Pettit, Fensler Emerge Victorious at Altamont Motorsports Park

Tracy, Calif., August 4, 2007 - A large turnout of stock car racing fans had their fill of entertainment Saturday night at Altamont Motorsports Park as two of the premier west coast Late Model touring series visited the track for two 100 lap shootouts sponsored by Mike Marchant's Mid Valley Iron and Metals.

Highlighting Saturday night's show was a visit from the SRL Wild West Late Model Shootout series, racing in their fifth event of the 2007 season and only appearance at Altamont Motorsports Park this year.

The series lived up to its namesake, coming down to a two lap shootout to determine the victor of the 100 lap event.

In the end, Jim Pettit II became the series first repeat winner of 2007, holding on to the number one position on the restart and crossing the stripe in first place.

"I was going to bide my time and ride for about 60 laps but things started getting real free on us." said Pettit in victory lane. 

"We knew as soon as a yellow came out we were going to come in and make adjustments to the chassis." said Pettit.

Pettit, the 2004 and 2005 Southwest Series champion, passed Aztec, NM's Porter Smith on lap 68 and held on for the remaining 32 laps of the event.
 
Smith, the 2005 Aztec Speedway Track Champion, passed the 7 of Rick Ruzbarsky to take the lead on lap 23.  Both Ruzbarsky and Smith got around pole sitter Dave Byrd the previous lap.   Smith led 45 laps until being passed by Pettit on lap 68.

"The tires went away quick in this race," said Smith.  "In the early part of this race are car was just awesome."

Dave Byrd, the 2006 Western Late Model Champion at Altamont Motorsports Park, finished the race in the fourth position.

Greg Voight finished one behind Smith in third place.   Tracy Bolin rounded out the top five.

The Eldorado Hotel Casino Westcar Series brought 22 fast cars to the 1/2-mile oval competing in the sixth of eight Westcar events this season.  The #35 of Jason Fensler dominated the race, taking the lead on lap 10 and holding onto it for the victory.  Several late cautions put Fensler's restart skills to the test but the native of Elk Grove, Calif was able to get on the gas quickly to preserve his #1 position.

"Early in the race we just didn't have anything on the top so we had to go to the bottom and fall back in line and just start picking them off." said Fensler.

"Once we got up front we kind of cruised a little bit," said Fensler.  "The car got little bit tight after yellows but in long runs the car was awesome."

Fensler is no stranger to victory lane, winning the SRL Championship in 2005.  The win on Saturday night was Fensler's first Westcar victory this season.

Tight racing for positions two through five had the fans on their feet in the last 15 laps of the race until contact between Doff Cooksey and Greg Potts took Cooksey out of the event on lap 94.  The #56 of Bobby Butler, who was also in the mix, faded away after the final restart on lap 94.

When the dust settled fans saw Jared Buddow, Greg Potts, Randy Hedrick and Michael Wendt round out the top five.  Rookie driver, Jared Buddow, was the Eldorado Hotel Casino Westcar Series points leader coming into the event.

Altamont Motorsports Park's 2006 Champion and current SRL points leader Dave Byrd was not a factor in the race.  After qualifying second fastest and moving to the second  position after a six car inversion, Byrd eventually succumbed to tire problems on lap 36.  Top qualifier, Craig Swim, also had a strong run cut short by tire problems.

Altamont Motorsports Park's current NASCAR Whelen All-American Western Late Model points leader, Ryan Philpott, was not at the track on Saturday night.

In NASCAR Whelen All-American American Limited Stock Car action Stockton, Calif's Chad Holman secured his fourth victory of the season.  Holman, Stockton 99's 2006 ALSC Champion, has dominated the last five races at Altamont Motorsports Park, winning four of the last five.

Coming across the stripe in positions two and three of the 30 lap event were Hayward Chevrolet teammates Jim Dulla and Tim Rappa.

Formula-4 driver Jake Morgenstern took the checkers in the early 10 lap Formula-4 race on the road course holding off strong pressure from the #16 of Rodney Lopez.  Doug Foreman took the checkers in the night cap.

On Sunday, August 5th, the popular West Coast Enduro's will hit the road course for a 200 lap event.  The price is just $100 for a car and driver to enter the event.

Next weekend the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series returns in full force with the Western Late Models, Grand American Modifieds and ALSCs all scheduled to compete.  NCMA sprint cars are also on tap for next Saturday's schedule.

Altamont Motorsports Park is located between Livermore and Tracy, Calif., within an hour's drive from most points in the San Francisco Bay Area as well as the Central Valley.


Source: Jeff Downey/Altamont Motorsports Park