SUBWAY SANDWICH "HAPPENING" TO KERBY AT STOCKTON

 

(STOCKTON, CA--May 2, 1999)--A 99th lap pass by Jason Kerby earned the Stockton driver his first ever main event triumph at NASCAR-sanctioned Stockton 99 Speedway Saturday night. And, it couldn't have come at a more opportune time, as the victory came in the Second Annual100-lap Grand American Happening--sponsored by the more than 100 Subway Sandwich shops in the Sacramento, Stockton and Modesto area--and earned the 24-year old $1,500 of the nearly $8,000 purse. Kerby's last lap heroics displaced Dan Dabbs of North Highlands, who had led from the 75th go-round, before 13-hundred hearty Winston Racing Series fans who braved bone-chilling winds.

The outside pole position was the hot spot as Robert Knittel of Lodi took the initial lead when the green flag was displayed for a 19-car field. Orangevale's Mark Welch wasted little time in advancing from seventh to second by lap five, then passing Knittel a lap later and holding forth until the first yellow was displayed on lap-16. Welch and Knittel ran one-two for 30 more laps when Manteca's Teresa Morten spun in turn-two. With a fueling stop planned for lap-50, NASCAR officials decided to red-flag the field one lap short of the halfway mark.

During the break, Welch found a problem that forced him to the infield with Knittel inheriting the lead for the second half re-start. In contrast to the first-half, the second turned into a yellow flag parade--as 10 cautions slowed the action for various spins and crashes. Kerby took the lead from Knittel on lap-53 with Dabbs, who was fast qualifier and dash winner and started 14th, running third. By lap-59, Welch again made his presence known as he slipped into sixth. He kept his Ellis chassis on course by picking up a spot per lap--moving past Knittel into third behind Kerby and Dabbs on lap-63. The threesome of Kerby, Dabbs and Welch chased each other to a yellow on lap-75.

It was Dabbs' turn to grab the lead on the re-start and for the next 16-laps, the top three ran bumper to bumper and slowly pulled away from the rest of the field. Dabbs was able to hold Kerby off for three re-starts; however, on the 98th circuit, Kerby got side-by-side with Dabbs at the line and made the pass to secure his first-ever win. Dabbs had to settle for the $1,000 second-place money with Welch, Knittel and Tracy's Scott Winters completing the top-five.

After five events, Sacramento's Jason Philpot--who finished 14th in the Subway Sandwich Happening--holds a four-point lead (252-248) over Welch in the season point standings. Dabbs is third (216), with Winters (208) and Danny Contessotto of Stockton (200) fourth and fifth. Kerby's win elevated him to sixth (184).

The Street Stock division saw a first lap feature lead by Jeremy Hammon of Lockeford, who quickly surrendered to Greg Albiani of Modesto. Albiani's tenure was also short lived as Lodi's Scott Chappell moved to the fore on lap-three. Fast timer and dash winner Cary Treadway of Stockton took the point on lap-eight and never looked back as his only pursuit was provided by Chappell. At the finish, Treadway and Chappell were one-two--with Hammon, Joe Hylton of Manteca and Modesto's Scott Griffith filling the other top-five positions.

With two wins in three starts, Treadway holds a 20-point (178-158) lead over Chappell in the season point chase. Hammon is third (122); while Duce Hunter of Lathrop and Albiani are tied for fourth at 110.

Legend cars--five-eighth scale 1934 to 1940 Ford, Chevy and Dodge coupes and sedans--made their second appearance of the season on Stockton 99's high-banked quarter-mile oval. The first lap lead of their 30-lap feature went to Jack Humphrey of American Canyon, who held forth until lap-seven before being passed by Dave Sukow of Brentwood. The most successful driver for this division at Stockton--Randy Raduechel of Oakdale with 10 wins in 12 starts--made his presence felt early on. After starting 15th in the 20-car field, he was sixth after 12 laps; but could only improved two places to fourth by the 26th go-round. He was third two laps later and second when the white flag was waved. Just when it looked like a sure win for Sukow, lapped traffic became a factor. When Sukow went high to make a pass in turn three, Raduechel put one wheel in the infield grass to make the pass and claim his 11th feature win. Only six other Legend drivers have ever won Stockton features--all single triumphs--since the division ran for the first time here in 1995. Third place fell to Mark Bailey of San Lorenzo, followed by South Lake Tahoe's Jim Klopp and Robert Lamb of Manteca.

The night's action was completed with the popular Pure Stock division. Thirty-seven cars were on hand with 20 answering the bell for the 25-lap feature. Stockton's Orville Dahl took charge early and never looked back. The victory was his second in a row. Three other Stockton drivers--defending champion Joe Allen, Pete Anderson, Jr. and Gary Shafer, Jr.--filled out the top-five positions with San Jose's Adam Ramsdale slipping into fourth. Dahl leads the season point chase (202-180) over Allen with Guy Guibor of Manteca, Shafer, Jr. and '97 champion Doug Lane of Stockton bunched up within two points of each other in third, fourth and fifth.

 

Next Saturday is "double points" night at Stockton 99 Speedway with Late Model Sportsman returning for the WIX Filters 50. All divisions--Grand American Modified, Street Stock and Pure Stock--will run for "double points" beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Ticket gates will open at 3:00 with qualifying set for 5:00. Adult tickets will cost $12 with children six-to-12 and seniors over 65 being admitted for four dollars. A family ticket--two adults and two children--costs $28.

Stockton 99 Speedway is located at 4105 N.Wilson Way, a quarter-mile west of Highway 99.

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