2011 Local Tracks

  STOCKTON 99 SPEEDWAY
2011 Schedule         Last race: WEEKLY RACE RECAP
 

The New Stockton 99 Speedway Media Release – 6-11-2011           

Media Relations – David Holman

All Photos are the property of Jessica McAnelly

Jessie's Fast Photos/ www.jessiesfastphotos.com

USG Night Brought With It Beautiful Weather  and Outstanding Racing Starring Belletto, Butler, Philpot, Solari, Byers and Reichmuth

On Saturday, June 11^th, NASCAR Whelen All American Racing Series rolled back into action at the tight quarter-mile after a losing battle with Mother Nature the previous week.  On USG Night at the Races, the ticket for the Event was filled with great racing which happened to come in the form of Western Late Models in Twin 50's, Grand American Modified, Super Stocks, Bombers and Basically-4-Cylinders.  The only thing better on this night than the beautiful California sunset was the tumultuous onslaught of high-octane energy that continuously circled the infield.  The nearly 2000 fans in the stands were the lucky witnesses that could attest to that fact.  The Toughest Test In The West relentlessly grows pure racing excitement.

On occasion, an event gets off to a quick start, and this was such an event.  The Basically-4-Cylinders were up first and in no time, Joseph Reichmuth (6) of Manteca was once again sitting in Victory Lane with his fifth win in a row, which left him perfect so far on the year.

This one got rolling with Nick Rogers (51) of Modesto sitting at the helm and Modesto's Jennifer Corder (24) flanking him to the right.  Rogers jumped out to the early lead only to be derailed by the #6 of Manteca's Joseph Reichmuth on lap 2.  Just as quickly, on lap 4, third generation driver Matt Anderson (5) of Manteca and third generation female driver Samantha Williams (4) of Ceres made contact getting down into one with Anderson getting the worse end of the deal as he went spinning towards the inside wall, which was followed closely by the first yellow of the night.  Unfortunately for Williams, she was invited to join the #5 at the tail-end of the field for her share of the blame.  On the lap 4 restart, and a couple thereafter, Reichmuth would assume that all-too-familiar position out front where he would bask in the fresh air and breathe it in all the way through to the checkers, despite a serious challenge by Rogers on lap 17 when the #51 took control of P1 for four laps until Reichmuth finally wrestled the lead back for good on lap 21.  The win would continue Reichmuth's Perfect Season and increase his win-streak to five in a row.  "This feels great to win five in a row," said the likable young Reichmuth, "I want to thank my entire crew for making this all possible, my mom and dad and all the fans who came out tonight."  Rogers held on to finish an impressive second with Stockton's own Kelle Bobbitt (61) finishing on the podium in third.  Hughson's Tommy Wood (28) wrapped it up in fourth while French Camp's Chris Boone (4x) rounded out the top five.

In the Bombers Division, anything can happen.  And, of course, tonight it did when first-timer Dennis Byers (969) of Stockton was declared the winner after some reshuffling of the original finishing order.

This one came out of the blocks with Byers firmly planted at P1 and Robert Dueck (819) of Stockton planted firmly on Byers' right-side door.  Byers got the great jump down low and beat the field into turn one where he would enjoy the brilliance of the spotlight until lap 6 when Stockton's David Tucker (350) slowed and finally came to rest low in the middle of the backstretch, which caught the attention of the flagman who promptly sent the yellow flying.  On the ensuing restart, Byers took little time in reestablishing his lead role only to be slowed six laps later when, on lap 12, Dueck made slight contact with the leader between three and four and looped it, collecting Stockton's Mike Massone (007) in the process and bringing with it the second caution of the race, which led Dueck's night to an immediate end.  On the restart, Byers resumed the lead only to surrender it three laps later, on lap 15, to Points Leader Jeremy Tucker (351) of Stockton.  Once Tucker tasted the clean air out front, he refused to relinquish it as he began to chew away at the asphalt, leaving nothing but second place in his wake as he took it to the checkers in what would have been his third win on the year.  Unfortunately, after further review, officials came to the conclusion that Tucker's great run to the front included some over-zealous driving on the #351's part, and he was penalized a lap, which landed him in fifth, instead, giving the win over to Byers, who ran a fantastic race of his own and gratefully accepted his new-found inheritance.  "You take them any way you can get them," said the polite Byers, "I would like to thank all my sponsors and everyone who helps out to make this team possible."  Tyler Guzman (93x) of Ceres would step up to the podium in second while Stockton's Bobby Simpson Sr. finished on the podium in third.  Tony Karsting (312) of Stockton, doesn't make a lot of noise, but always shows up by race's end, brought her home in fourth and, of course, then there was Tucker in what had to be a huge disappointment, finishing fifth.

