Speedway backs its billing
SCOTT LINESBURGH
Record Staff Writer
Published Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006
Pete
Hernandez found out everything he had heard about Stockton 99 Speedway was true.
Hernandez, a NASCAR Drive For Diversity candidate, was very competitive in the
NASCAR Western Late Model season opener at Stockton 99 on Sunday before getting
involved in a crash and finishing 11th.
He said he knew Stockton 99's reputation as a rough quarter-mile track. "It's
all true. This is a very aggressive and challenging track," Hernandez said. "It
gives true meaning to the term 'rubbing is racing,' and I'm
excited to test my skills here."
Hernandez, 36, is a Chicago resident who will be driving for Bill McAnally
Racing. He replaces Allison Duncan as McAnally's Drive For Diversity
representative. Duncan is still in the program and is competing at Motor Mile
Speedway in Radford, Va.
Hernandez
was the second-fastest qualifier Sunday and was in fourth place in the main
event before an incident involving Dave Byrd and Guy Guibor at the front of the
field caused a five-car accident. Hernandez lost his front-end brakes but
finished the race.
"I thought he did an excellent job for his first time at a tough track," Bill
McAnally said. "He was fast and competitive. He got caught up in something out
of his control."
Contact reporter Scott Linesburgh at (209) 546-8281 or slinesbu@recordnet.com
