STOCKTON 99 SPEEDWAY
2010 Schedule         Last race: KODY SWANSON SPRINT KING AT 99

USG Night At The Races Brought The Light To Shine On Justin Philpott

On Saturday, May 8^th, Stockton 99 Speedway presented USG Night at the Races as the Race for the Championship came roaring back to life with the NASCAR Whelen All American Western Late Models, Grand American Modifieds, Street Stocks, Bombers, Legends of the Pacific, and Powder Puff Race.  Don’t forget the entire month of May is Jackson Rancheria Month at 99 Speedway.

Stockton 99 Speedway would like to thank McSparren Auto Glass, NorCal Battery, and Stock Car Fabrication for their contributions to the Bicycle Giveaway on Saturday Night.  In an effort to promote a family-friendly atmosphere, five bicycles were given away in a raffle to five lucky children.  Plans are in the works for this to be a continual effort.  Stay tuned to our Website for future drawings.

In the Western Late Model Division, anyone can win on any given weekend, and sometimes the same driver can win two weekends in a row.  Through the luck-of-the-draw, Paul Dorrity (44) of Modesto landed on pole with Points Leader Tim Spurgeon (86) of Danville at his side.  Spurgeon showed his strength early as he grabbed the lead coming back around to the stripe where he held off all comers until lap 11 when Dorrity looped it coming up off two which brought with it the first yellow of the race.  On the restart, the legendary Harry Belletto (74) of Modesto made his patented hard-charge as he beat the field back to the line and the lead where he would hold strong, despite the constant gnawing at his back bumper by Defending Division Champion, Justin Philpott (05) of Tracy, until lap 20 when the two made contact going down into turn one which sent Belletto careening up the track and brought out the second caution period of the race.  Coming around on the restart, Trevor Schlundt (28) of Clovis made contact with Spurgeon down the backstretch which sent Spurgeon hard into the tires at the turn three pit gate and, ultimately, ended his night.  On the lap 20 restart, Philpott jumped quickly back out front where he would remain until he crossed below the checkers for his second win in a row.  “My quarter-panel is really cracked up, my door has a hole in it that wasn’t there, but I had the line going into turn one,” said the slightly disgruntled Philpott, “I love racing with the Belletto’s, but when we gotta go, we gotta go.”  First year driver, Chad Holman (9) of Stockton, continued his early-season success with his best finish to date in second, which, coupled with Spurgeon’s misfortune, vaulted him to the early-season Points Lead.  Jeff Belletto (12) of Modesto had another solid run with a podium finish in third while Harry Belletto had to settle for fourth after leading much of the race.  Schlundt would bring her home in fifth.

The Grand American Modifieds were back in action as they rolled onto the speedy surface to get their race underway.  AJ Ryder (62) of Stockton and Rick Avila (37) of Pleasanton would have to settle for a two-man shootout with Ryder taking the lead at the green and holding on to it throughout this ten lap duel finishing a half lap ahead of Avila.

If you came to the track because you love beatin’ and bangin’, then you certainly did not leave disappointed once the Street Stocks took the green flag.  Brock Monroe (42) of Escalon and Ben Lewis (22) of Stockton had the invert fall their way as they got this one going from the front row.  Lewis grabbed the holeshot and held strong until lap 12 when Sammy Solari (79) of Escalon showed what he’s been showing all year: insurmountable talent and power as he grabbed a large piece of forward bite and away he went to his fourth victory of the year.  The real race, however, was behind him from third to eighth place.  It was a dogfight for thirty laps, and some of the best racing this year to date with not a single caution period, which is a great testament to the talent in this Division.  “I want to thank everyone who helps us out,” said the very confident Solari, “We have a great team and it takes a team effort to be able to do this.”  Lewis had another solid run but would have to settle for second with Jason Aguirre (45) of Atwater finishing on the podium in third.  Monroe finished fourth while Robert Daniels (17) of Lodi made up the top five.

