2011 Local Tracks

  STOCKTON 99 SPEEDWAY
2011 Schedule         Last race: WEEKLY RACE RECAP

09/03/11

The New Stockton 99 Speedway Media Release – 9-3-2011           

Media Relations – David Holman                                                                          

All Photos are the property of Jessica McAnelly

Jessie's Fast Photos/ www.jessiesfastphotos.com

Hawaiian Shirt Night Brought Controversy and Great Racing to the Forefront

On Saturday, September 3^rd, Chase Chevrolet Presented Hawaiian Shirt Night.  On the agenda for this Event were the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Western Late Models in Twin 50’s, Grand American Modifieds, Super Stocks, Basically-4-Cylinders and the Legends of the Pacific.  It’s already September and that can only mean the Season is winding down to crown the Champions in each Division.  On this night the racing was more intense than it’s been all year, and rightly so for what’s at stake.  And on a balmy summer evening in Stockton, CA, the 1500 fans in the stands were the happy recipients of some of the best racing this Season. 

In the Basically-4 Cylinders, it was definitely an E-Ticket ride from start to finish, but especially the finish: a wicked one.  But alas, when the dust settled and the smoke cleared, Manteca’s Joseph Reichmuth (6) would be declared the winner for the ninth time this year.

This one got up to speed with third generation driver Firecracker Matt Anderson (5) of Manteca on pole and fourth generation female driver from Ceres, Samantha Williams (4), scratching at his right side door panel coming off turn four to the green with Anderson getting the great launch and beating the field down into turn one.  Once out front, Anderson would shine in the spotlight, mostly unchallenged, over the next nineteen laps.  But, unfortunately for the young driver from Manteca, on lap 20, he encountered lapped traffic down the frontstretch, resulting in contact between Anderson and another young driver from Modesto, Cecily Saunders (91), which brought with it the first caution of the race and which would prove to be Anderson’s undoing a few laps later.  On the ensuing restart, Manteca’s Dave Kong (9) jetted out to the lead in an impressive manner where he looked to be in control of the outcome until a late yellow hit the night sky on lap 27 when Williams spun low between turns one and two while the #16 of Rodney Lopez washed up the track in the same area.  On the restart, Kong assumed his former role at P1, but this time around he had much company that came in the form of Reichmuth and French Camp’s Mark Jacke (747).  And so it was, coming off the last turn, three wide, Reichmuth was turned just before the finishline, which enabled Kong to capture the apparent victory.  However, upon further review, it was determined by track officials that Kong turned Reichmuth in an effort to improve his position and was relegated to the last car on the lead lap, which handed the win over to Reichmuth, his ninth of the year.  Jacke was in the mix all night long and it paid off with a second place run.  Manteca’s Nick Rogers (51) ran a strong race of his own and drove her onto the podium in third.  Charles Kundert Jr. (7) from parts unknown brought her home in fourth, while Williams, after her earlier mishap, rebounded to a beautiful fifth place finish.

The Legends of the Pacific would produce a first time winner who came in the form of thirteen year old driving sensation from Napa, James Bickford (25B).  Not only did the young driver win his first race, he did it quite convincingly.

Jessica Walker (21) of San Ramon inherited the pole with Doug Braddock Jr. (91) of Napa flanking her to the right.  With the green flag flicking against the summer sky, Walker grabbed a huge hunk of forward bite exiting turn four and lunged into the lead going off into turn one.  With the breathable air caressing the attitude of her hotrod, Walker took full control of that special plot of land out front where she would be unsurpassed by the fleet, despite the constant nagging at her back bumper by Bickford, until lap 21, when the #25B decided it was time to bite and claw at the #21 in an overwhelming fashion, and Walker had no choice but to count her losses and relent to the severe pressure that was being applied to the whole of her car.  Once out front, it was obvious the best car was going to win on this night as Bickford took it the rest of the way to the checkers and the winner’s share of the spoils from a battle well-fought.  Of course, Walker, who is undeniably one of the up-and-comers in this Series, had to settle for a very secure second.  Tony Mangini (7) of Benicia, after setting fast time earlier in the day, backed it up by driving onto the podium in third.  Brisbane’s Luis Tyrell (74M) was steady all the way through this thirty-five lap feature and wrapped up his race with a fourth place run, while Cody Berger (63) of Tracy rounded out the top five.

