2003 99 Schedule
Sat. Sep, 20th was
Mayor’s Cup Night for the NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES. The evening featured five
big main events including, Western Late Models, Grand American Modifides, Legend
Cars and Pure Stocks for the
annual Women’s Powder Puff Championships.
In the Western Late Model
HAVOLINE C.L. BRYANT sponsored division Harry Belletto, #74, of Modesto passed John
Moore, #27, of Granite Bay for the lead following the start. Wes Miller,
#2, of Turlock
and Danny Guibor, #52, of Manteca chased Moore going two wide in lap two. Miller
passed Guibor for third. Moore continued to pursue Belletto, diving low in lap
eight attempting to pass for the lead. Point leader
Eric Schmidt,
05x, of Roseville
made his way through the pack, battling head to head with Miller for two laps
until Schmidt broke away in lap thirteen. Schmidt continued to maneuver his way
to the lead passing Moore for second. Schmidt was on a rail and quickly chased
Belletto, but was slowed by lapped traffic in lap sixteen. Dwight Pilcher,
#05, of
Stockton spun out causing a yellow flag in lap
nineteen. After the restart
Belletto hastily bolted into the lead with Schmidt going low from the inside.
With less than
one-third of the race left the battle between Belletto and
Schmidt intensified. Schmidt went low for a passing attempt, but it was halted
when Johnny Berndt of Clements crashed into the wall causing another caution
flag. After the restart Danny Guibor of Manteca flew into the wall sending
another caution flag out.
Schmidt and Belletto were nose to nose after the
final restart. Schmidt raced into the lead chased by Belletto. In the final
lap on turn three Belletto went full throttle trying to pass the leader, but
Schmidt
defended his position and finished with a clean sweep and the 2003
Western Late Model Championship. Schmidt finished the season with 1,125 points,
six victories, ten dash wins and nine fast times. Belletto finished 2nd
with 1,097 points and Moore placed 3rd and in points with 873.
Robert Knittel,#3, of Lodi placed 4th and Gary Schafer, Jr., #3x, was 5th.
In the Grand American Modified
Division Jason Philpot, #5, claimed his 2003 Grand American Modified Championship.
Joey Stearns, #3, of Stockton raced into the lead after the start. Top qualifier and
dash winner Mike Regelman, #66, of Ripon chased Stearns until Jason Philpot bumped
Regelman sending him
spinning. After the caution flag Stearns and Regelman were
sent to the back of the pack. Stearns
and Steve Stacy,
#91, of Stockton battled for
the lead. Stacy passed Stearns from the outside for the lap four lead. Stearns
and Stacy continued to rally until Sterns recaptured the lead and broke away
dominating the pack. Philpot had maneuvered his way into third by lap
seventeen. Chris Mays, #39, of Stockton
spun out in lap twenty-one causing a caution
flag. Stearns set the pace on the restart and Stacy followed, trailed by
Philpot. Ted Montague, #34, of Newark spun out in lap twenty-five causing another
caution flag. Stearns raced back into the lead and claimed his first victory of
the season, Regelman finished 2nd, Philpot 3rd, Danny
Contessotto, (#98), 4th and Steve Stacy was 5th.
In the Pro 4 Trucks division,
Carrie Miller won the 2003 Pro 4 Trucks Championship. Carrie Miller, #27, of Saratoga
was the first woman in the track’s 57-year history to win a Championship! Todd
Lewis of Riverbank had the lead followed by Randy Jahoda, #71, of Tracy, Dave Wright
of Manteca and Carrie
Miller of Saratoga, respectively. Jahoda swiftly passed
Lewis, who lost his momentum and trailed
the pack. Miller passed Wright for
second and Bret Barney, #81, of Rohnert Park followed for third. It was a smooth race
until Mike Curry, #48, of Lodi slammed into the wall sending out the caution flag. Jahoda didn’t hesitate to take the lead and was chased by Miller and Barney.
Miller and Jahoda battled
for the lead, but Jahoda dominated his position for a
checkered flag finish, Miller followed for 2nd, Barney was 3rd,Chris
Drysdale, of San Jose was 4th and Shane Drecher of Livermore was 5th.
The Women’s annual Powder Puff
Championship was an exciting race. Christy
Allen,
#9, of Linden raced into the lead
and quickly dominated her position. Allen was chased by Donna Dahl, #04, of
Stockton. Dahl challenged Allen for the lead going head to head in lap eleven.
They continued to battle in lapped traffic until Dahl captured the lead half way
through the race.
Dahl claimed the championship, Peggy Mosher,
#03, of Manteca was 2nd,
Allen 3rd, Jill Schmidt,
#05, of Roseville was 4th and Evelyn
Bird of Stockton, #68, finished 5th.
Bryce Hilliard of Libby
Montana had a strong lead in the first main Legends
Division race. Hilliard led
the pack over half the race until a caution flag in lap fifteen. After the
restart Hilliard sprinted into the lead followed by Pete Currin of Redwood City,
Richard Appleby, #83, (right), of Yountville and Kelly Martin, #38, of Modesto respectively.
Hilliard got a little loose in lap eighteen
opening the door for Appleby and
Martin to pass from the inside. Hillard was able to pass Martin for 2nd.
Richard Appleby of Yountville took the checkered flag, Kelly Martin 3rd,
Chuck Scott 4th, and Mike Hoffman was 5th.
In the second
Legends race Rick Andrews, #58, dominated the lead until Ryan Mosher
passed Andrews in
lap 23 for the victory. Andrews finished 2nd, Kelly Martin 3rd,
Chuck Scott 4th, and 2003 (99 Speedway) Legend Cars Track Champion Steve Fensler,
Jr., #5, finished 5th.
Stockton 99 Speedway is celebrating their 57th season this year in a BIG way
Saturday, September 27th. The CALIFORNIA STATE OPEN COMPETITION CHAMPIONSHIP presented by STOCKTON DODGE / DODGE COUNTRY and DAVID’S RACING PRODUCTS. This is going to be a HUGE night for race fans and drivers! Open competition Western Late Models will race a 125-lap feature event for a chance to win a purse totaling $26,320.00! Grand American Modifieds will battle 66 laps during their main event for a possible $8,105.00 and Pure Stocks will race a 50-lap main event for a purse totaling $5,630.00. A HUGE AERIAL FIREWORKS SHOW will follow the races! Don’t miss this opportunity to see top drivers racing at the fast track for over $40,000 in open competition prize money!
