BYRD, PHILPOT, GUIBOR, & MORRISSEY SCORE STOCKTON WINS
BY JIM SHIELS
Stockton 99 Speedway opened its 2002 season Saturday, April 6th with the first events of a two-day show that saw wins in four divisions. The Ultra Wheel Super Truck action was dominated by Dave Byrd of San Jose, who notched the quick time and cruised to a feature win from his pole starting position. Nine yellow flags for minor spins and fender benders slowed the event, but each time Byrd was able to jump back to the lead in a comfortable manner. His only challenge came from Kevin O’Neil of Long Beach who stayed close on the restarts and kept the leader in sight, abet from as much as a half lap back at times. Greg Adler of Manhatten Beach finished in third ahead of Frank Steiner of Lake Elsenor, and Mark Laeger of Temecula. Bryan Arak of Clovis took the dash win.
Steve Stacy of Stockton set the quick time for the Grand American Division, but the close quarter action belonged to Jason Philpot of Sacramento, with a dash and feature win on the night.
Danny Contessotto of Stockton and Tim Smith of Roseville shared the front row duties for the feature with Smith turning sideways off turn four coming to the green. Smith made contact with Jay Linstroth of Citrus Heights who was forced into the front straight wall and in turn hit by Jason Kerby of Stockton.
Contessotto took the lead on the first official lap with John Unger of Stockton running second. Unger took the point on lap five with Philpot moving ever so steady towards the front to take control on lap-18. Unger held on to finish second ahead of Sam Solari of Salida, Stacy, and Contessotto.
Danny Guibor of Manteca served noticed that he was ready to defend his 2001 championship in the Pure Stock ranks with a clean sweep of the action, winning his heat, the dash, and the feature event.
Charlie Clawson of Modesto took the early feature lead with Guibor taking control on lap nine. Three minor yellows flawed the event with second place falling to Chad Holman of Stockton. Johnny Bird of Stockton finished third in the feature and won his heat. Tom Bolin of San Jose took fourth and also won a heat. Steven Hall of Manteca rounded out the feature top five. Jeff Ahl of Lodi won a heat, with the B-Main victory falling to John Medina of Galt.
Michael Morrissey of Kings Beach was the dominant factor in the Legend action starting the night with a new track record of 15.667 and a heat and dash win.
Debbie Darnell of Livermore led the first two laps of the feature before bowing to Charles Young of Los Banos. Morrissey took charge on lap-10 and never looked back as he took the checkered a half lap ahead of Young, heat winner Kelly Martin of Modesto, Pete Currin of Redwood City, and Wane Estes of Patterson.
