Tight racing in tight points race at Stockton 99

By Scott Niendorf

Record Correspondent

September 11, 2011 12:00 AM

STOCKTON - Rocklin's Josh Whitfield led from start to finish in a wild Super Stocks battle that endured five cautions and one red flag in the first six laps Saturday night in front of an estimated 800 spectators at Stockton 99 Speedway.

The jockeying knocked season points contenders Robbie Knittel of Lodi and Stockton's Rich Harper out of the first of two Super Stock races. Both were trying to catch points leader Mike Graham of Hughson, who finished sixth in the opener.

"It's getting late in the season so there was a lot going on back there," said Whitfield, who managed to stay ahead of the fray. "I'm not really in the points, but it was hard to stop and start so many times - you just want to go, go, go."

Atwater's Jason Aguirre won the second race starting from the pole ahead of Graham, who stayed in the points lead.

"Everyone was beating and banging and fighting like dogs," Aguirre said.

Stockton's Ben Lewis took himself out of the second race and let Harper drive instead, and he finished third. Lodi's Brandon Jones let Knittel drive his car to try to stay in the points chase, and he managed a ninth-place finish.

Stockton's Jeremy Tucker started 12th out of 13 cars to take his fifth checkered flag of the season in the Bombers division ahead of Ceres' Tyler Guzman. Tucker padded his season points lead ahead of Linden's Mike Massone.

Manteca's Joseph Reichmuth earned his 10th victory in 11 tries in the Basically 4 main event after finishing second behind Dave Kong. Kong was disqualified, however, for having illegal tires.

Bryce Napier, 12, of Scotts Valley, had a six-point lead in Mini Cups coming into the final race and needed only to finish third for the championship, which he did, behind Lodi's Jackson Ezell and Hunter Franklin, respectively.
Napier took the checkered flag in the Mini cups dash, while Tyler Guzman got the dash win for the Bombers, Ed Amador edged David Goodwill in the NCMA Sprint Cars dash, while Rich Harper cruised to the win in the Super Stocks.

Racetrack organizers also held a 9/11 memorial by honoring local first responders.

Stockton 99 hosts races next Saturday featuring Western Late Models in a 150-lap event, along with races for Super Stocks, Grand American Modifieds, Bombers and Basically 4s.

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

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