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  STOCKTON 99 SPEEDWAY
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WEEKLY RACE RECAP

Wrong call doesn't matter in the end

STOCKTON - Jeff Belletto nearly out-thought himself.

Leading early in the opening NASCAR Western Late Model 50-lap main, the Modesto driver chose the outside slot on the restart to fall behind Matt Scott of Pine Grove, but rallied on another restart for the victory in front of an estimated 500 fans Saturday at Stockton 99 Speedway.

"I was thinking the outside line was going to be better as it usually is, but Matt's a good driver," said Belletto. "It's tough to hit the restart just right. Matt's fast and makes me stay up on the (steering) wheel the whole race. My hat's off to him - he's fun to race."

Scott took the lead on the 25th lap from the pole and kept it through three more restarts from the inside, but slipped behind Belletto on the 31st lap to finish second.

"My car was handling well on the bottom (line)," said Scott. "I probably didn't get enough heat back into my tires on the last restart. (Jeff) and I have fun racing each other. I think we put on a pretty good show.

"It doesn't matter which Belletto I'm racing against, I'm having to race my hardest."

Scott won the 40-lap twin main event later in the evening over Nic Belletto of Modesto, Jeff Belletto's nephew, and Mindy McCord of Billings, Mont., respectively.

Nic Belletto earned the checkered flag over Scott in the Late Model dash.

Tyler Guzman of Oakdale was a double winner in the Bomber Division main event and trophy dash. Guzman edged Brandon Jones of Lodi in the main and Rodney Tripp of Stockton in the dash.

Greg Van Cleave of Santa Rosa won the Pro-4 Modifieds main event over Codi Barba of Windsor and Chris Straka of Cobb, respectively.

Barba took the dash victory ahead of Van Cleave.

Last year's B4 champion, Joseph Reichmuth of Manteca, parlayed his top qualifying time into the 30-lap main victory over Stockton drivers Mark Jacke and Dave Kong. Jacke's pole position in the dash helped give him the win over Modesto drivers Chris Corder and Jennifer Corder, with Reichmuth taking fourth.

Stockton 99 hosts USG Night next Saturday featuring Western Late Model twins, Modified twins, Super Stocks, Pure Stocks and B4's.

Track officials announced that Ron Pestana died Saturday during a race at All-American Speedway in Roseville.

Pestana, who raced at Stockton 99 Speedway a number of times over the years, had a band known as Ron Pestana and the Pit Crew. The band performed at Stockton 99 on July 5, 2009. One of their songs, "Rock and Roll Speedway," is an ode to Stockton 99 and its 2009 reopening after the 66-year-old track shutdown for two seasons. The lyrics include the words: "Stockton 99, man, you came back to us just in the nick of time."

 

 

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


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