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Anderson, Calif. (June 4) --
The SRL Wild West Shootout made their only visit to Shasta Raceway Park in
Anderson, California Saturday
night for the "106.1X" 100 lap feature event. Wilton's Jason Fensler won
his fourth race of the 2005 season on the 3/8 mile track. Ken Boyd
finished second followed by Harold Rieker Jr., Troy Ermish, and Joey Zampa.
Harold Rieker Jr. of Roseville was the fastest car in qualifying as he
earned fast time honors for the first time in his SRL career. Rieker's
fast lap of 15.939 seconds topped Jason Fensler (15.961), Eric Schmidt,
(15.962), Mark Smith, (15.996) as Ken Boyd rounded out the top five at
16.000 seconds. Tracy's Mark Smith won the four lap trophy dash as Fensler,
Rieker Jr., and Schmidt followed.
Rieker Jr. drew a six which determined the invert for the 100 lap "106.1X"
feature event. Troy Ermish sat on the pole with Ken Boyd a long side as
the green flag was displayed. Boyd beat Ermish to the line to lead lap one
by inches as Schmidt ran third. Salida's Jeff Belletto retired on lap five
due to an electrical problem. Meanwhile Eric Schmidt passed Ermish to take
over second. Eric Graham made his second start of 2005 with the SRL and
lost power after 8 laps. Mark Smith and Jason Fensler who were running
fourth and fifth respectively made contact in the middle of turn three and
four causing Smith to spin on lap 12. Smith was able to resume as the race
continued caution free. Boyd had a comfortable lead as Schmidt started to
close the gap on lap 20 with Ermish, Fensler, and Rieker Jr., closely
behind.
The first and only caution flag was displayed on lap 26 as Joey Zampa and
Rusty Buholz ran out of race track heading into turn three as Buholz slid
across the infield and hit the tire barrier. Zampa was placed in the rear
of the field as Buholz was finished for the evening with front end and
suspension damage. Boyd continued to lead Schmidt as Fensler passed Ermish
to take the third position over on the lap 28 restart. Rieker Jr. rounded
out the top five as they all ran nose to tail until lap 46 when Fensler
passed Schmidt to take second spot. Defending Series Champion Steve
Belletto retired on lap 53 with mechanical failure and would finish 14th.
Boyd's lead started shrinking on lap 60 as Fensler started closing in fast
for the top spot. Boyd held off Fensler for nine more laps as Fensler beat
Boyd to the line to lead lap 70. Rieker Jr., took third away from Schmidt
four laps later as Ermish took fourth away from Schmidt on lap 82.
After starting 15th Napa's Joey Zampa charged into fifth on lap 91 and
Schmidt slipped back to sixth. Mike Mendenhall followed Zampa to take
sixth from Schmidt with six laps to go. Jim Courage Jr. ran eight as 17
year old rookie Jeremy Wood ran ninth with Tracy Bolin tenth and Mark
Smith tenth.
Fensler held off Boyd in the late stages of the race to win his fourth
race of the 2005 season. "I didn't think we had the best car tonight"
Fensler said. "We were able to use some lap traffic to get around Kenny
(Boyd). I told my crew I wanted to bring the car home in one piece. I give
a lot of credit to Kenny for racing me clean tonight. We were racing for
points, but the way it turned out we got the win to." Ken Boyd finished
right behind Fensler and Congratulated Fensler on his victory. "We had a
real fast car tonight, but after the restart it tightened up on us a
little bit." A smiling Harold Rieker Jr. said "We had a fast car, set
quick time, but we couldn't catch up to Ken (Boyd) and Jason (Fensler). I
think this is the first race we've been able to finish here at Shasta
ever".
Rieker Jr. finished third for the second consecutive race and jumped two
spots into seventh in the Championship point standings. Troy Ermish
finished fourth as he earned his third top five finish on the year. Joey
Zampa rounded out the top five from his 15th started position and had one
of the fastest cars on the track all night.
Santee's Mike Mendenhall finished sixth in his first ever visit to Shasta
Raceway Park. After running in the top three for the majority of the race,
Roseville's Eric Schmidt finished seventh. Jim Courage Jr. finished eight
after qualifying seventh earlier in the day. Jeremy Wood earned rookie of
the race honors as he finished ninth and his third top ten finish of the
2005 season. Wood now leads the Victory Circle Chassis and Parts Rookie of
the Year point standings over Rusty Buholz by two points as they sit 11th
and 12th in the Championship standings. After spinning early in the race
Mark Smith rebounded to a tenth place finish and moves back into the top
five in the Championship point standings. Tracy Bolin finished 11th,
followed by Aaron Days, John Gaalswyk, Steve Belletto, Rusty Buholz, Eric
Graham, and Jeff Belletto.
Average race speed:
79.177 MPH
Best lap time: 16.104 Speed 83.830 (Eric Schmidt)
Margin of Victory: 1.082 seconds
The
SRL Wild West Shootout heads to Altamont Raceway & Arena on Saturday, June
18th.
Davey
Hamilton’s SRL “Wild West Shootout” would like to thank their 2005
Sponsors, which include: Afco, Apex Financial Group, Bassett Racing
Wheels, Brodix Inc., Casciaro Homes, 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,
Paul Oil Co., Perry Race Cars, Peterson Fluid Systems, Pit Stop USA.Com,
Sunoco, Total Seal Inc., U. S. Brake, and Victory Circle Chassis and
Parts. |
