Hunt returns, wins at 99

SCOTT LINESBURGH
Record Staff Writer
Published Sunday, Apr 23, 2006
ANOTHER STORY

STOCKTON - Tony Hunt overcame his memories of a serious accident and once again conquered Stockton 99 Speedway. (Accident pictures here)

Hunt broke his tailbone in a scary crash at the track a year ago, but won the United States Auto Club's Western Sprint main event at the Gerhard Open-Wheel Classic Saturday at Stockton 99 in front of a crowd of 1,838.

Hunt used a nice inside pass to take the lead from Matt DeMartini of Antioch with four laps remaining in the 50-lap feature. Hunt, who lives in Lincoln, also finished ninth in the 100-lap Bay Cities Racing Association Midget main event won by Billy Wease of Noblesville, Ind.

Any trepidation about his return to Stockton are in the past.

"I have a near-death experience and a win (at Stockton 99)," Hunt said. "This is my home track, since I live pretty close. The track has sentimental value to me."

Hunt won for the third time at Stockton 99, but admits he had some fears before racing Saturday.

He went into the wall and through the fence in last year's crash, breaking his tailbone. He credits his safety gear with saving his life.

Hunt is a two-time USAC Sprint champ, but he would have had a hard time winning if Greg Anderson of Roseville had not spun out of the lead on lap 37.

Anderson started on the pole and led until his incident. He was involved in an altercation during his heat race and suffered damage right front corner of his car. He said he had to overcompensate for the damage and it wore down his brakes and tires.

"After about 35 laps, the tires and brakes started to go," Anderson said. "We're lucky we lasted as long as we did."

DeMartini took the lead, but Hunt slipped hinside coming out of turn No. 4 on lap 46 and passed him.

DeMartini was second, and Nick Rescino Jr. of San Francisco was third.

Wease, 19, took the lead on lap 30 after making contact with Michael Lewis and getting past him.

John Sarale of Stockton is the defending BCRA Midget champion but he struggled at the track closest to his home. Sarale finished 19th and qualified 22nd. He lost his brakes during the race and was involved in an accident, but finished the race.

Eddie Abrew of Manteca finished 27th.

Joe Allen of Stockton won the NASCAR American Limited Stock Car main event and set a new track qualifying record with a time of 15.575 seconds. Allen won for the second time this season and it was the fourth of his career.

Ron Robeck of Milpitas won his 10th career Pro 4 Truck main event.

Contact reporter Scott Linesburgh at (209) 546-8281 slinesbu@recordnet.com

On Friday April 28 the public is invited to attend a free practice session in which up to 20 Grand National AutoZone West Series cars will take to the high banked quarter mile in preparation for Saturday’s race. The grandstands will swing open on Friday at 2:00 PM and the cars will hit the track from 2:00 to 8:00 PM for practice.

Also, be sure to stop into your local AutoZone store for a $10 discount coupon for an adult admission to Saturday’s race.

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