Flags fly in Bomber Division

By Scott Niendorf

Record Correspondent

May 13, 2012 12:00 AM

Garret Peterson (31) races against Tyler Edwards (24) on his way to winning the Ford Focus Midgets main event Saturday night at Stockton 99 Speedway. Edwards finished second.

MICHAEL McCOLLUM/The Record

STOCKTON - Stockton's Jeremy Tucker just wanted to have fun this year after working so hard to win the Bomber Division title last season.

Tucker's victory Saturday night in the 30-lap main at Stockton 99 Speedway was anything but fun as only 10 cars finished out of the 17 that started in a race that saw four yellows and one red flag interrupt the heated competition in front of an estimated crowd of 800 spectators.

Tucker, especially, was the most surprised to get the checkered flag as he was in last place on the 15th lap after getting bumped into the infield wall after colliding with Stockton's Bobby Simpson.

"That was my fault," said Tucker. "I was just hoping to get a top-five finish the rest of the way."

A red flag bumped Tucker to third after Simpson and Stockton's Ben Lewis ran into Ceres' Tyler Guzman. Tucker then dove through an opening past Lodi's Brandon Jones after leader Guido Bindi of Stockton temporarily lost power on the 28th lap to claim the win.

"This is a good way to start the season," Tucker said. "My car looks like it's been through hell and back."

Simpson won the Bombers dash.

Lodi's Robbie Knittel won a shortened Super Stocks event over Madera's Howard Holden. Stockton's Rich Harper won the trophy dash over Atwater's Jason Aguirre.

Driver Sammy Solari of Oakdale talks in the pits during Saturday night�s races at Stockton 99 Speedway. MICHAEL MCCOLLUM/THE RECORD

Manteca's Joseph Reichmuth relied on his experience as last year's B-4 champion to take advantage of impatient drivers ahead of him to win a thrilling three-way fight to the finish in the 30-lap main event.

Stockton's Mark Jacke passed Dave Kong, also of Stockton, for the lead on lap 21, but the two collided on lap 26 and Reichmuth suddenly found himself on the pole for the restart and held on for the win.

"(Jacke) is going to be hard to beat this year," Reichmuth said. "I saw them get together on turn one and I knew something was going to happen so I backed off a bit. I don't know if I'd have won if Jacke hadn't been taken out."

Jacke won the dash ahead of Kong and Reichmuth, respectively.

Garrett Peterson of West Sacramento won both Ford Focus Midgets features, while Sheldon Didinger won the dash.

Bryce Napier of Scott's Valley won the Mini Cup main but was upset by Stockton's Andrew Vanderpool in the dash.

Kami Marshall won the Powder Puff Bombers main event over Christina Pritchard, while Savannah Scholl won the Powder Puff dash.

The track hosts races next Saturday, featuring Vintage Super Modifieds, Legends of the Pacific, Vintage Hard Tops and Pro-4 Modifieds.