Sep 16, 2005

STOCKTON -- Pete Anderson Jr. remembers going to Stockton 99 Speedway as a child, watching in awe as races were won and champions were crowned.

He's seen many drives win NASCAR late model titles at the track, but none of them has lived in Stockton. Now Anderson, who dreamed of being a champion as a youngster, has a great chance to break the 32-year winless streak for city drivers.

He comes into Saturday's NASCAR Western Late Model season finale with a 46-point lead over Allison Duncan, and he would be the first Stocktonian to claim the title since late model racing began at the track in 1973.

"It would mean a lot for me to be the first Stockton guy to do it," Anderson said. "I can't even tell you how old I was when I started going there and thinking about racing and winning at Stockton. It's been a goal for a long time."

The late model division has had a variety of names over the years, and there have been champions from Modesto, Ceres, Manteca, Tracy and Ripon. Anderson can add Stockton to the list, but first he must get through one more 100-lap, double-point race on the tricky quarter-mile oval to claim the title. If he finishes in the top 10, he gets the trophy no matter what Duncan does.

"It would mean a lot to our racing community if Pete won it," Stockton driver Gary Shafer Jr. said. "Many of us have tried, and if Pete wins it, he deserves it."

Anderson, 30, is a true "hometown boy" contender. He started racing in the Pure Stock now American Limited Stock Car division at age 16, and moved to the WLM four years ago. He finished second in points last season to Dave Byrd, and said he learned how to run for a title by watching champions such as Byrd, Ken Boyd and Harry Belletto.

The key for those drivers was consistency, and few have been more consistent than Anderson this season.

He has five wins, including the last two. He has finished in the top five in 16 of 17 races and never has been out of the top 10. He doesn't get as much publicity as Duncan, who has received national attention for being in the NASCAR Drive For Diversity program, but he has quietly built his points lead.

"Pete isn't the type to worry about who is writing about him or talking about him. He's just a very good driver who knows how to win," Shafer said. "He's done everything he has to do."

Anderson leads Duncan 929-883. Chris Monez of Turlock has 847 and is not mathematically eliminated but has only the slimmest of chances.

"It will be tough, but Pete has made it tough because he's had a wonderful season," Duncan said. "He's got a great team and always drives clean."

Anderson said he hopes to leave Stockton 99 on Saturday as a champion fans can admire and the drivers respect, just like those guys he used to watch when he was a kid in the grandstands.

"This is something I've wanted for a very long time, and hopefully I can make it happen," Anderson said. "I would be proud to give Stockton a late model champion."

Contact reporter Scott Linesburgh at 209 546-8281 or slinesbu@recordnet.com

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