STOCKTON 99 SPEEDWAY
2011 Schedule         Last race: WEEKLY RACE RECAP

The New Stockton 99 Speedway Media Release – 4-16-2011           

Media Relations – David Holman

All Photos are the property of Jessica McAnelly

Jessie's Fast Photos/ http://jessiesfastphotos.smugmug.com
 

City of Stockton Night Produced Some Unbelievable
Action With Aguirre and Lewis Splitting the Twins

In March, the sun is a bird spreading its wings, little by little, from behind a tangled thicket of a hundred smokey rooftops.  Above, wind stirs.  It heats like the sap of every tree, sending a staccato from leaf to leaf through symphonies of sunlight and shade as nature announces her new-feathered youth.  This day holds forth its promises to Spring.  She, too, is here.  And with her, the cyclic continuum circles forward to Stockton 99 Speedway where it's time to start your engines for another season and another night of great racing.

On Saturday, April 16 ^th, Stockton 99 Speedway presented City of Stockton Night,  which featured the NASCAR Whelen All American Series Super Stocks in Twin 40's, Bombers, Basically-4- Cylinders, Mini Trucks, Mini Cups, and Vintage Hard Tops. 

In the Super Stock Twin #1, there were no big surprises when Early Season Points Leader Jason Aguirre (45) of Atwater took the checkers ahead of the field.  This Division continues to grow and the racing is always dynamic.  And of course, they take no prisoners.

This one got underway with Aguirre pacing the field to green and the one and only Ben Lewis II (22) of Stockton ready to react on the outside.  Lewis got that great jump, as often happens up there in the high groove on starts and restarts, and held strong for the first 23 laps, despite the relentless shark-like attack on his rear bumper by Aguirre.  Finally, on lap 24, Aguirre's

tenacity paid dividends when he ducked low and gave Lewis no choice but to relent as the #45 powered his way by the #22 for the hard-earned lead.  Lewis immediately fell into the clutches of Stockton's own Rich Harper (5), and slipped back to third.  From that point onward, Aguirre owned that number one slot, but not without heavy pressure from Harper over the final laps, until finally, there was nothing left but the finish line and the checkered flag, both of which Aguirre gratefully accepted.  "With about two laps to go, the clutch started slipping," said the well-spoken Aguirre, "I knew it was going out so I was happy to win this one."  Harper held on to finish an impressively close second while Lodi's second generation driver and rookie Robbie Knittel (03) pulled off an exceptional podium finish in third.  Lewis, after fighting a loose race car over the second half, collected himself in time to finish fourth with Oakdale's Mike Graham (93) rounding out the top five.

When the Super Stock Twin #2 hit the high banks, the crowd of nearly 1000 cheered for more of what they had seen in #1.  This time, however, the race took on a whole new complexion with Ben Lewis II (22) of Stockton showing the way the entire way.

With an invert of four off Twin #1, Stockton's Ben Lewis II (22) and Lodi's Robbie Knittel (03) were elected rulers of that prime real estate up front.  When the green flag flew, Lewis laid claim to  the holeshot coming up off turn two where he held serve until lap 3 when the #47 of Lodi's Aaron Shankel spun down low in turn two which brought with it the single yellow of the race.  After further review, officials deemed Mark Squadrito (3) of Livermore, guilty as charged of indisputable contact and relegated him to the tail-end of the longest line.  On the restart, Lewis got some large forward bite out of four coming to the green and resumed his spot out front.  There was some absolutely great racing going on for second on back, but on this night, Lewis would not be denied, going wire to wire, for the Victory.  "We were pretty loose in the first one." said the quiet young Lewis, "But we brought it in and got it fixed up and did pretty good."  Rich Harper, strong all night, would finish this one up in second just as he did the first Twin.  West Modesto's young phenom, Garland Tyler (73), finished on the podium in third with Mike Graham (93) crossing the stripe in a close fourth.  "The Kid" Robbie Knittel (03) rounded out the top five in the final event of the evening.

If you thirst for heavy metal, then the Bombers are your ticket.  On this night, Mike Massone (007) of Stockton reigned supreme in undeniable fashion.

Jeremy Tucker (819) and Josh Hughes (247), both of Stockton, lined up on the front row to bring the field around to greet the green where Tucker beat the crowd down into turn one for the early lead.  Unfortunately, an instant yellow came out when Hughes looped it getting into three.  On the ensuing restart, Massone, sporting a brand new Chevy this year, put that new power to the asphalt and drove off into a little history of his own; completely dominating on this night by winning everything but fast time, securing the dust-broom sweep.  These racers got strung out quickly, and although there were some challenges mid-pack, no one came close to challenging the overwhelming power of Massone as he crossed beneath the checkers over a half-lap ahead of his nearest competitor.  "Wow! I'm happy, but I really don't know what to say," said the excited Massone, "I want to thank Leroy Hunt for building this car for me and everyone else who supports me."  The #819x of Stockton's Bobby Simpson finished a very convincing second while 2010 Champ, Travis Tucker (350) of Stockton, making a rare appearance since moving up, finished on the podium in third.  Stockton drivers Jeremy Tucker and the #043 of Andrew Rumsey rounded out the top five, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.

The Basically-4-Cylinders roared back onto the speedy asphalt surface for the third week in a row.  And, believe it or not, Joseph Reichmuth (6) of Manteca, once again stood on the top tier of the podium by winning his third in a row.

The pack lined up five deep on the grid with 2010 Champ Larry Toon (88) of Modesto and second generation driver, Samantha Williams (4) of Lodi, bringing the race under the green flag.  Toon took charge early only to be displaced on lap 4 by a hard-charging Matt Anderson (5) of Stockton when Anderson drove it off hard into turn one and got underneath Toon with minimal contact.  Over the next few laps Anderson began to chew away at the asphalt until lap 7 when the Racing God of Mechanical Woes took a huge bite out of his night as the #5 came to rest near the outside wall in turn one, which ended an otherwise promising race for the young, third generation driver.  On the restart, Williams got the jump and held the lead for one long lap.  But, unfortunately for her, Joseph Reichmuth had worked his way up through the field and took over that precious real estate out front on lap 9.  And, of course, once out there, Reichmuth relished the fresh air and took it to the checkers for his third win in as many weeks.  "First of all I have to wish my dad Happy Birthday," said Reichmuth, "This win is for him."  Williams ran a brilliant race of her own and finished a very impressive second.  Toon, after the earlier altercation, fought his way back to the podium in third while Modesto's JD Silva (56), starting deep on the grid, came home fourth.  Kelle Bobbitt (61) of Stockton finished up the night with another top five in fifth.