In the Western Late Model Twin #1, 2009 WLM Champ and third generation driver from Tracy, Justin Philpott (05) was the class of the field on this night.  However, due to complications during post-race tech, Points Leader and second generation driver from Modesto, Jeff Belletto (12X) inherited the Victory.

This one started straight-up off qualifying and so it went: Trevor Schlundt (28) of Clovis had fast time which landed him at P1 with Justin Philpott (05) of Tracy strapped in tight, high and to the right.  While the green flag was displayed in all its glory, the sixteen-car field went flying off into turn one and out the other side with no clear-cut advantage to anyone until coming out of turn four to the stripe to complete lap 1, they were three-wide up front and Philpott took full advantage of the outside line to the lead.  However, the race was slowed almost immediately when, on lap 4, second generation driver from Stockton, Colby Potts (12), spun between turns one and two, collecting two cars on the way and bringing with him the first yellow of the night.  On the lap 4 restart, Philpott once again took up residence on that much-coveted real estate out front where he would feel the blast of fresh air on his grill all the way through to the checkers for the extremely powerful win, what was thought to be his second on the year.  Points Leader Jeff Belletto (12X) put forth his best foot only to come up short by one in finishing second.  Schlundt slid back, if only slightly, to finish in a strong third, and with the misfortune he has suffered this year, he had to be abundantly happy with the podium finish.  Seaside’s Top Twenty-Five All-Time Dave Byrd (78), in his usual consistent manner, brought her home in fourth while Sammy Solari (3X), from parts unbeknownst to rational man, after waging a mighty war over that number five spot with 2006 WLM Champ from Manteca, Guy Guibor (61), had a very solid run to round out the top five.  Unfortunately for Philpott, a protest was filed at the end of the night, which he promptly refused, giving track officials no option but to disqualify the #05, moving the entire field up a notch and handing the win to Belletto, his seventh of the Season.

2009 Modified Champ, Scott Winters (24) of Tracy, made a rare appearance at Stockton this year and simply took it to the house for his first win of the Season in the Grand American Modified Division.

As luck or perhaps talent would have it, Winters started at pole with Nick Lyons (11X) of Lincoln alongside and ready to anticipate the drop of the green to get this one underway.  Once the green was in the air, Winters got to the gas and inch and a half quicker than did Lyons, which vaulted the #24 into the immediate lead.  However, on lap 6, the race was slowed for the first time when no less than three cars tangled between turns one and two and the first yellow followed close behind.  On the restart, Winters got another great jump and continued on his course at the head of the pack until lap 11, when Don Lehman (83) of Rio Linda came spinning down the frontstretch, which caught the instant attention of the flagman who then sent the second yellow flying.  On the lap 11 restart, Winters once again took the reins where he would reign over the field on this night by taking it to the house, flag to flag.  Of course, Winters did not go without a challenge as Points Leader Wes Miller (57) of Turlock shadowed his every move, taking little bites out of the spoiler of the #24 from time to time, but in the end, Miller just could not get the good run to make the pass for the lead and would have to settle for second.  Lyons ran his usual steady race, which put him on the podium in third.  Rick Andersen (11A) of Citrus Heights, another weekly contender, brought her home in fourth with Andy Vanderveer (49) of Santa Rosa filling the top five.

In the Super Stocks, it was another one of those no-brainers with Oakdale’s Sammy Solari (79) starting on point and finishing with his second win of the year.

