2006 SRL Wild West Late Model Shootout Point Standings 

Aaron Days Wins at Altamont as Championship Race Gets Very Tight

 Photo: Aaron Days and #27 Crew Victory Lane Altamont Motorsports Park
#27 Aaron Days
Photo Credit: David Misco

Tracy, Calif. (Sept. 24^th)--  The SRL Wild West Late Model Shootout returned to Altamont Motorsports Park Sunday afternoon for round number seven of the 2006 season. Patterson’s Aaron Days led all 100 laps en route to his first career SRL victory. Joey Zampa finished second, Tracy Bolin third, Jim Courage Jr. fourth and Ken Boyd fifth. “This is awesome, we have been trying to win one of these races all year. Mark Smith put a fantastic setup under me. The car never fell off, it was good every lap. Thanks to Granite Construction, they have been a terrific sponsor this season. This win is dedicated to Jeff Anthony, I wish he was here tonight, he would have either been beating on my rear bumper or I would have been chasing him down.” Days said.

Jim Pettit was the fastest of 22 SRL Late Models Sunday afternoon. Pettit set a new track record with a lap of 17.493 seconds around the big half mile. Eddy McKean qualified second (17.609), Jim Courage Jr. qualified third (17.612), Troy Ermish fourth (17.625), and Ken Boyd fifth (17.635). Jim Courage Jr. was the previous track record holder with a lap 17.564. Pettit won the four lap Performance Electrical trophy dash. Eddy McKean finished second, followed by Troy Ermish and Jim Courage Jr.

The 10 car invert put Aaron Days and Tracy Bolin on the front row. As the green flag waived, Days jumped out to an early race lead until the caution waved on lap two for a spinning Jason Gilbert who started 13^th. Gilbert was able to continue without going a lap down. Days led the field to the green flag on lap 5 with Bolin second, current points leader Eric Schmidt third, Joey Zampa fourth, and Victory Circle Chassis and Parts Rookie of the Year points leader Kyle Gottula fifth.

The yellow flag was waived on lap 12 for a spin in turn four involving Joey Zampa and Kyle Gottula. The red flag came out on lap 13 to clean up debris in turn four. With 20 laps complete, Days continued to lead with Bolin closely behind, Schmidt ran third, Jim Pettit fourth and Ken Boyd fifth. Eddy McKean who made the tow all the way from Idaho was sixth, Troy Ermish seventh, Jim Courage Jr. eight, Mike Mendenhall ninth and Jamie Dick tenth. McKean passed Ken Boyd on lap 23 to take third as Boyd fell back to 10^th. McKean then made his way around Pettit on lap 34 to take fourth. The yellow flag came out once again on lap 41 for a spinning Chris Staraka who made his SRL debut Sunday.

At the halfway point Aaron Days continued to lead Tracy Bolin, Eddy McKean, Troy Ermish and Jim Courage Jr. Bryan Herzog, Rick Ruzbarsky, Kyle Gottula, and Jim Pettit had already retired their racecars at the halfway point.

Joey Zampa who had spun earlier in the race was the man on the move at Altamont Motorsports Park. Zampa was in fourth place on lap 53 behind McKean, Bolin and race leader Aaron Days. McKean started putting pressure on Bolin in the second spot on lap 70. The two drivers touched exiting turn two and allowed Joey Zampa to sneak by and move into second on lap 72. Jamie Dick hit the turn four wall hard and collected current points leader Eric Schmidt has the yellow flag came out for the final time. Both Schmidt and Dick were forced to retire with significant damage to their Chevrolet Monte Carlo’s. Last week’s winner and the 2004 SRL Champion Steve Belletto also retired his car and finished in the 18^th position.

Aaron Days led the field to the final restart on lap 77 with Zampa, Bolin, Courage Jr., and Boyd rounding out the top five. Days and Zampa ran nose-to-tail around the track as the two made slight contact a few times but both continued on. With ten laps remaining Days began to extend his lead over Zampa. Zampa tried everything he could to pass Days for lead but was unable to as Days cruised to his first career SRL victory. “The 27 (Days) was real good tonight. I’m real happy with finishing second, we came from the back to the front and the car is still in one piece.” Zampa said. Zampa held onto second, Bolin third, Courage Jr. fourth and Ken Boyd fifth.

Finishing sixth was Eddy McKean, followed by Mike Mendenhall, Joe Farre’, Jeff Belletto as Justin Westmoreland rounded out the top ten. With Jim Courage Jr.’s fourth place finish he now trails Eric Schmidt by just five points heading into the season finale at Madera Speedway.

The SRL Wild West Late Model Shootout 2006 season will come to an end on Saturday, October 7^th, 2006 at Madera Speedway.

The SRL Wild West Shootout would like to thank their 2006 Sponsors, which include: Afco, Bassett Racing Wheels, Brodix Inc., Dynatech, DPI, Eibach Springs, FRE, Five Star Stock Car Bodies, Frank’s Radio Service, G. P. Fabrication, Hoosier Tire West, Impact Racing, Fensler Racing Inc., Madera Auto Center, MUD-Racing.net, Paul Oil Co., Performance Electrical, Peterson Fluid Systems, Pit Stop USA.Com, Sunoco, U.S. Brake, and Victory Circle Chassis and Parts.