Points Leader and second generation driver from Modesto, Jeff Belletto (12x), has been strong all season, and tonight would be no exception as he out-qualified the field for the third time, which landed him on pole in the Western Late Model Twin #1, where he took full advantage and took it to the house for his third win of the year.

As mentioned, Belletto started P1 on the grid with Trevor Schlundt (28) of Clovis out to the right ready to go as the green flag flew.  Belletto grabbed the holeshot down into turn one and from that point forward it was all about who was going to finish second on this night as the #12x would not be denied, taking it flag to flag in this caution-free fifty-lapper.  However, Belletto did not go unmolested to the checkers as he had powerful company gnawing and chewing at his back bumper over the course of the race.  That powerful company came in the form of none other than the Legendary Dave Byrd (78) of Seaside.   But, as it was, Belletto proved too strong on this night even for the likes of a Dave Byrd.  "Well, we're starting to make a little habit of it, it's kind of nice, you know," said the well-spoken Belletto, "Setting fast time, starting on the pole, then winning it."  Then again, there was some great racing going on throughout the pack, but especially over the number five spot.  Sacramento's Bobby Butler (3) had the spot, Modesto's Mike Beeler wanted it.  And so it was, lap after lap, a dogfight of a battle of guts and skill until lap 40, when Beeler made a great move low and overtook Butler.  And, of course, Butler had no choice but to relent to the massive pressure applied by Beeler for forty laps.  This war alone was worth the price of admission.  Byrd held on to finish second, while Schlundt fell off, if only slightly, to make it to the podium in third.  Brentwood's Doff Cooksey (75) had his usual solid run bringing her home in fourth and, most assuredly, Beeler rounded out the top five.

In the Grand American Modified Division, Jason Philpot (15A) of Sacramento had one of those wins that leaves you baffled and has you thinking, "where'd he come from?"  Nonetheless, when you put yourself in position enough times, good things can happen and oft-times do.  Especially with a driver of Philpot's stature.

Lincoln's Nick Lyons (11x) started on pole, with a rare appearance starting from row one by Scott Winters (24) of Tracy, high and outside, due to mechanical issues suffered throughout the day.  With the green flag in the air, Winters got that great jump on the outside that is most always there for the taking.  And take he did as he put the power to the asphalt to the lead.  The race hadn't even gotten into a rhythm when, on lap 3, Ryan Stepps (98) of Oakdale went for a spin of his own between turns one and two, which sent the yellow flying high in the night sky.  On the restart, Winters, once again, took up residence on that prime real estate up front, but by lap 10, Philpot began nibbling at the back bumper of the #24 and, just as the intensity of the nibbling increased, the second yellow of the race reared its ugly face when, going off into turn one, Stepps and the #3x of Don Swartz made contact coming to rest up the hill against the fence, which brought Swartz's night to an abrupt end.  On the lap 14 restart, Philpot beat Winters back to the stripe by a nose only to relinquish the position three laps later when Winters snatched it back.  Unfortunately, just when it appeared their day had made a turn for the better, the #24 slowed on the track and pulled into the infield, handing the lead over to Philpot for the final time on this night.  Philpot would take it the rest of the way for the extremely popular victory, but not without a major challenge from Points Leader Wes Miller (57A) of Turlock over the last few laps.  However, Philpot knows how to win at Stockton, and he managed to stave off the pressure to prove that point.  "It feels great to come out here and win again at Stockton 99 Speedway," said the always gracious Philpot, "It was a hard race tonight.  A little bit of bad luck for thw#24 (Winters), but it happens to everybody."  Miller held on to finish a very close second while the #5 of Jason Bamberg ran a beautiful race of his own in finishing on the podium in third.  Andy Vanderveer (49) of Santa Rosa had another great run finishing her up in fourth with the #20A of Scott Alves showing great talent in finishing fifth.

