2011 Local Tracks

  STOCKTON 99 SPEEDWAY
2011 Schedule         Last race: WEEKLY RACE RECAP

The New Stockton 99 Speedway Media Release – 8-6-2011           

Media Relations – David Holman                                                                          

All Photos are the property of Jessica McAnelly

Jessie's Fast Photos/ www.jessiesfastphotos.com

On Fan Appreciation Night, Fans Poured Through the Gates
to Catch a Glimpse at the Non-Stop Action

On Saturday, August 6^th, the NASCAR Whelen All American Racing Series was back in action on Fan Appreciation Night, which featured the Western Late Models in Twins 50’s, Super Stocks, Grand American Modifieds, Bombers and Basically-4- Cylinders.  Coming down the backstretch on year number three at the New Stockton 99 Speedway, the intensity in each Division was thick on this great night of racing and not much was left on the track to mull over.  Fortunately, on a night dedicated to them, the 1500 fans in the stands were the happy recipients of all the grandeur. 

The Basically-4-Cylinders hit the hot asphalt to get the program underway, and to no one’s surprise, the Points Leader from Manteca, Joseph Reichmuth (6) showed the way, once again, in dominating fashion as he brought home his seventh Big Trophy of the year.

With the invert straight-up off the Heat Races, and Reichmuth winning the first Heat, he would get this one going from P1 on the grid with third generation driver from Manteca,  Firecracker Matt Anderson (5) flanking him to the right.  When the first green flag flapped in the humid afternoon sky, Reichmuth wasted no time in determining this race had his name written all over it as he grabbed a gear coming off turn four and vaulted the #6 out into that rarified air in front of the field where his strength shone large until lap 6 when Chris Boone, in a brand new #187 machine, grenaded down the backstretch and came to rest in the grass in turn three, which drew an immediate yellow from the flagstand.  On the restart, Reichmuth assumed his spot on the territory out front that pretty much has his name stamped on it this Season, and from there, he took it to the house for the seventh time this year in a wire to wire romp.  French Camp’s Mark Jacke (747) drove his little four-wheeled rocket onto the podium in another extremely impressive second place finish.  Anderson fell back, if only slightly, but still managed another consistent finish on the podium in third.  Dave Kong (9) of Stockton had his best finish of the year in fourth while, speaking of consistency, Stockton’s Kelle Bobbitt (61) rounded out the top five.

In the Bomber Division, controversy abound, but in the end, there would be a first-time winner who came in the form of Stockton’s Bobby Simpson (819T).  Nonetheless, a win is a win is a win.

Tyler Guzman (93x) of Ceres grabbed the pole in this one with Points Leader Jeremy Tucker (351) of Stockton already nibbling at the rightside numbers of the young Guzman, eagerly waiting the green flag.  And, with the green flying high above the sticky/hot surface, Tucker sniffed out the fresh air up front just as he often does, but this time around he had some hungry company in the #93x who aggressively began to chew away at the back bumper of Tucker until lap 14 when Guzman took control of the situation and dove beneath the #351 to claim the lead for himself.  Unfortunately, that lead would be short-lived, when on lap 16, Stockton’s Mike Massone (007) went spinning low in turn one, but of course, with a little help and the yellow flag went flying for the first time on the night.  On the ensuing restart, Tucker got the great jump and took complete command of that pristine property out front and from that point he would go unchallenged to the checkers for what appeared to be his fifth win of the year.  However, and unfortunately, during post-race discussions, Tucker was flagged for unnecessary roughness on Massone and was penalized accordingly, which put him back to fifth, one spot behind Massone and handed the win over to Simpson who gratefully accepted his new-found inheritance.  Guzman held on to finish a very solid second with Stockton’s Travis Tucker, in the borrowed #028, finishing on the podium in third.

Twin #1 in the Western Late Models produced some great racing, but the outcome was a very common theme this year with the Points Leader and second generation driver from Modesto, Jeff Belletto (12x), striking gold for the fifth time on the Season.

With the invert rendered null and void, this one started straight-up off qualifying, which put Belletto on pole and young second generation driver from Stockton, Colby Potts (12) high and outside and ready to go at the drop of the green.  But, as has happened so often this year, Belletto had the heavier right foot to the green and beat the field down into turn one for the lead where he would enjoy that addictive clean air for the next ten circuits until lap 11 when Atwater’s Carlos Vieira (51) and Tracy’s second generation driver David Philpott (50) made contact, sending Philpott in a spin low in turn two and bringing with him the first yellow of the race.  Of course, both cars were sent to take up their new residence at the tail-end of the longest line.  On the lap 11 restart, Belletto took up where he left off out front, but not without the constant shadowing of his every move by third generation driver Justin Philpott (05), also of Tracy.  Philpott gave it all he had, but on this night, Belletto would prove too strong as he took it to the checkers for the flag to flag Victory, his fifth this Season.  The young Philpott, in his first appearance in several weeks, held on to a solid second place finish.  Seaside’s Dave Byrd (78), and the closest pursuer to Belletto in the Points Battle, managed another strong run to the podium in third.  C. Potts fell off just a bit, but still brought her home in fourth while his dad, Greg Potts (55X), also of Stockton, worked his way up from deep on the starting grid, in a beautiful display of talent, to round out the top five.  For the Trevor Schlundt fans out there: after slowing on lap 33 he pulled into the pits when flames ignited beneath his car.  Trevor, while visibly shaken, was checked at the Infield Care Center and released.