Solari grabbed the pole after a wicked invert while Stockton’s Joe Allen (17), in a borrowed car, was already nibbling at the right side numbers on the #79 with the green waving wildly in the warm summer breeze.  Solari jumped out quick only to be slowed by two consecutive cautions early on with Allen taking the lead between the yellow flags.  However, on lap 4, young up-and-coming star and second generation driver from Lodi, Robbie Knittel (03), did the seemingly impossible by getting around both leaders as they battled for position and took off on a path of his own, but of course, with Solari in tow.  Much to Knittel’s chagrin, on lap 17, the red flag reared its ugly face when Josh Whitfield (00), from somewhere on the planet, went up in smoke and laid down a fresh, not-so-new coat of oil around the entire racing surface.  After the lengthy red, the race went back to full speed on the lap 17 restart with Solari shoving that heavy right foot of his to the floor and beyond as he jumped out to reclaim that much sought-after piece of asphalt directly in front of the field where he would take it the distance to the checkers for his second win on the year.  Knittel, without a shadow of doubt, did not go gentle into that good night as he nibbled and chewed at the back bumper of the #79 over the last dozen circuits, but to no avail, Knittel would have to settle on what may or may not have been a disappointing finish in second.  Allen, after a couple years hiatus from racing, came back in grand form, in a borrowed car no-less, to finish on the podium in a fantastic third.  2010 WLM Champ Chad Holman (75) of Manteca, after starting deep on the grid, and after dodging several bullets, managed a fourth place run, while Stockton’s own Rich Harper (5), after setting fast time in qualifying, and also starting mid-pack, kept his string of consistent finishes in tact by bringing home another top five.

 The Western Late Model Twin #2 was not unlike the first in many respects, especially the eventual outcome with Justin Philpott winning out on the track, but losing in the pits and handing the win over to Jeff Belletto.

With a six invert off Twin #1, 2006 WLM Champ Guy Guibor (61) of Manteca inherited the pole, while Escalon’s Sammy Solari (3X) did much the same with P2.  With the green flag flying high above the racing surface, and the field rolling out of turn four, Solari beat the pack down into turn one and grabbed the holeshot only to be slowed the next time around when Riverbank’s Adam Coonfield (81) and Ione’s Frank Farran (30) made contact coming down the frontstretch, which brought the first yellow along for the ride.  On the lap 2 restart, this time it would be Guibor putting his mark on that sacred territory out front.  Unfortunately, on lap 9, that bright mark would come tumbling down when Brandon Trevethan (4) of Galt, returning after a tremendous crash earlier in the year sidelined him, went spinning low between turns three and four and there was that yellow flag, once again, doing what it does best.  On the ensuing restart, it was Solari’s turn again as he bolted out to the lead where he appeared strong over the next several laps until lap 18, when disaster struck Coonfield’s car coming low off four and burst into flames.  Coonfield exited the car rather quickly and was checked at the Infield Care Center and released.  Of course, his car did not bode so well.  On the resulting restart, Philpott, after working his way up from P6 on the starting grid, decided it was time to put his piece out front, and despite swapping the lead a couple times with Solari, on lap 27, Philpott took control for the final time and began to step away from the field in large increments until there was absolutely nothing left to race for but that spot behind the distant leader as the #05 crossed beneath the checkers to seemingly double-up on this night.  Points Leader Jeff Belletto (12X), in typical fashion, worked his way masterfully into second, but never challenged Philpott.  Solari, doing double-duty on the night and driving in three races, finished a great night on the podium in third.  Seaside’s Dave Byrd, always a picture of consistency, and one who always gets the most out of his car, finished fourth for the second time in the Event.  Guy Guibor (61) of Manteca, his smoothness always a pleasure to watch, rounded out the top five.  And, of course, due to the post-race protest, Philpott was disqualified from the evening’s Event for non-compliance, which handed the win over to Belletto, his eighth on the year.

Next Saturday, September 10^th, the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series returns to action on City of Tracy Night, Brought to you by Victory Motorcycles - 9-11 Memorial.
On the Race Card for the Event will be the Super Stocks in Twin 40's, Bombers, Basically-4-Cylinders, Mini Cups, Baby Grands and NCMA Sprint Cars.  Also, General Admission will be $10 for 11 and older, and, of course, 10 and under is always Free!

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. 

The New Stockton 99 Speedway is sponsored by Jackson Rancheria Casino Hotel, California Welding Supply, Budweiser, Alamo Alarm and Stockton Hampton Inn and Suites and Lodi Holiday Express.                                                         

RESULTS

Basically-4-Cylinder

Legends

Grand American Modified

Super Stocks

#1 Western Late Models

#2 Western Late Models

Attn. Visitors; Rooms available at Stockton 99's New Official Hotel!