2010 ALSC Champ Sammy Solari (79), from somewhere in the Central Valley, came to town and put the rubber down to win his first Super Stock Main Event of the year.

Due to a six invert off the Heat Races, 2009 Bomber Champ Ben Lewis II (22) of Stockton inherited the pole with Solari more than eager to get this one underway.  When the green flag fell, Solari got to the gas a touch quicker than Lewis and took the lead going off into turn one.  This one strung out quickly, but not in the true sense of "strung out" as there were battles over every position throughout the field.  Up front, Solari shaded every move Lewis made, but not to detract from Lewis' abilities to handle a race car, not only did he nibble and gnaw at the back bumper of the #79, he chewed and swallowed lap after hungry lap.  In the end, the wily veteran Solari proved to have too much in his bag of tricks for the young Lewis to overcome.  And so the story goes, Solari flew beneath the checkers with Lewis still picking metallic pieces from his teeth as it was hard to tell where Solari's car ended and Lewis' began.  "I would like to thank my car owners," said the always confident Solari, "They work on the car all the time and I just show up to drive it.  It's pretty cool."  Just as impressive, the number three spot came under attack by a pair of drivers, West Modesto's Garland Tyler (73) and 2010 WLM Champ Chad Holman (75) of Manteca.  And finally, with checkers flying, Tyler would grab the unanimous decision in this bout, while Holman, after being bit all year long by the God of Mechanical Woes, came across the stripe welded to Tyler's bumper and would have to settle for fourth.  Hughson's Mike Graham (93) finished her up in fifth, despite a wonderful battle over that spot all race long with the pressure being applied by Points Leader and Stockton's own Rich Harper (5).  Harper was plagued with transmission trouble from early on, and, at this point, a sixth place finish had to be feeling really good.

The second Twin in the Western Late Models painted a different picture than the first as it does most often due to the invert.  This time, Sacramento's Bobby Butler (3) showed the crowd and the competition he has what it takes to win at the tricky quarter-mile.

And, due to that aforementioned invert, Butler nabbed the pole in this one with Modesto's Mike Beeler (6), anxious and ready, to the right.  With green flag in air, Butler wasted no time in determining that fresh air is the best air and off he went into the lead.  Once out front, Butler began picking them up and putting them down as he chewed away at the asphalt, in huge hunks, and took it to the house for the wire-to-wire, caution-free Victory in dominating fashion.  "My fans that came out, I hope everybody enjoyed the show.  I drove my tail off tonight, flag to flag," said the excited Butler, "This is a new car, it's only our third race in it, so I'm happy about that."  The young driver from Clovis, Trevor Schlundt (28), after producing an absolutely fantastic battle over that number two spot with Modesto's Mike Beeler (6), managed to slip by the #6, which landed him in second at the checkers.  Beeler would have to settle for a podium finish in third, but had nothing to hang his head about because the show he and Schlundt put on, without doubt, was the best race of the night.  Dave Byrd (78) of Seaside worked his way into a fourth place finish while #1 Twin Winner, Jeff Belletto (12x) of Modesto, after shadowing Byrd's every move, settled in at fifth.

The New Stockton 99 Speedway is located at 4105 N. Wilson Way, ¼-mile west of Highway 99.  For more information on tickets and times, please contact the Speedway Office at (209)466-9999 or visit their Website at www.stockton99.com. 

The New Stockton 99 Speedway is sponsored by Jackson Rancheria Casino Hotel, California Welding Supply, Budweiser, Alamo Alarm and Stockton Hampton Inn and Suites and Lodi Holiday Express.

RESULTS

Bombers

Grand American Modifieds

Super Stocks

WLM Twin #1

WLM Twin #2

Attn. Visitors; Rooms available at Stockton 99's New Official Hotel!