KAPLAN WINS OPEN WHEEL THRILLER AT ALTAMONT MOTORSPORTS PARK

Source: Jeff Downey
Date: 08/19/2007

TRACY, Calfornia - Lucas Oil/USAC Western Sprint Car point leader Ryan Kaplan of Chico, Calif. emerged the winner of Saturday night's 50-lap thriller at Altamont Raceway Park. He took the lead in his K & N Filters/Platinum Powder Coating Eagle from Kody Swanson on lap 48 and held on to beat Tony Hunt, Swanson, JoJo Helberg and Greg Anderson.

Hunt ended up crossing the finish line backwards after a spirited duel for the number two position. Nick Rescino Jr. also led in the feature.

Coming into Saturday night's feature Kaplan had a nine point lead over Helburg and a 10 point lead over Hunt.

Nick Green ran the quickest qualifying time earlier in the afternoon.

With the win, Kaplan snaps Tanner Swanson's two race winning streak at Altamont Motorsports Park this season.

USAC California Pavement Ford Focus point leader Tim Skoglund of Fresno, Calif. extended his lead to 54 points over Nic Faas, winning Saturday night's 30-lap feature at Altamont Motorsports Park on the 1/4-mile oval.

Trailing Skoglund's Western Speed & Fuel/Ranchos Auto Repair Gerhardt were Daniel Adler, Faas, Ian Miille and fast qualifier Beau DeBard. Miille led the opening lap before yielding to Skoglund.

DeBard of Reno, Nev. won the last Ford Focus Midget feature at Altamont Motorsports Park on July 14th.

The USAC/CASA Sprint cars make their fourth appearance at the track this season on September 8th. In 2006, Altamont Motorsports Park was awarded the Race Organizer of the Year Award by the United States Automobile Club (USAC) racing organization.

Dave Ball won the Legends of the Pacific event at Altamont Motorsports Park on Saturday night followed by Zach Kavert and Derrek Copeland.

Visiting the track for the first time this season, the Thunder Roadster event was won by Doug Pulver who bested an impressive field of 14 Thunder Roadsters. Thunder Roadsters resemble the roadsters that dominated the Indianapolis 500 and Indy Car racing through the 1950s and 1960s. Next Saturday night Altamont Motorsports Park returns to local racing with a 75 lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Western Late Model event headlining the show. Also scheduled for next Saturday is racing from Grand American Modifieds, American Limited Stock Cars and Formula Fords on the road course.

See Also .:

• Altamont Motorsports Park Track Page

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