N.J. driver cruises to GAM victory

By Kevin Niendorf

Record Correspondent

September 08, 2013 12:00 AM

STOCKTON - Colin Milroy flew in from Southampton, N.J., in search of his first victory at Stockton 99 Speedway on Saturday. He might have a difficult time getting the large victory trophy onto the plane when he returns to see his high school buddies on Monday.

And what will he tell them about his weekend in California?

"I don't know what to tell them. They wouldn't even understand," said Milroy, celebrating with family, friends and the Garcia Racing Team in front of an estimated 300 fans. "I guess I just got the experience of racing here before, and this time I hit the nail on the head."

Milroy led the Grand American Modifieds main event from start to finish after an inverted start gave him the pole for the second of two GAM races. Milroy finished sixth after the first 25-lap event, five places behind Sacramento's Jason Philpot.

Philpot, second in the points standings, finished sixth in the second race, with Ripon's Mike Regelman, the points leader, third in both races.

In the Legends of the Pacific division, a field of 12 racers was down to seven by lap 20 of the 35-lap event as three yellows delayed the finish. Trophy-dash winner Matt Baxter moved up from seventh position on lap 16 to second by lap 19, but he couldn't catch Santa Rosa's Cameron Austin, who took the lead by the 20th lap and held on for the victory.

In the Mini Cups division, Gabriel Herzog of Clovis started from the third position but had the lead by lap 5 and kept it throughout the 25-lap race. He held off Sacramento's Ethan Almog over the final 10 laps for the win. Almog was disqualified after the race, but race officials said he was appealing the action.

Trophy dash winner Seth Holman of Manteca began from the fourth spot, but he couldn't get closer than third. Almog began the night tied with Holman for first in the points race, but Herzog now is in the mix for the season championship.

In the Pro-4 Modifieds, points leader Codi Barba was edged by Reno's Eric Darensburg in the trophy dash, but Barba claimed the lead for good on lap 11 of the 30-lap main event. Borba increased his points lead over Jimmy Sorrels, who finished fourth.

John Turner won the California Hard Tops trophy dash but finished fourth out of five cars after starting second in the 15-lap race. The Bay Area's Dave Stewart started fourth in the pack but claimed the lead on a restart following the seventh lap.

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