FENSLER TAKES $3000 “TRIBUTE TO AMERICAN GRAFFITI”ALTAMONT OPENER

TRACY, California – Jason Fensler showed again why he is a force to be reckoned with in the West Coast late model scene, putting on a dominating performance to win the Noceti Grupe Inc. “Tribute to American Graffiti” at Altamont Motorsports Park on Sunday.

The weekend’s events were round one of the Big Dog series, and the first points race of the year for Altamont, NASCAR, and Westcar points. More than $40,000 in awards were posted for the two-day, four-division program.

An outstanding field of 30 late models took the green flag for the 125 lap feature. Fensler, coming from third position, passed pole sitter Michael Wendt to lead the first lap.

Fensler led the opening 32 laps which ran caution free. Another caution flew on lap 37 when Bobby Hodges of Carson City, NV tangled with Steve Yatsko. Hodges was running fifth at the time and dropped to the rear.

On the restart, Hodges began picking his way through the pack while a tremendous battle throughout the top-ten wowed fans.

Fensler and Chris Bammer pulled away from the pack as the battling ensued.

Nascimento Motorsports drivers Greg Potts of Manteca, CA and Dallas Glen of Fresno, CA, along with 2007 Rookie of the Year Doff Cooksey of Brentwood, CA and 2005 champion Jason Fensler of Pleasanton, swapped spots multiple times throughout the opening 100 laps.

Hodges clawed his way up to eighth by the lap 80 caution, which set-up for a 20 lap run to the lap 100 break.

The race shifted on lap 95 suddenly, when a caution flew for debris. As Gilbert slowed crossing the line, Potts slammed into him, sending his car violently over the top of Gilbert’s and ending both drivers’ afternoons.

Racing resumed on lap 100 after the scheduled fuel stop with 22 cars answering the call for the 25 lap sprint to the finish.

Cooksey restarted third but had a brilliant restart and moved inside of Bammer entering turn three. But Cooksey spun, sending a cloud of tire smoke over the field of cars.

When the smoke cleared, Cooksey, Chris Crompe, and 2007 Truck champion Ron Robeck emerged with serious damage. After a red flag to clear the destroyed Robeck entry, racing resumed.

Fensler held the point over Bammer, Hodges, Glen, and James Weston of Goleta on the restart.

Guy Guibor of Manteca passed Weston on lap 107 to move into fifth. Hodges completed his dramatic run to the front as he made a pass on the outside of Bammer on lap 120, but Fensler was in control.

Leading every lap, Fensler cruised to a three second lead and the $3000 win over Hodges, Bammer, Glen, and Guibor. Weston, Troy Shirk, rookie Casey Scheier, Andrew Livengood, and Rudy Marquez rounded out the top-ten.

Saturday’s Late Model heat race winners were Wendt, Cooksey, Bammer, and Fensler.

Hodges, the leading Westcar competitor, scored a full 100 points in his campaign for the Westcar championship.

The Westcar Late Model Series will next run at Ukiah Speedway in Ukiah, CA for the Ukiah 100 on April 19.

Westcar Series is online at www.westcarseries.com

Finishing results for “Tribute To American Graffiti”