David wins track's last
Grand National
Modesto driver breaks tie in
points standings
SCOTT LINESBURGH
Record Staff Writer
Published Sunday, Aug 6, 2006
STOCKTON - Mike David couldn't have asked
for a better outcome in his last Saturday night at Stockton 99 Speedway.
David got the best of his old buddy Eric Holmes of Escalon in a back-and-forth,
thrilling battle and won the final NASCAR Grand National race at Stockton 99 to
take sole possession of first place in the points standings.
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Stockton's Pete Anderson Jr. won the abbreviated eighth round of the Western
Late Model Hotwood 1,000, which was cut to 52 laps because of the Grand
National's television commitment.
The television audience watched David lead the final 56 laps of the Dodge
Country 200 and hold off the challenge from Holmes. The two drivers came into
the event tied atop the Grand National standings, and the lead changed several
times before David finally took control of the race.
Three of the Modesto driver's four career Grand National wins have been at his
home track, including a win in Stockton on April 29.
"Maybe I can rent (Stockton 99) and run my own race," David said. "It's too bad
it was the last one."
David also won the final Grand National race at Mesa Marin Raceway in
Bakersfield in 2005.
"It's great - I won the last race at Mesa Marin and the last one here," David
said. "It was quite a race, and
Eric is a great driver."
Holmes started on the pole and led a total of 116 laps. David grabbed the lead
for first time on lap 56, but passed David five laps later. There would be five
lead changes between the two drivers, and David made the final pass on a restart
on lap 144.
"That was a lot of fun, but I wish I would have won it," Holmes said. "I tried
to pressure him and I thought I might be wearing him out, but I guess my car was
wearing out."
David now has 1,374 points, and Holmes has 1,369. Peyton Sellers, who finished
third, has 1,342.
There were seven yellow flags in the Western Late Model race, and during a
caution period on lap 52, the checked flag was waved. Anderson was declared the
winner at 7:35 p.m., 25 minutes before the Grand National race was scheduled to
start live on HDnet television.
Anderson picked up his third win of the season, and wasn't concerned about how
many laps he drove.
"I might take a little away from it because they called it early, but I don't
mind getting it like this because I felt we had the fastest car out there,"
Anderson said.
Donnie Darter of Stockton continued his hot streak by winning his second
consecutive American
Limited Stock Car main event. Darter has won five of the
past seven races.
Track promoter Ken Clapp announced that the WLM race on Aug. 19 would be a
100-lap race. It was originally scheduled for 50 laps, and the ticket prices
will remain $15 for adults.
Contact reporter Scott Linesburgh at (209) 546-8281 slinesbu@recordnet.com
The Stockton 99 Speedway is located just off Highway 99 at 4105 North Wilson Way. If you are traveling south on Highway 99 take the Wilson Way exit. If you are heading north on Highway 99 take the Cherokee Road exit, loop over the freeway, turn right onto Newton Road and then turn left on Wilson Way.
Stockton 99 Speedway Info/Race Line (209) 466-9999.
