STOCKTON, California -- Memorial day weekend of 2006 was lined with another batch of Danica-mania in Indianapolis. But in the Westcar Late Model Series, Shannon Mansch of Roseville, CA proved to be the top female racer of the weekend.
Mansch, the only female in the nation to win a major asphalt touring race this weekend, passed Kyle Cattanach of Redding, CA on lap 58 to take her first career Westcar Late Model Series win, Saturday night, before a crowd of nearly 3000 at Stockton 99 Speedway.
After a string of bad-luck at Stockton Speedway, Mansch needed a strong run.
�I wanted to be there and I wanted to be there at the end,� Mansch said. �It�s just awesome.�
Bobby Butler of Sacramento, CA led the race into turn one from the outside pole position, while Mansch worked from her 10th starting spot after a 10 car-invert. Mansch set the new Westcar track record in Scott Performance Wires qualifying earlier in the day.
Cattanach stalked Butler early after starting fourth. The two ran close but clean for 18 laps until Cattanach assumed the lead with a nice pass on the outside.
�That battle was a lot of fun,� Cattanach said. �I trust him and he trusts me and we battled without a lot of beating and banging.�
�It was intense,� Butler said. �Kyle drove an excellent and clean race.�
Gary Glenn of Orangevale, one of three drivers entering the event tied for the points lead, brought out the caution on lap 25 for not yielding to the black-flag. Glenn was held one lap before being allowed to return to action.
By that point, Mansch had worked her way up to fifth position and was knocking on the leaders.
�I thought it would maybe take me until lap 50 to get to the front,� Mansch said. �I was working without my normal crew tonight and instead had Jason Philpot�s crew�.so it surprised me.�
Butler challenged Cattanach briefly at the restart but Cattanach held the lead position cleanly.
Glenn and Melissa Davis of Santa Rosa, CA made contact on lap 28 to bring out the second caution. Glenn was parked for the evening for rough driving. Mansch continued to fly through the field assuming second on lap 35. Cattanach was admittedly a �sitting duck� as Mansch tried to reel him in.
�I was watching him and trying to figure him out,� Mansch said. �I was definitely saving my stuff.�
A caution on lap 53 allowed Mansch to make her move. Mansch moved inside of Cattanach on lap 58 off turn four and took the lead position.
Mansch motored off to a strong win at the finish, leading the final 42 laps. She was followed by Cattanach, Butler, Chris Monez of Turlock, CA, and pole-sitter Ted Montague IV.
�I�m very happy,� Cattanach said. �We developed a push and burned up a tire late in the race. We need to be just a little bit closer on the setup. It took it�s toll.�
Butler�s finish gave him his second-straight top-ten and first top-five of 2006.
�I�m excited and glad to finish in the top-five in my first race here,� Butler said. �In the first run in practice the car was a little loose so I�m happy with third.�
Stockton�s Gary Shafer Jr. dropped out of the race on lap 45 with mechanical problems. It was the second Westcar event in a row in which Shafer won the dash but didn�t finish the feature.
Shifting focus to the points battle, Glenn was credited with 19th place, while 2005 champion Byron Gonzales of Carmichael had an uneventful day finishing ninth. Troy Shirk of Oakley, CA leaves Stockton with the points lead over Gonzales after finishing seventh.
Shirk ran as high as 2nd before falling late in the race.
�We were probably a little off the pace,� Shirk said. �We were hoping it would tighten up as the sun went down and that it would get better.� �We have to get the car better. So many years I�ve led the points in a division and lost it on the final race. It�s always nice to lead the points but it�s still early.�
Zane Lovelace Jr. held off Travis Combs of Sacramento, CA for the qualifying race win.
Shannon Mansch of Roseville, CA set a new track record with a 14.328 and won the $100 Scott Performance Wires Fast Time. Gary Shafer Jr. of Stockton, CA won the $100 Competition Carburetion Dash for Cash
Westcar is supported in 2006 by: Scott Performance Wires, Xbox, Five Star Bodies, Eagle Fitness of Reno/Carson, California Door and Frame, Sierra Racing Products, Circle Track Steering, Competition Carburetion, Jim Courage Pools, Fensler Racing, DPI, F.R.E., JME, John L. Sullivan, and Perry Racing.
Westcar next competes June 10th at Shasta Raceway Park in Anderson, CA. Visit www.westcarseries.com for more information.
100 lap feature 1. 61 Shannon Mansch Roseville, CA Big Dog Transportation Chevy $1250 2. z2 Kyle Cattanach Redding, CA Colorcraft Chevy $750 3. 56 Bobby Butler Sacramento, CA Auto Brake & Muffler Pontiac $625 4. 11 Chris Monez Turlock, CA Ayers Racing Dodge $500 5. 34 Ted Montague IV Freemont, CA Harris Auto Pontiac $450 6. 44 Paul Gunthmiller Manteca, CA Roy Reeves Sand & Gravel $425 7. 1x Troy Shirk Oakley, CA Microsoft XBOX Chevy $400 8. 12 Travis Combs Sacramento, CA Bell Ford $375 9. 98 Byron Gonzales Carmichael, CA La Placita Mexican Food Chevy $350 10. 2 Michael Wendt Lodi, CA Wendt & Sons Construction Chevy $325 11. 3x Chet Danburg Carson City, NV Re/Max Darrell & Patti Page Chevy $300 12. 15 Scott Chappell Lodi, CA Cardoza Transport Chevy $290 13. 55 Zane Lovelace Jr. Roseville, CA Sidelifter.com Chevy $280 14. 25 Randy Reeves Modesto, CA Scenic Autocare & Towing Chevy $270 15. 35 Rich Lawlor Sparks, NV Allen�s Tire Ford $260 16. 27 John Moore Granite Bay, CA JM Environmental Chevy $250 17. 3 Gary Shafer Jr. Stockton, CA Stockcar Fabrication Chevy $240 18. 16 Andy Livengood Richmond, CA West Construction Chevy $230 19. 50 Gary Glenn Orangevale, CA G. Glenn Plastering Chevy $220 20. 71 Melissa Davis Santa Rosa, CA Carl�s Ready Mix Chevy $210
Cautions: 6 Lap leaders: Start Ted Montague, 1-18 Bobby Butler, 18-58 Kyle Cattanach, 58-100 Shannon Mansch
Awards: Scott Wires Fast Time Award - $ 100.00 � Shannon Mansch Competition Carburetion Dash For Cash - 1st place - $ 100.00 � Gary Shafer Jr. Jim Courage Pools Hard Charger Award - $ 100.00 � Travis Combs California Door Most Laps Led Award - $ 100.00 � Kyle Cattanach
20 lap qualifying race:
1. 55 Zane Lovelace Jr. Roseville, CA Sidelifter.com Chevy Transfer 2. 12 Travis Combs Sacramento, CA Bell Ford Transfer 3. 75 Chuck Glick Citrus Heights, CA Chevy $195 4. 51 Brian Koski Pleasanton, CA Groth Brothers Chevrolet Chevy $180 5. 89 Bobby Hodges Carson City, NV Nevada Auto Test Center Chevy $170 6. 80 John Callas Navato, CA Marin Auto Transmissions Chevy $160 7. 9 Craig Swim Orangevale, CA Swim Auto Repair Dodge $150 8. 0 Michael Brooks Jr. Stockton, CA Pontiac $140
