2009 Local Tracks

The New Stockton 99 Speedway Media Release 5-30-2009
Media Relations David Holman

Young Guns And Old Rivalries Get Together As
Ranuio, Darter, Wood And Monroe Make The
Best Of A Caution-Filled Night At Stockton

These days with so many young drivers appearing in feature divisions, it’s easy to overlook the older guys who have already made a name for themselves.  Even so, this youth movement hasn’t scared off any of these “old timers” at Stockton 99 Speedway.  They still show up with fire in their eyes and desire in their hearts, and they still win.  On Saturday, May 30th, this intense rivalry between the old and the new continued with the NASCAR Whelen All-American Western Late Models, ALSC/Street Stock, and the Legends of the Pacific hitting the high banks of the New Stockton 99 Speedway with no remorse.

When the Western Late Models, where these age discrepancies are most noticeable, took to the asphalt, the last thing on anyone’s mind was, “I’m going to beat you because you’re too young.”  Instead, as it should be, once behind the wheel, such characteristics were indiscriminate.  David Philpott (50) nabbed a front row spot for the second week in a row.  However, this week it was on the pole position.  As the green flag waved and the cars were coming out of four, Justin Philpott (05) of Tracy tagged the bumper of Points Leader Vito Ranuio (27) sending him into a spin down the inside front stretch.  And, if that wasn’t enough, coming back around in turn three, the #16 of Todd Corral got into the older Philpott’s car sending him careening into the turn three tires which undoubtedly ended his race.  Both the young Philpott and Corral were sent to the back for their infractions.  All this opening lap chaos prompted a complete restart for the second time on the night which allowed Ranuio to grab the quick lead, and although he was challenged throughout the remainder of the race, the #27 would prove too strong to overcome.  However, his strongest challenge would come from young gun sensation Jake Gomes (16x) as he shadowed Ranuio’s every move for the final 30 laps.  “I was blocking like a son-of-a-gun,” said Ranuio of the pressure applied by the youngster Gomes, “I knew he was there, our car wasn’t that great, but I was able to hold him off.”  In the few short weeks Gomes has been at Stockton he has garnered many fans as was evident tonight by the roar as he crossed the finish line in second.  Once again, this race fell victim to four yellows and a red.   And yet another young gun, Kyle Gottula (71) came home third.  The #44 of Jason Fensler and the #6 of Mike Beeler rounded out the top five.

After a few weeks of hard wrecks and hot tempers, the ALSC/Street Stock Division motored back onto the racing surface to try to put all the carnage behind them.  They did a fairly decent job drawing only one yellow on the night.  The #25 of Aaron Coonefield and the #2 of Mel Wilson got the race under way for their 40 lap romp.  The #25 jumped out to an early lead and stayed there until the first and only yellow of the night fell on lap 32 as Points Leader Jeff Ahl (31) of Lodi suffered mechanical failure which ended his charge to the front for the evening.  Then, before the green flag was dropped to restart the race the #25 pulled into the pits with mechanical woes of his own.  This allowed the #42 of Brock Monroe to grab the top spot and carry it through for his first win of the year.  Wilson would finish second while the #89 of Brian Vosburg worked his way to third.  Coonefield and the #0 of David Blair finished fourth and fifth, respectively.     

The Legends of the Pacific flexed their muscles in the first appearance of year for these scaled-down, fast-paced hotrods.  In the Semi Pro Main Event, Brian Elorreaga (9) of San Jose and Jimmie Walker (28) of Brentwood started on the front row and brought the field to the green.  But before they could complete lap one, the first yellow of the race fell as Bill Kistenmacher (74) of Rohnert Park broke going into turn three.  Dave Ball (3) of Stockton jumped to the front and held tight to the lead until Donny Darter (99) of Manteca slipped below him on lap 17 to take the top spot and sped away to his first victory in the Legends.  “This car was made for my wife, it’s not made for me,” said Darter, “So I was happy to get out there and win this one.”  The race was marred by a total of six caution periods.  Ball would hold on to finish second while the 22m of Randy Jahoda came home third.  James Gilliland (17) of Santa Rosa and Elorreaga rounded out the top five.

The Pro/Master Main got off to a shaky start as “Fearless” Fred Clement brought the pack to the stripes after a complete restart due to the #14n of Phillip Morrissey spinning in turn one to bring out the yellow and then the red/yellow.  Coming through the middle of three and four Bobby Kuebler (5) of Reno, tangled with Clement sending him hard into the turn four wall ending the #58’s night and bringing out, first a yellow, then a red so the track crew could clean up the carnage left behind.  Dylan Albiani (56) of Modesto would inherit the lead on the restart with Tracy’s Jeremy Wood (22w) in hot pursuit.  On lap 10 Wood’s hard charge paid off as he got underneath the #56 and never looked back as he held on to pick up the first Legend win of the year at Stockton 99 Speedway.  “My mistake, my car had too long a wheel base so we got sent to the back,” said an excited Wood, “We have an extremely tough field of cars out here this year and I wasn’t too sure if I was going to make it up front, but the few cautions helped.”  Woods also paid homage to his dad for having such a great race car.  This race was also plagued by five yellows and the one red.  Albiani managed a successful second place finish with Angelo Queirolo (10) of Stockton closing in third.  Johnny Morrissey (11n) of Tahoe City and Mackena Bell (25m) of Carson City made up the top five.

Next Saturday, June 6th, NASCAR Whelen All-American Western Late Models, Grand American Modified, ALSC/Street Stock, and the Bombers return to tackle 99 Laps per Division on Double-Points Night at Stockton 99 Speedway.

The New Stockton 99 Speedway is located at 4105 N. Wilson Way, ¼-mile west of Highway 99. For more information on tickets and times, please contact the Speedway Office at (209)466-9999.   And remember, The New Stockton 99 Speedway is always Family Friendly.