SRL Awards 2004

Sacramento, Calif. (Nov. 16)-- Nearly 250 Drivers, Owners, Crew members, Family, and Friends attended Davey Hamilton’s SRL Wild West Late Model Shootout awards banquet last Saturday night at the Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza in downtown Sacramento. The top 15 drivers in the championship race were recognized for their achievements, as the 2004 season was celebrated.

In his first season competing with the SRL, Modesto’s #30, Steve Belletto won the series Championship as he received a standing ovation on his way up to the stage. In 11 starts Belletto had 7 top five finishes, and nine top ten

finishes. Belletto also qualified in the top five on two different occasions, on his way to the 2004 series championship. Belletto was presented with a brand new Helmet from Impact Racing, a champion’s jacket from Hoosier Tire, and a gift certificate towards a purchase at Bassett Wheel.

Finishing second in the 2004 series championship is Rick Ruzbarsky of Tracy. In his third fulltime season with the SRL Ruzbarsky picked up his second career shootout victory at Stockton 99 Speedway on July 3rd. Rick finished the season with 8 top fives, and 9 top tens in 11 starts for the Jess Motorsports team. With his second place position, Rick Ruzbarsky received a pair of shoes from Impact Racing.

Ken Boyd of Ceres, California also completed his first full time season with the SRL in 2004. During the 2004 season Boyd set quick time at each of the tracks that the SRL visited in 2004. Boyd either qualified first or second in the final seven races of 2004. Ken Boyd was also awarded the 2004 Apex Financial Qualifying points champion. With his third place finish Boyd received a pair of gloves from Impact Racing. Ken Boyd also won a gift certificate for 25% off of a purchase of a new Five Star Stock Car Body from Chris Carli and Finishline Racing Equipment.

Livermore’s Jeff Anthony, #76, the 2002 series champion returned for another excellent year in 2004. Jeff Anthony won at Altamont Motorsports Park on May 1st, and on July 24th. Jeff qualified first at the season opening race at Altamont on March 20th. In 11 starts, Anthony scored nine top ten’s, with seven top five finishes.

In his second full-time season with the SRL, Anderson’s Ryan Foster, #21, scored two wins in 11 starts this season. Ryan’s first win came at Mesa Marin Raceway on June 5th, his second win came at Shasta Raceway Park on September

18th. The 2003 rookie of the year finished the year with six top five finishes, along with 8 top ten finishes. Ryan Foster was always a threat for setting quick time in 2004. He qualified in the top five in nine of 11 races this season, as he set quick time at Stockton on March 28th, and was the quickest at Altamont on May 1st. Ryan also finished second in the Apex Financial Qualifying Points championship. Ryan Foster was also presented a gift certificate towards a purchase at Bassett Wheel for his fifth place finish.

Finishing sixth in the final championship standings is Tracy’s Mark Smith. In 11 starts this season, Smith had three top five finishes, and six top ten finishes. As a rookie, Smith made every race this season, with fifth place being his best finish of 2004. Mark Smith was also awarded a gift certificate towards a purchase at Bassett Wheel, a rookie of the year jacket from Hoosier Tire, and also a brand new 2004 Victory Circle Chassis from Victory Circle which was presented to him from Rick Grissom of Victory Circle Chassis and Parts Inc.

In his third full-time season with Davey Hamilton’s SRL Wild West Shootout, Napa’s #92, Joey Zampa scored five top five finishes in ten starts. On March 28th, Zampa visited victory lane at Stockton 99 Speedway for his third career SRL Wild West Shootout victory.

In 11 starts this season, Troy Ermish finished in the top ten on five different occasions. The Fremont, California driver had his best series finish at Mesa Marin Raceway on June 5th.

After a slow start at the beginning of the year, this 17 year old Bakersfield high school student led every lap at Mesa Marin Raceway on August 7th to score his first career SRL win. In nine starts Mike Mason had five top ten finishes in his Pontiac Grand Prix. Mason finished second this year to Mark Smith in the Victory Circle Chassis and Parts rookie of the year points. Mike Mason also won the Five Star Stock Car Body from Chris Carli and Finishline Racing Equipment.

With nine starts this season, which included five top ten finishes, Valley Springs driver Tracy Bolin finish 10th in the overall championship. Bolin’s best finish of the year came at Stockton 99 Speedway on July 3rd. Mechanical problems sidelined the Bolin Racing Teams Chevrolet Monte Carlo for the final two races resulting in a tenth place finish.

Salida’s Jeff Belletto, #6, made 8 starts during the 2004 season. On June 19th, Belletto tasted victory for the first time at Madera Speedway. Belletto finished the year with one win, and five top ten finishes. Jeff Belletto qualified in the top five in five of his eight starts this season, as he finished 3rd in the apex financial qualifying point championship.

With nine starts this season, Roseville’s Eric Schmidt had a career best 2nd place at Shasta Raceway Park on September 18th. Eric accumulated three top five finishes and also qualified in the top five in three out of the last four races, finishing 7th in the Apex Financial Qualifying points.

Fresno’s Ray Lawson Jr. made six series starts during the 2004 season. In those six starts, Lawson scored four top ten finishes. Ray Lawson Jr.’s best finish was 7th at Madera Speedway. Ray’s best qualifying effort came at Madera Speedway on June 19th.

In his first full-time season with Davey Hamilton’s SRL Wild West Late Model Shootout, San Francisco’s Jeremy Hopkins Jr. finished 14th in the series final point standings. Jeremy collected two top ten finishes in nine starts for car owner James Offenbach. Hopkins qualified a career best 4th at Shasta Raceway Park in Anderson, California on September 18th.

During the 2004 season, Patterson’s Aaron Days made six starts which include three top ten finishes. Aaron’s Chevrolet Monte Carlo had a series best finish of 6th at Mesa Marin Raceway on June 6th.

Capture the Flag: Sunoco Race Fuels, a proud sponsor of Davey Hamilton’s SRL Wild West Shootout awards the winner of each event in the 2004 season with a Sunoco Checkered Flag. During the 2004 season Jeff Anthony and Ryan Foster scored two wins each earning them two Sunoco Flags. Steve Belletto, Jeff Belletto, Mike Mason, Rick Ruzbarsky, Joey Zampa, Rusty Buholz, and Craig Raudman each won one event during the 2004 season as they each received one Sunoco checkered flag.

Davey Hamilton would also like to thank Executive Series Director Steve Fensler and all of the 2004 SRL Officials for all of their hard work and time during the 2004 racing season.

Davey Hamilton’s SRL Wild West Shootout would like to thank its 2004 Sponsors, which include: Apex Financial Group, Bassett Racing Wheels, Beam Design, Brodix Inc., Dynatech, Finishline Racing Equipment, Five Star Stock Car Bodies, Frank's Radio, G. P. Fabrication., Hoosier Tire West, Impact Racing, Paul Oil Co., Peterson Fluid Systems, Pit stop usa.com., Print Werx, Sunoco, Total Seal Inc., U. S. Brake, and Victory Circle Chassis and Parts.