Twin wins for Tracy driver

By Scott Niendorf

Record Correspondent

August 05, 2012 12:00 AM

Robbie Knittel, front, leads, in order, Chad Holman, Jason Aguirre and Rich Harper in a trophy dash Saturday at Stockton 99 Speedway in Stockton.CALIXTRO ROMIAS/The Record

STOCKTON - Scott Winters of Tracy knew he had a chance to solidify his state Grand American Modifieds points lead and track standing with twin events Saturday.

He didn't waste it.

Winters led wire to wire to take the checkered flag in the first Modifieds 40-lap main, then finished the night with another main event victory in front of an estimated 1,000 spectators on Kids Night at Stockton 99 Speedway.

The track awarded trophies to several divisions of youths racing tricycles on the front stretch before the main events witnessed by an estimated 250 children cheering the action.

Miller extended his lead at the speedway after Wes Miller of Turlock crashed on the final lap of the Modifieds trophy dash, won by Peggy Sue Jared of Stockton, and didn't race the rest of the evening.

"Wes (Miller) had some bad luck tonight," said Winters, who led Miller by some 44 points before the evening. "The race might have been a little boring for the fans, but it's not boring of you win. I knew I had a good lead in the first race so I tried to run as smooth a race as possible and save my tires for the second race."

Rodney Tripp of Stockton had the fastest qualifying car in the Bombers, but had to work his way from the last place on a complete invert at the start of the 30-lap main to grab the checkered flag ahead of Guido Bindi, Jr., of Stockton, who started the race on the pole. Tripp moved up to second on lap 11 and grabbed the lead from the outside slot on a restart on the 16thlap.

"When I ended up on the outside on the restart, it was great," said Tripp, who made up some ground on the track leaders. "I heard

(Bindi) hit the throttle at the restart and I just hit the gas. My car was fast all day. I'm excited to see what the rest of the season has in store."

Chad Holman of Manteca earned the Super Stocks win in the 30-lap main for his first win of the year ahead of Robbie Knittel of Lodi and Jason Aguirre of Atwater, respectively. Knittel took the dash victory ahead of Holman and Rich Harper of Stockton.

Joseph Reichmuth of Manteca made a move on B4 points leader Dave Kong of Stockton with a double win in the main and dash. Reichmuth earned his fifth main victory of the season ahead of Kong and Brad Mast of Manteca, respectively.

Colin Mullan of Danville held off Manteca's Seth Holman on the final turn of the Mini Cups 30-lap main to finished ahead of points leader Bryce Napier of Scott's Valley for the checkered flag. Mullan also won the trophy dash ahead of Holman, who spun out at the end of the main.

The Speedway next hosts NASCAR Whelen All American Series racing Aug. 11 featuring Western Late Model Twins, NCMA Sprint Cars, Grand American Modified Twins, Pro-4 Modifieds, Pure Stocks and Basic 4's.