BIG DOG OPEN SHOW PRELIMINARY NIGHT IN THE BOOKS BYRD CLAIMS SRL TITLE

Source: ALTAMONT MOTORSPORTS PARK
Date: 10/13/2007

TRACY, California -- Saturday night competition for the Big Dog Open Show presented by Hoosier Tires and Mid Valley Iron Works at Altamont Motorsports Park featured the Mid Valley 100 for the SRL Wild West Shootout, and stirring preliminary events for the Late Models, Modifieds, and ALSC cars.

Ryan Philpott grabbed the pole position for Sunday’s 125 lap feature by claiming the fast time over the 33 Late Model teams in competition. Philpott will share the front row with Roseville’s Eric Schmidt, the 2006 SRL champion and 2007 All American Speedway champion.

The top-22 qualifiers were locked into the feature, with the remaining 11 cars competing in the 25 lap B-Main event. The event proved to be a dandy as the drivers jockeyed for four transfer spots.

A surprising group of talented drivers were in the event, including 3-time ALSC champion Matt Erickson, 2007 Altamont runner-up Ken Benhamou, and 2006 Busch Series driver Burney Lamar of West Sacramento, CA.

Lamar was in the event after missing qualifying with engine problems.

Brian Koski took the lead on the opening lap, with Erickson and Glen Cook of Fremont bringing out the first caution on lap two after huge contact in turn three.

Cook was eliminated from the event, with Erickson restarting at the rear of the field.

By lap 11, Lamar found his way to third and Erickson ran fifth.

Lamar made a nice passing move on Koski to take over the lead on lap 15.

Benhamou was shuffled back to fifth place in turn four, but quickly regrouped.

Benhamou passed Erickson on the outside on lap 16 to move into third, setting up a battle between Benhamou and Koski.

Benhamou and Koski got together in turn one on lap 18, sending Koski spinning and out of the race, with Benhamou being moved to the rear of the field.

On the restart, Lamar and Erickson drove away from the field, setting up a dog fight for third place.

Jeremy Hopkins of Ukiah, CA inherited third with Mark Squadrito putting on a thrilling duel with rookie Lisa Riordan of Scotts Valley, CA for the final transfer spot.

Lamar held on for the win, with Erickson rounding up second, followed by Hopkins and Squadrito, with Riordan narrowly missing the transfer.

The SRL Mid-Valley Iron Works 100, the final event of the 2007 season, was captured by rookie driver Porter Smith, as he nailed down his first ever SRL victory.

The race featured a great run by Tracy Bolin, as Bolin attempted to move from third to first in the series points standings. Bolin led much of the event ahead of Smith and MK Kanke of Frazier Park, CA.

Late race drama ensued as points leader and 2006 Altamont champion Dave Byrd struggled with problems on the right-front of his race car that forced him to spend much of the race in the pits.

Mechanical problems slowed Bolin and forced him to fall back to seventh by the finish, handing Byrd the narrow championship win.

In ALSC action, heat race wins went to Mike Soiseth and 2007 Altamont champion James Dulla, with Joe Racer claiming the dash.

The Modified dash win went to 2007 All American Speedway champion Scott Winters. Philpott won the Western Late Model dash.

Racing action kick starts at 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon, with feature racing for the ALSC, Modifieds, and Late Models.

ALSC cars will go 75 laps on the quarter-mile for $1500 to win, the Modifieds will run 50 laps for $2500 to win and the Late Models will round out the Norcal Nationals Big Dog weekend with the 26 car, 125 lap feature, that pays $4000 to win.

See Also .:

News Index | E-mail to a Friend