Speed awards Anthony with the win;
Consistency rewards Strmiska with the Championship
Tracy,
Calif. (Sept. 21st) — Davey Hamilton’s SRL Wild West Late Model
Shootout visited Altamont Raceway Park in
Tracy, California last night for the final race of the 2003 racing season. Jeff
Anthony of Livermore, California crossed the line first, to take his third
Sunoco Checkered Flag this season. Lakeport’s Mike Doss finished second,
followed by rookie Ryan Foster, Ron Strmiska Jr., and Ken Boyd fifth.
Anderson, California rookie Ryan Foster set quick time around Altamont’s big half-mile track. Foster ran a lap of 18.325 seconds. Ron Strmiska Jr. of Manteca, California qualified second, Jeff Anthony third, Tracy’s David Philpott fourth, and Mike Doss fifth.
Foster drew a “10” invert for the 100 lap feature. Chris Wadsworth of Oakley, California would start on the front row, a long side Ken Boyd of Ceres, California. Wadsworth rented the number three car from Rick Knudson. Knudson owns the number three car, and the number twenty-six car driven by Boyd. Just before the green flag waved, Wadsworth’s car stopped on the front stretch, as he needed a push to the pits, with mechanical failure.
The entire inside row moved up one spot. Aaron Days of Patterson, California would now lead the field to the green flag from the inside of row one. As the green flag waved, Boyd took the lead on the outside heading into turn one. On lap two, Joey Zampa, Tracy Bolin, Kyle Gottula, and Ed Coughenour spun in the middle of turns one and two. Zampa and Bolin had front end damage, and each made a pit stop. As the field went green on Lap five, Boyd led Days, Ruzbarsky, Philpott, and Anthony. Lap 13 saw Ruzbarsky make his way around Days for second. Ruzbarsky made the pass exiting turn two. Ruzbarsky quickly closed in on race-leader Boyd, and on lap 20 Ruzbarsky and Boyd made contact exiting turn four, sending Boyd spinning across the front stretch, as 16 other cars missed him. Boyd somehow ended up in the right direction on the race track and continued. Trophy Dash winner Ruzbarsky, was black flagged and finish 17th.
With Boyd and Ruzbarsky out of the top five, Aaron Days inherited the lead, but not for long. Tracy’s David Philpott took the lead on lap 24. Anthony passed Days for second just two laps later on lap 26. Mike Doss moved into third from his fifth starting position on lap 30. Geoff Brandon from Eureka, California spun on the backstretch on lap 35. Anthony made his way around Philpott just before the caution came out to take the lead.
At the half-way point, Anthony continued to lead, Philpott ran second, Doss third, Days fourth and Ryan Foster fifth. Doss later passed Philpott for second. On lap 83 Ryan Foster passed Days for third, as the field continued green. Jeff Anthony was able to hold off Mike Doss, to take this third straight shootout victory at Altamont Raceway Park.
“My car was awesome tonight, it was really good in the middle of the corners, and it ran well the final 63 laps under green.” Said Race winner Jeff Anthony.
Ron Strmiska Jr. started the race in the 9th position, and finished fourth, giving him the title of “2003 SRL Wild West Late Model Shootout Series Champion. “It fells really good to win the championship, but I’m glad it’s over. This is for all of my crew members, they do all the work. Said 2003 Champion Ron Strmiska Jr.
Heading into the race at Altamont, Strmiska had a one point lead over Jeff Anthony in the Western Speed and Fuel Qualifying Points. Strmiska qualified one spot better then Anthony, and clinched the 2003 Western Speed and Fuel Qualifying Points Championship.
Ryan Foster is the 2003 Hoosier Tire West Rookie of the Year. Foster finished his season with two wins and two fast times during qualifying. He also placed third in the Western Speed and Fuel Qualifying Points championship.