Philpot makes plan work

By Scott Niendorf

Record Correspondent

April 06, 2014 12:00 AM

Stockton 99 Speedway on Friday April 4, 2014. Saturday will be it's 66th Opening Day!

STOCKTON - Justin Philpot had a plan to win the Western Late Model main event in Saturday's Stockton 99 opener against a talented field.

The Tracy driver needed to get out to an early lead and not look back.

Philpot did the first by grabbing the lead on the second lap, but he spent an agonizing 38 more laps holding off the others to take the checkered flag in front of an estimated 2,800 spectators.

"The goal was to get in front quickly if I could," said Philpot, who started on the outside of the front row. "It was tough looking in my mirror and running 40 laps like that. I accidentally knocked my mirror and couldn't see. It was a fun race."

Philpot grabbed the lead from Lodi's Michael Wendt, who started on the pole, and ended up finishing third behind Pine Grove's Matt Scott, last season's champion, who caught Wendt on the last lap.

Marc Borges of Banta won the Pure Stock main ahead of Brandon Jones of Lodi and Joseph Reichmuth of Manteca.

#88, registers early on Friday for 99's 66th Opening Day!

Ben Lewis, the track's defending Pure Stock champion, rallied from the outside third row position to edge past Borges on lap 10 of a 25-lap main to take the lead.

But a flat tire three laps later caused the Stockton driver to spin out and begin from the back on the restart. He finished fourth.

"That's what we come out here for," Borges said. "(Lewis) is a hard guy to beat. I just never gave up and fought. Straightaways don't mean anything out here - it's all about the turns."

Lewis won the trophy dash, followed by Borges and Reichmuth.

Mike Regelman of Ripon won the Modifieds main ahead of Robbie Knittle of Lodi and Jay Linstroth of Citrus Heights.

Modifieds dash winner Kyle Gottula of Modesto finished ahead of Rodney Tripp of Stockton and Regelman.

Chase Madjic of Redding was a double winner in the Legends of the Pacific division, winning the main and the dash. He beat Cameron Austin of Santa Rosa and Logan Zampa of Napa to the finish line in the main.

Andrew Payne of Fair Oaks took the pole position of the Mini Cups Division and survived a red flag on the ninth lap to win the 20-lap main ahead of Lawrence Massone of Linden and Cameron Legue of Roseville. Joshua Stradwood won the mini dash ahead of Caden Sarale of Linden and John Haney.

"I'm so excited for this season," speedway co-owner Tony Noceti said. "After coming off the World of Outlaws, and what a home run that was, we have new sponsors and that's generating some excitement. Our local government is even starting to recognize motorsports in San Joaquin County is a growing industry."

On Saturday, the speedway hosts NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action, featuring the Pacific Challenge Series, Pro-4 Modifieds, BCRA Midgets, Super Stocks andMini Cups.

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