Teen captures Late Model race

By Scott Niendorf

Record Correspondent

July 20, 2014 12:00 AM

Scotts Valley Mini Cup racer Bryce Napier received the championship trophy Monday, Nov. 28, for winning the 2011 Stockton 99 Mini Cup championships at the Stockton 99 Speedway on Sept. 11.

STOCKTON - Jumping from Mini Cups to Western Late Models could intimidate most any driver. Not 14-year-old Bryce Napier.

The Scotts Valley driver took advantage of a restart on Lap 19 to move from third into first and held on to win the 30-lap Late Model race in front of an estimated 600 fans Saturday night at Stockton 99 Speedway.

"I didn't know I was (restarting) on the pole, but when they told me my heart started thumping," Napier said. "My car was dialed in and I just drove and was able to separate from some good drivers and win."

He finished ahead of Stanislav Osterlund of Los Gatos and Jacob Gomes of Manteca.

Osterlund, who led from lap one before getting spun out in the main, won the dash ahead of Napier.

Jim Badeker of Citrus Heights won a physical Pro-4 race that had five yellows and 10 restarts, finishing ahead of Jimmy Sorrels of Ukiah and Neo Nuno of Santa Rosa.

Dominic Lopez of San Leandro took his first checkered flag in the Super Stocks main event ahead of Tyson Tiago of Livermore and John Vigallon of Manteca.

"I'm so excited I'm still in shock," Lopez said. "This is the hardest track ever. I can't believe it. I've never ever won a heat race or trophy dash here at the 99. I fought hard and was patient and lucky. It was a well-earned win."

Bobby Simpson of Stockton won the dash ahead of Ben Lewis of Stockton and Tiago.

Jeremy Tucker took the checkered flag in the Pure Stocks main ahead of Marc Borges of Banta and Dennis Byers of Stockton. Brandon Jones of Lodi won the dash ahead of Borges and Byers.

Andrew Payne of Fair Oaks won the Mini Cups ahead of Lawrence Massone of Linden and Cameron Legue of Roseville.

Legue took the trophy dash ahead of Payne and Jared Cronk of Discovery Bay.

Racing resumes next Saturday at the Stockton 99 Speedway featuring the Spears Manufacturing SRLs, NCMAs, B-4s and Pure Stocks.

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