ANDERSON, California -- Race fans from all California headed to Shasta Raceway Park in Anderson, California to watch the season-opener for the SRL Wild West Shootout Late Model Series. Eric Schmidt of Roseville, California led the final 13 laps to win his third career SRL Wild West Late Model Shootout Victory. Series Veteran Ken Boyd finished second, followed by Keith Spangler, Mike Mendenhall, and Jim Courage Jr.
“It really feels good to win the opener here at Shasta. I’m not sure if we had the fastest car tonight, but we definitely had a top three car. With only eight races this year you can’t afford any DNF’s. This is a great start to our season”. Eric Schmidt said while celebrating with his crew in victory lane.
Twenty four cars made a qualifying attempt Saturday afternoon. Troy Ermish of Fremont, California set a new track record with a lap of 15.812 seconds around the 3/8 mile paved oval. Jeremy Wood the 2005 Victory Circle Chassis and Parts Rookie of the Year qualified second, but also holds the track record with Troy Ermish as the two drivers ran identical lap times. Qualifying third was Joey Zampa of Napa, California. Harold Rieker Jr. who previously held the track record qualified fourth as Ken Boyd rounded out the top five with a qualifying time of 15.832. The top five drivers were only separated by two one-hundredths of a second. Victory Circle Chassis and Parts Rookie of the Year contender Justin Westmoreland suffered mechanical problems during practice on Saturday. Thomas Martin also suffered mechanical problems during practice on Friday night. Both drivers were unable to make repairs and make a qualifying attempt Saturday afternoon.
A possible six, eight, or ten invert would determine the starting line-up for the race. Troy Ermish who set fast time earlier in the evening drew a ten which put brothers Steve and Jeff Belletto on the front row. Jeff Belletto jumped out to an early race lead with Steve Belletto second, Ryan Foster third, Kevin Vernon fourth, and Joey Zampa fifth. John Gaalswyk who transferred from the non-qualifiers race exited the track on lap one after making contact with Mike Garcia when the initial green flag waved. The first caution flag waived on lap seven as Harold Rieker Jr. hit the turn four wall very hard. Rieker Jr. was unable to continue. Ryan Foster made his way around Steve Belletto to take the second position when the race restarted on lap ten. Kevin Vernon would pass Steve Belletto on lap 19 to take third as Belletto fell to fourth. Belletto made a pit stop on lap 28 only to find out that the power steering pump broke. Belletto continued and finished 17th five laps down.
The second caution flag waived on lap 32 for debris in turn three as Jeff Belletto continued to lead with Ryan Foster, Kevin Vernon, Joey Zampa, and Eric Schmidt close behind. Zampa made his way around Vernon on lap 38 to take the third position. Meanwhile Keith Spangler made his way into the top five on lap 42 from his 11th starting position.
Belletto continued to lead Foster at the lap 50 half-way point. Zampa, Schmidt, Boyd, Spangler, Courage Jr., Vernon, Ermish, and Mendenhall rounded out the top ten. On lap 66 Joey Zampa took the second position away from Ryan Foster and set his eyes on race leader Jeff Belletto. Eric Schmidt followed Zampa and moved to third one lap later as Foster fell to fourth.
The final caution flag waived on lap 84 as David Mantooh spun in turn four just in front of the race leaders. Zampa who was running second made contact with race leader Jeff Belletto who spun as the caution flag waived. Zampa was the new race leader, however anytime the race leader is spun by a fellow competitor, that competitor must go to the rear of the field. Jeff Belletto would go on to finish in the 15th position.
With just 13 laps remaining Eric Schmidt inherited the lead with Ken Boyd second, Keith Spangler third, Mike Mendenhall fourth, and Jim Courage Jr. fifth. Boyd was unable to pass Schmidt in the closing laps as Schmidt went on to earn his third career SRL Victory. Finishing sixth was Troy Ermish, followed by Tracy Bolin, Kyle Gottula who earned the Performance Electrical Co. Hard Charger award that is given to the driver who advances the most positions during an SRL event. Kevin Vernon would finish ninth as Joey Zampa charged his way back into the tenth position in the final laps.
Ken Boyd trails Eric Schmidt by one point heading into the series next race at Madera Speedway on May 27th. “Our car was off a little bit tonight but we still managed a second place finish. This is a good solid start to the season. Everyone raced hard and clean and we are looking forward to Madera.”
Finishing third in his SRL debut was Keith Spangler. “The car was good all weekend, we just started slowing down at the end of the race. This is a really well-run series. The competition is very tough.”
The non-qualifiers race was scheduled for twenty green flag laps as six drivers were looking to take one of the three transfer positions. Angelo Queirolo jumped out to an early lead with David Mantooth running second. Mantooth and Queirolo made contact exiting turn four on lap 6. Both cars were unable to continue the non-qualifiers race. With only four drivers competing for three transfer positions, the race was cut from twenty laps to twelve laps. Kyle Gottula was the race leader with John Gaalswyk second, Jason Gilbert third, and Wes Banks fourth. On lap ten Banks attempted to pass Gilbert to take over the third position. Gilbert nearly spun but continued on with just two laps remaining. As Banks made this way into turn three on the final lap, Gilbert and Banks again made contact with Gilbert crossing the finish-line before Banks. The SRL Officials determined that both Jason Gilbert and Wes Banks were ineligible to transfer into the 100 lap feature event due to rough driving. David Mantooth who finished fifth after the lap six wreck with Angelo Queirolo was awarded the final transfer position into the feature event.
Harold Rieker Jr. won the four lap Trophy Dash sponsored by Performance Electrical Co. Finishing second was Joey Zampa, followed by Troy Ermish and Jeremy Wood.
The SRL Wild West Shootout heads to Madera Speedway in Madera, California on Saturday, May 27th.
Average race speed: 78.227 MPH Best lap time: 16.143 Speed 83.628 MPH (Aaron Days) Margin of Victory: 0.841 seconds
The SRL Wild West Shootout would like to thank their 2006 Sponsors, which include: Afco, Bassett Racing Wheels, Brodix Inc., Dynatech, DPI, Eibach Springs, FRE, Five Star Stock Car Bodies, Frank’s Radio Service, G. P. Fabrication, Hoosier Tire West, Impact Racing, Fensler Racing Inc., Madera Auto Center, MUD-Racing.net, Paul Oil Co., Performance Electrical, Peterson Fluid Systems, Pit Stop USA.Com, Sunoco, U. S. Brake, and Victory Circle Chassis and Parts.