The Bomber Division has grown exponentially in their second season as was showcased this night in their thirty-lap romp.  Brandon Jones (33) of Lodi started on pole with Tom Dahl (004) of Stockton flanking him.  Dahl took immediate command at the drop of the green, but things took a nasty turn on lap 9 as he lost a right rear wheel going into turn four which caught the attention of the flagman and the obligatory yellow went flying.  No sooner had the green flag waved for the restart when the yellow flag set sail again as Stockton’s own Jeremy Tucker (051) looped it coming off turn two in front of the entire field sweeping several cars up in the resulting melee which eventually brought out the red.  When the smoke settled and the race went back to green, Jones retained the point until lap 12 when Bob Simpson (163) of Stockton went for the ride of his life as a rear axle broke going down into turn one which catapulted him into the night sky, coming hard back to earth on his lid and bringing with him an instant red flag.  On the restart, Jones powered his way back out front as he had all night until lap 28 when the #029 of Stockton’s Freddie Rathjen Jr. made contact with Jones and slid by for the lead.  However, on lap 29, Jones returned the favor and went on to apparent victory.  But, after further review, both Jones and Rathjen were set back a spot for over-aggressive driving which gave the win to Jeremy Tucker.  Rathjen finished second while Jones finished third.  The #028 of Kasi Lewis and the #111 of Kevin Terpsta finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Back, for their second appearance of the year on the high-banks, the always fan-favorite Legends of the Pacific produced another great race for the complete pleasure of the fans in the stands.  “Fearless” Fred Clement (58) of Stockton and Jack Humphrey (49) of American Canyon paced the field to green in this much-anticipated event with Clement grabbing the first-lap lead only to surrender it to Humphrey on lap 2, who, in turn, surrendered it to David Winchel (0) of Sebastopol on lap 4, who, in turn, was slowed on lap 5 as the #74M of Luis Tyrell came spinning off turn four which brought out the first yellow of the night.  On the restart, Winchel assumed his position out front until lap 13 when Micah Parmer (96) of Anderson made a power move down the backstretch which gained him the number one slot until lap 19 when Jeremy Wood (22) of Tracy made the same power move down the backstretch with the same results: the lead.  For the next few laps a great battle was shaping up between Wood and Parmer until lap 24 when the two made contact down the backstretch spinning to the inside wall with Wood taking a hard hit into the tires at the turn three pit gate which attracted the attention of the flagman who sent the red flag flying.  Much to the surprise of everyone in attendance, Wood was okay and would continue the race in a hurt race car.  On the restart, Stanislov Osterlund (42) of Los Gatos would lay claim to the real estate out front where he would hold strong, through a few more restarts, until lap 38, when Wood, after near-disaster, made a miraculous recovery as he flew by Osterlund to reclaim the lead and held it through to the checkered flags for the win in what was most definitely one of the greatest comebacks ever witnessed at the Speedway.  And, for his exploits, Wood received a standing ovation from an ecstatic crowd gone wild.  “I hit those tires a ton,” said an elated Wood, “ I thought there was no way this car was getting back on the race track, but we looked it over and I got back in it and drove my butt off.”  Osterlund would hold on to finish second with Keith Clement (8) finishing on the podium in third.  Humphrey slipped back a bit but still finished a solid fourth while Donny Darter (99) of Manteca raced his way into the top five.

The Ladies returned, once again, in their Powder Puff Series, to represent all the Mother’s near and far.  The #99 of Kathy Reyes and the #505 of Donna Dahl brought the field to green in this barnburner with the #029 of Jessica Rathjen beating the field back to the line and the lead.  From that point forward it would be all Rathjen as she went flag to flag, in dominating style, for the extremely impressive victory.  “I’m just happy he (Freddy) let me drive it,” said the soft-spoken Rathjen, “I wasn’t thinking about anything but just driving.”  The #028 of Cindy Miett , the only other car on the lead lap, finished second with the #808 of Danica Noceti bringing home a very delightful third.  Reyes fell off the pace a bit, but still managed a fourth while the #2 of Ashley Papst rounded out the top five.

You won’t want to miss out on the action next Saturday, May 15^th, as the NASCAR Whelen All American Racing Series keeps rolling along with the Western Late Models, Street Stocks, Bombers, and the MMRA Mini Cups. Also on the ticket for the evening will be the always popular Vintage Hard Tops in their North/South All-Star Showdown.

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 or visit their Website at www.stockton99.com.