WELCH AND TREADWAY CLINCH STOCKTON TITLES
(STOCKTON, CA--September 10, 2000)--Orangevale Grand American driver Mark Welch and Pro Stock pilot Cary Treadway of Stockton both laid claim to their respective division season championships Saturday night at NASCAR-sanctioned Stockton 99 Speedway. Both did so in style, with 50-lap feature wins. The track title for Welch is his second in a row; and, although not officially confirmed by NASCAR, also cinched his second straight Pacific Coast Regional title. For Treadway, the championship was his third straight—having won the track’s Street Stock titles in 1998 and ’99, then following suit this year in the new Pro Stock division.
Welch’s feature triumph—his 14th in 20 starts—was made much easier after starting on the pole of a 20-car field. The win was not a given, however, as the outside front row starter was another former NASCAR Region and Stockton track champion, Robert Miller, formerly from San Jose now living in Gardnerville, Nevada. Miller grabbed the opening lap lead with a yellow coming on lap-two as Victor Machado of Escalon tagged Tony Silva of Sacramento on the backchute sending Silva into the wall and out of contention. The unfortunate circumstance cost Silva, who is second in points to Welch, any chance of overtaking the leader as he trailed by more than 100 points coming in.
Miller held forth against Welch for two more laps; but, following a second yellow on lap-four, the eventual winner moved to the front. The early laps were seemingly run at a snail’s pace as the race was marred by six cautions in the first 11 laps. After six laps, the front five consisted of Welch, Miller, Robert Knittel of Lodi, Steve Daniels of Orangevale, and Benicia driver Barry Callouette.
Only one yellow slowed the pace over the final 39 laps as none of the challengers could make a serious run at the 44-year old Welch. His win was his 40th at Stockton and stretched his season point lead over Silva to 142 (1097-955) with only a single "double point" race left on September 23. When the checkered was waved, trophy dash winner Callouette was second with Knittel, Miller and Daniels completing the top five.
Treadway theoretically was not going to start on the pole for the Pro Stock 50. Initially, he was 12th in the 14-car field, however a fist lap melee that resulted in a re-start enabled Treadway to move up. Damage to the entire inside line of cars ahead of him sent them all to the pits for minor to major repairs and left him on the pole for the second green-flag.
As one might expect, Treadway cruised with Scott Chappell of Lodi, who started 11th, coming to fourth by lap-three. Chappell picked up a spot a lap to move into second on lap-five. After 10-laps, it was Treadway, Chappell, Joe Hylton of Manteca, and two Stockton pilots--Pete Anderson, Jr. and Jerry Crawford.
In contrast to the Grand American’s, the first yellow in the Pro Stock feature was not displayed until the midway point of the 50-lap run when Jason White of Lodi took a solid shot against the first turn wall. On the re-start, it was Treadway, followed by
Chappell, Crawford, Hylton, and Clement driver Johnny Berndt. Yellows for two minor
spins had little effect on the rest of the race as Crawford passed Chappell for second on lap-43. At the finish, it was Treadway, Crawford, Chappell, Pete Ramirez of Manteca and Berndt.
Earlier, Treadway had set fast time for the 14th time on the season; won the trophy dash for the 10th time and the feature win was his 13th in 20 starts. The sweep was his eighth of the season. With a single event left, Treadway’s point margin is an insur-mountable 110 (1140-1030) over Chappell.
While the championship in the I.B. Benedict Pure Stock class is still in doubt, new bragging rights were established in time trials when 18-year-old Chris Mays of Stockton posted a new track single lap record of 17.117
Twenty cars answered the bell for their 50-lap feature with Tom Dahl of Stockton leading the opening lap before bowing to Bryan Clark of Lodi on the second go-round. A quick yellow on lap-four slowed the action with incoming point leader and defending champion Guy Guibor of Manteca sliding to fourth on lap-six. Ray Davis of Galt took charge next with Guibor moving to second. A yellow on lap-11 boxed up the front runners and allowed Guy’s younger brother Danny, also of Manteca, to jump to the lead
Guy Guibor slipped to third on lap-22 as second place point runner Tracy Bolin of Valley Springs got past him. It was still D. Guibor, Tracy Bolin and G. Guibor when a red flag was displayed on lap-41 after Stockton driver Joey Stearns saw his motor go up in smoke and flames in turn-one.
Danny Guibor held firm to record his second feature win of the season ahead of Bolin, Guy Guibor, Mike Graham of Manteca and new track fast timer Mays. With two races to go, Guy Guibor leads the season point battle over Tracy Bolin by 79 (1161-1082).
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Saturday, September 16, is the final opportunity to catch the NASCAR-sanctioned Shell Tri-Track Challenge, sponsored by Paul Oil Company of Oakdale, at Stockton 99 Speedway.
A field of more than 25 Late Model Sportsmen—including Tri-Track point leader Jim Pettit—will be on hand to battle on Stockton’s tight, quarter-mile paved oval. Pettit, of Salinas, has won four of the last five Tri-Track events and now leads Jason Fensler of Wilton by 12-points. Three Belletto’s—father Harry and sons Steve and Jeff—and former track champions John Gaalswyk, Ken Boyd and David Philpott are expected to compete, as well.
In addition to the 100-lap Late Model feature, the program will also include Ultra Wheel Spec Trucks, I.B. Benedict Pure Stocks and American Stocks.
Ticket gates open at 3:00 p.m., with qualifying set for 5:00 p.m. and racing at six.
Stockton 99 Speedway is located at 4105 N. Wilson Way, a quarter-mile west of Highway 99.