The Grand American Modifieds were back in action after a couple weeks off, but that didn’t deter the mindset of the Points Leader from Turlock, Wes Miller (57), not even slightly as the Superstar showed the way to his fourth win of the year on a night he appeared unbeatable.  And, of course, he was.

Escalon’s Victor Machado (73) inherited the pole with Santa Rosa’s Andy Vanderveer (49) sharing the front row to the right to get this one underway.  No sooner had Machado grabbed the lead than did the race come to an immediate halt when, on lap 1, Vanderveer slid hard into the peninsula at the turn three exit gate which brought the red flag waving.  On the restart, Machado was, however, allowed to enjoy the scenery out front for a solitary lap because on lap 3, Wes Miller’s passion came to a boil as he stuck his nose beneath the #73 and laid claim to that much-coveted real estate out front where, despite having to endure three more caution periods, he would prove, once again, why he is considered one of the elite drivers in the Modified Division by taking it the rest of the way to the glory land in unstoppable fashion to pick up his fourth Victory of the year.  Lincoln’s Nick Lyons (11X), starting mid-pack on the grid, ran a beautiful race of his own, crossing the stripe in second place.  Rick Andersen (11A) of Citrus Heights, starting even deeper on the grid, masterfully worked his way through some of the carnage to finish on the podium in third.  Ryan Stepps (98) of Oakdale had his best finish of the year in fourth while Machado fell off the pace a bit, but still managed a fifth place finish.

In the Super Stock Division, the cars are so equal, anyone can win on any given week, and tonight the Division crowned a first-time winner who came in the form of second generation driver from Lodi, “The Kid” Robbie Knittel (03).

Jason Aguirre (45) of Atwater and Mike Graham (93) of Hughson grabbed front row honors and paced the field around to greet the green to get this one underway.  Aguirre got the great jump as he often does, which allowed him to nab the holeshot going off into turn one where he would enjoy the fresh breeze in his face over the next five laps until lap 6 when Knittel went off on a tangent in turn two, which brought with it that certain yellow flag breaking the silence of the night sky.  On the lap 6 restart, Graham got to the gas and inch quicker than the pack as he rode off into the lead where he began to display his strength, only to be slowed on lap 15 when Points Leader Garland Tyler (73) of Modesto and the young Matt Wendt (1) of Lodi made apparent contact and both cars came to rest against the outside wall between turns one and two and, of course, that wretched yellow flag went flying once again.  On the restart, while Graham assumed the lead, it would be short-lived when, on lap 17, 2010 Champ Sammy Solari (79) from parts unknown, drove beneath the #93 and into the breathable air out front.  Once there, he flourished in the warm, but clean atmosphere until lap 25 when 2010 WLM Champ Chad Holman (75), who had worked his way through the field from P7 on the starting grid, took too large a bite out of the rear bumper of Solari’s hotrod going down into turn one, which sent the #79 spinning up the track and bringing with it the final yellow of the race.  Solari and Holman both took up new residence at the back of the pack, which handed the lead over to Knittel who had made an amazing recovery after the earlier mishap.  Knittel graciously accepted his new-found wealth and to show his gratitude, he took it to the field as he crossed beneath the checkers for his first-ever win in the Division, and a very popular one at that.  Graham had to settle for what was most likely a disappointing second, but not so disappointing considering where he is in the Points Battle.  Aguirre slipped back, if only slightly, to finish on the podium in third.  Tyler, after the earlier altercation, made an astounding recovery in finishing fourth with Solari working his magic back to fifth.

In the Western Late Model Twin #2, the story began much differently than the first Twin, but there was a twist in the plot, and in the end,  Points Leader Jeff Belletto would be sitting in Victory Lane for the second time on this night by winning his sixth of the year.

Due to a six invert off Twin #1, Lodi’s Michael Wendt (2) shared the front row with Stockton’s Greg Potts (55X) to head the field around to the green to get this one up to speed.  Wendt always gets a great start, so it was no surprise to see the #2 beat the field down into turn one and come out on the other side with the lead.  Unfortunately for Wendt, his lead would not last long when, on lap 3, G. Potts made contact with Seaside’s Dave Byrd (78) bringing out the first caution of the race.  The incident brought Byrd’s night to an abrupt end which created major implications for the driver second in points.  And, on the ensuing restart, Jeff Belletto wrestled the lead away from Wendt who had no choice but to surrender the position to the overpowering #12 car.  Once out front, Belletto began to chew away at the laps until there was nothing left to race for but second place.  And, no doubt, that’s where the major battle was waged between Atwater’s Carlos Vieira (51) and Wendt as they swapped that almost-precious real estate behind the leader no less than six times until lap 29 when Vieira took hold of the reign for the final time and rode it out to the checkers to finish a Season-high second place.  Tracy’s second generation driver and past Multi-Track Champ, David Philpott (50), came from very deep on the starting grid to finish on the podium in a very impressive third place run.  Modesto’s Mike Beeler (6), another deep starter, worked his way through the pack to capture his ninth top-five of the year by finishing fourth.  Trevor Schlundt (28) of Clovis, after near-catastrophe in the first race, pulled off a miraculous return starting from the back to finish fifth.

Next Saturday, August 13^th, the NASCAR Whelen All American Racing Series rolls back onto the high banks in Race & Ride For Autism with the Western Late Models in 100 Laps of fast and furious action.  Also on the ticket for the Event will be the Vintage Hard Tops, Ford Focus Midgets, Basically-4-Cylinders and the Enduro Series Race #3.

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-Cylinders

Bombers

Grand American Modified

Super Stocks

WLM #1

WLM #2

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