2009 Local Tracks

The New Stockton 99 Speedway Media Release – 6-13-2009

Media Relations – David Holman

Justin Philpott, Scott Winters, Jeff Ahl, Tom Dahl and Terry Shannon Return To Victory Lane At Stockton 99 Speedway

The taste of victory at any race track is a rare delicacy indeed.  Is a win a win no matter the cost? Many people would say yes.  Is it cheating only if you get caught? Many people again would say yes.  Of course, ultimately, each individual has to look within themselves to find answers to those kinds of questions.  But, at Stockton 99 Speedway, if you read between the lines or listen above the roar of a packed house, you will easily hear a resounding, NO!     Saturday night, June 13^th, the NASCAR Whelen All-American Western Late Models, Grand American Modifieds, ALSC/Street Stocks, Bombers and Mini-Stocks/Mini-Trucks got together for some great racing and to find answers to questions of their own.

David Philpott of Tracy knows how to win.  He’s a two-time Track Champion at Stockton, so he’s known how to win for many years.  Would he continue his winning ways on this night? Not if his son Justin Philpott or Points Leader Vito Ranuio had anything to say about the outcome, and these two drivers usually have plenty to say on the track.  Unfortunately, Ranuio would be absent on the night, so that left the younger Philpott to deal with Dad himself.  And deal he did.  Starting on pole, the #05 took the lead and never looked back through three caution periods and a red to capture his second Late Model win of the year and of his young career.  “I feel we deserve to be at the top of the Points Chart because I have the best crew money can buy, but actually I don’t pay for it,” said a jubilant Philpott, “Good family and friends and everyone that comes to watch us, I can’t thank them enough.”  The worse wreck of the night would be on lap 22 as four cars got together coming off turn two which brought out the red flag and would end the night for three of them.  The #25 of Ryan Philpott would be the only one of the four to make it back out, but he was never a factor after that.  Mike Beeler (6) of Salida, despite applying heavy pressure throughout the race, would have to be satisfied with second.  The elder Philpott would finish a strong third with an impressive run from Joe Allen (75) of Stockton landing him in the number four slot and Frank Farron (30) of Ione finishing fifth.  Earlier in the day Katie Hagar (14) of Sacramento set a new track record with a blazing time of 13.576.  She gave credit to NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program and to Golden State Racing for giving her great equipment, but added, “It’s up to me to start winning some races.”

The Grand American Modifieds returned to action after last week’s grueling 99 lap event.  Most of the same players were in attendance to complete some unfinished business.  That business: to one-up the rest of the field.  Larry Tankersley (96) of Stockton brought the field to the green flag and held the early lead until lap 13 when he was overtaken by Scott Winters (24) of Tracy.  Once Winters got out front it was smooth sailing to the finish line for his third win in a row and sixth on the season.  “You know, we got in a wreck last week and we had to work on the car, but we didn’t quite get it back the way we liked so we were off in qualifying a little bit,” Winters said, “But we got out front fortunately, track position, and we were able to run it on home.”  Modified legend Wes Miller (57) of Turlock pulled within a few car lengths of the #24 in the closing laps, but he just plain ran out of time and had to settle for second.  Points Leader Michael Ostrowski (17) recovered from a slow start to finish third with Tankersley sliding back a bit to fourth and David Crouch (2) of Livermore finished another impressive fifth.

The ALSC/Street Stock Division, coming off what was most definitely the longest race in the history of the division, motored back onto the racing surface to compete in their tenth race of the season.  As Points Leader, Jeff Ahl pretty much has a target on his back, but hopefully, as has been the case the last couple weeks, everyone would play fair.  And, as far as Ahl was concerned, everything was fair as he cruised to his second win in a row.  Aaron Coonfield (25) of Riverbank nabbed the lead on lap 1 only to have it snatched away on lap 3 by Pete Anderson Sr (85) of Stockton.  Anderson held the point until lap 7 when Coonfield made contact with the #85 coming out of turn four which ended Anderson’s night and caused the red flag to fly.  He (Anderson) was taken to the infield care center but was later released.  Ahl would inherit the top spot and pulled away to his second victory of the year.  “The car is really good right now, it’s feeling good,” said an elated Ahl, “Sorry for what happened to Pete (Anderson) out there, that doesn’t need to happen.”  Coonfield would hold on to finish second while the #89 of Anthony Copeland finished third with the #52 of Ed Bryden and Anderson Sr rounding out the top five.  Anderson also topped his track record set a week earlier, this time with a lightning fast lap of 14.957.

The Bombers rumbled back onto the quarter-mile after what many considered a stunning victory last week as Tom Dahl of Stockton ended Points Leader Ben Lewis II’s six-race win streak by beating him to the checkers for his first win of the year.  This week Tom Dahl (4) would do it again for his second win in a row.  Russell Johnson Jr (23) of Stockton grabbed the early lead on lap 1, but it was short-lived as the #44 of Rick Bentz took the spot away on lap 3 and pulled out to a comfortable lead until the caution flew on lap 15 for the race to change direction on the track.  On the restart Points Leader Ben Lewis (22) of Stockton jumped to the lead and held tight until lap 26 when the #4 of Dahl, after starting from the number eight spot, tucked underneath Lewis and charged to the checkers for his second win on the year.  “This is good, man,” Dahl said of an early race spin, “I thought it was over with when we went into that first turn, but this is good.”  Bentz would finish second ahead of Lewis and Johnson with the #33 of Brandon Jones making up the top five.

The Mini-Stock/Mini-Trucks were back in action in their 20 lap main event.  This is a new division at the track and so far this year they are struggling for car-count, but that doesn’t diminish the fact these guys still have a strong will to race.  The #32 of Terry Shannon started fourth on the field but quickly conquered the top spot and went on to a wire to wire victory.  “Rodney Oliver said he won the first two so he was giving me this one,” said a happy Shannon.  He was also very appreciative of the cars that did make it out this week to try to make this division grow.  The #27 of Rodney Oliver came home second followed by the #88 of Andrew Blake and the #94 of Robert Oliver, Jr.

Next Saturday, June 20^th the NASCAR Whelen All-American Racing Series has the week off due to NASCAR weekend at Infineon Raceway.  However, 99 Drift Competition will be at Stockton to burn up the track in their steel belt-bending style. 

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.

The New Stockton 99 Speedway is sponsored by Jackson Rancheria Casino Hotel, California Welding Supply, Budweiser, and Alamo Alarm.