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2009 Local Tracks
2009 Local Tracks
STOCKTON 99 SPEEDWAY
Smoke, fireworks at Stockton 99
By
Record Staff Writer
July 05, 2009 6:00 AM
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| Mike Massone and the 007 car spin out in the Bombers race on Saturday at Stockton 99 Speedway. Photo by Michael McCollum/The Record |
STOCKTON - The sounds of fireworks and squealing tires blended once again on Independence Day at Stockton 99 Speedway.
And some drivers discovered that nothing adds to the Fourth of July festivities like a victory.
Jacob Gomes of Manteca, Scott Winters of Tracy, Aaron Coonfield of Riverbank and Ben Lewis II of Stockton won races Saturday in front of a crowd of 3,633 at Stockton 99.
The Independence Day show is always one of the track's biggest events of the year, and the track reopened in March after a two-year hiatus and restored the tradition.
Gomes, 16, won a tight a battle with Guy Guibor of Manteca to capture the second leg of the 150-lap NASCAR Western Late Model Tri-Holiday Classic, which concluded shortly before 11:30 p.m. More coverage of the race will be included in Monday's Record.
Winters won the Grand American Modified race, while Coonfield (Street Stocks) and Lewis (Bombers) also claimed victories.
"It's always fun on Fourth of July," Winters said. "And it's special to win this one."
Before the races, Rob Pestana and the Pit Crew played music for the fans, and the traditional fireworks display filled the skies above the track just prior to the Western Late Model main event.
"This was always on of the most enjoyable nights of the year when I was a fan," said track promoter Tony Noceti. "We got a nice night, and everyone is having a great time."
Winters has had plenty of nice nights at Stockton 99 this season. He won his eighth GAM race of the season, holding off a strong challenge from Mike Ostrowski.
"Mike was very strong on restarts, and he has a good car," Winters said. "This was a good win for us."
It was the fifth victory for Coonfield, who had to come from the back of the field twice to earn the checkered flag.
Lewis led most of the 25-lap Bomber feature.
Contact reporter Scott Linesburgh at (209) 546-8281 or slinesburgh@recordnet.com.
By
Record Staff Writer
July 06, 2009 6:00 AM
STOCKTON - Guy Guibor called it one of the best races he's been involved in.
And that's coming from the guy who finished second.
Guibor and 16-year-old Jacob Gomes engaged in several laps of thrilling side-by-side racing before Gomes finally captured the 150-lap NASCAR Western Late Model race. The event was the second leg of the Tri-Holiday Classic series and finished late Saturday night.
Gomes also had a good time, and couldn't think of a better way to spend Independence Day.
"It was great racing with Guy Guibor," Gomes said. "I knew this would be a tough one to win."
A crowd of 3,633 showed up to see racing and fireworks and to listen to the sounds of Ron Pestana and the Pit Crew, a band from Northern California. Gomes set the fast qualifying time at 13.744 seconds and dueled with his fellow Mantecan Guibor throughout the second half go the race.
After a restart on lap 107, they were even until Gomes finally got the lead. They stayed next to each other for six laps during another restart on lap 137, but Gomes again got the edge.
"It was a lot of fun, and (Gomes) simply had the better car in the end on the longer runs," said Guibor, 33. "He did great job, and I think it was the kind of race the fans really enjoyed."
David Philpott of Tracy was third and he was followed by Greg Potts of Stockton and Jeff Belletto of Modesto.
The third and final race of the Tri-Holiday Classic will be Sept. 5.
Contact reporter Scott Linesburgh at (209) 546-8281 or slinesburgh@recordnet.com.