SRL Public Relations/Eddie Alves
Anthony Shows Winning Way at Altamont
Photo: Jeff Anthony Winner SRL WWS at Altamont & #76 and # 26 (Jeff Anthony/Ken Boyd)
Photo Credit:David Misco
Tracy,
Calif. (May 1)— Altamont Motorsports Park hosted round number four of Davey
Hamilton’s SRL Wild West Late Model Shootout this evening. Livermore’s Jeff
Anthony led the final 80 laps to win his first race of the 2004 season.
“The car was good enough to win tonight, and that’s what matters. I want to thank all my sponsors, especially Groth Brothers Chevrolet. Everyone was in the VIP tower tonight. Everyone is real happy” said Jeff Anthony.
Ken Boyd from Ceres, California finished second right behind Jeff Anthony. “We got a real good start tonight. The car was fast all day. I’m just so proud of all of these guys, they work so hard. We got some time off before we go to Mesa Marin, but we are all looking forward to it. We ran so well there last time.” said Ken Boyd.
Finishing third was current point leader Rick Ruzbarsky of Tracy. “The car came to me at about lap 25. We needed a caution so bad tonight. I used my tires up trying to catch up to the leaders. The HUR-Hutter motors ran awesome tonight. We’re ready to go back to Bakersfield” said Rick Ruzbarsky.
2003 Rookie of the Year Ryan Foster was the quickest car in qualifying. Foster turned a lap of 18.294 seconds around the fast half-mile track. Ruzbarsky was second quick, as he ran 18.298 seconds. Fremont’s Troy Ermish was third, Mike Doss fourth, and Jeff Belletto fifth.
A ten car invert put
Modesto’s Steve Belletto on the pole for the 100 lap feature event. Belletto won
the
season-opening race at Altamont on March 20th. Mike Mansch started on
the outside of row one. Belletto took the lead as the green flag waved. Jeff
Anthony started on the inside of row two, and passed Mike Mansch on lap 2. Ken
Boyd made his way around Mansch on lap 3. With ten laps in the book Belletto led
Anthony, Boyd, Manch, David Philpott, Jeff Belletto, and Mike Doss.
Jeff Anthony passed Steve Belletto for the race lead on lap 20. Three laps later Boyd made a move on Belletto to take second. Victory Circle Chassis and Parts Rookie of the Year contender Tyler McQuarrie spun exiting turn two on lap 36. The race continued without caution, as McQuarrie would finish 15th. Ryan Foster moved into sixth on lap 40, from his tenth starting position. Anthony continued to lead at the halfway point, followed by Boyd, Steve Belletto, Rick Ruzbarsky, and Jeff Belletto.
Lap 60 saw Ruzbarsky take third from Steve Belletto. Foster moved around Jeff Belletto for fifth on lap 66. Victory Circle Chassis and Parts Rookie of the Year Points leader Mark Smith passed Jeff Belletto to take sixth on lap 72. Turlock’s Wes Miller spun exiting turn four on lap 87. Three laps later Mike Doss broke a rear end and spun in turn three to bring out the only caution of the evening.
After a lap 90 restart, Jeff Anthony was able to hold off Ken Boyd to pick up his first Sunoco Checkered Flag of 2004. Ruzbarsky finished third, and leads Anthony by five points in the championship standings. Steve Belletto finished fourth, and Mark Smith picked up his first career SRL top five finish.
Ryan Foster finished sixth, followed by Tracy Bolin from Valley Springs, Jeff Belletto, Rusty Buholz, as Troy Ermish rounded out the top ten.
Wes Miller won the 25 lap Non-Qualifiers race. Rusty Buholz finished second to take the final transfer position into the 100 lap feature. Aaron Days finished third, followed by Jim Courage Jr., Steve Yatsko, Chad Pais, Justin Offenbach, Ray Lawson Jr., Ed Coughenour, Jeremy Hopkins Jr., and Joel Theisen.
Ryan Foster extended his lead in the Apex Financial Qualifying Points. Ruzbarsky trails Foster by five points (13-8).
Thirty-one cars were in the pits on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Altamont Motorsports Park. Thirty cars took qualifying times, and Oakley’s Chris Wadsworth broke during practice.
Ron Strmiska Jr., the 2003 Series Champion was not in attendance Saturday afternoon, due to a family illness. The entire SRL family sends there thoughts and prayers to the Strmiska family.
Race Notes:
Average race speed: 90.500 MPH
Margin of Victory: 0.305 seconds
Best lap time: 18.865 Ken Boyd (95.415 MPH)
Race Time: 33 Minutes, 8 seconds.
Race Leaders: Steve Belletto 1-20, Jeff Anthony 21-100