Blown tire helps Hernandez claim race at 99 Speedway

SCOTT LINESBURGH
Record Staff Writer
Published Sunday, Jun 18, 2006

STOCKTON - Peter Hernandez, #20, took advantage of #61, Guy Guibor's bad luck on Saturday night and turned his good fortune into an impressive victory.

Hernandez took the lead when Guibor suffered a flat tire with nine laps remaining, and he won the 50-lap main event in front of 1,150 fans at Stockton 99 Speedway. Guibor led the first 41 laps and had held off challenges from Hernandez and Dave Byrd.

But Guibor couldn't do anything about the air leaking out of his right front tire. Hernandez, a NASCAR Drive For Diversity driver from Chicago, inherited the lead and won an entertaining duel with Byrd in the final laps.

"I was sorry to see that happen, and I wanted to race Guy until the end," Hernandez said. "But you take what you can get. This is such a competitive place with so many good drivers, we're just so happy we were able to win it."

Guibor has been competitive all season, but this was the closest he came to a victory. The Mantecan didn't try to hide his disappointment.

"I feel like someone beat me up," Guibor said. "You hate losing like that, but there's nothing that you can do about it."

Hernandez and Guibor raced side-by-side from several laps early in the race, but Guibor was able to keep the lead. He was about to take the green flag on a restart on lap 42 when he knew something was wrong.

Guibor was forced to the infield, and Hernandez and Byrd staged another entertaining duel before Hernandez took control on lap 44.

"It was a blast," Byrd said. "I feel like there was some way I should have made things happen, but I couldn't."

Mark Holeman of Los Altos was third. Guibor returned to the race and finished eighth.

In the American Limited Stock Car race, Chad Holman, #75, of Stockton started in the front and stayed there, winning the 50-lap main event. It was the third win of the season for the ALSC points leader, and the eighth of his career.

"I started on the pole and went wire to wire," Holman said. "You can't beat that."

The ALSC race began before the sun set, and Holman said he usually prefers to race after nightfall. But he might be changing his mind.

"Everything changes when you win," Holman said. "The daylight wasn't so bad."

Frankie Marks #37, of Orangevale won the Legend main event, holding off a late challenge from Fred Clement of Stockton. Clement was among four family members across the finish line in the touring series.

His brother-in-law, Dave Ball, left, of Stockton, was fourth; his cousin, Keith Clement of Stockton, finish 10th; and Fred Clement's mother, Patty Clement, was 14th.

"We have a lot of fun, and it's great to race with family," #55, Fred Clement said.

Clement moved into second place on lap 24 of the 30-lap race, but he couldn't get past Marks.

"I just didn't have enough laps to set it up," Clement said. "I needed a few more."

Jay Linstroth of Citrus Heights won his 20th career Grand American Modified race at Stockton 99. It was his second of the season, and Guibor leads the GAM points battle.

"It's the last year (at Stockton 99), so we really want to come in here and capture the championship," Linstroth said. "This was a nice win for us."

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

The Stockton 99 Speedway is located just off Highway 99 at 4105 North Wilson Way. If you are traveling south on Highway 99 take the Wilson Way exit. If you are heading north on Highway 99 take the Cherokee Road exit, loop over the freeway, turn right onto Newton Road and then turn left on Wilson Way.