WANSON, GILBERT, GUIBOR BIG WINNERS AT ALTAMONT

Source: AMP Media Relations/sb
Date: 05/19/2008

NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Western Late Model action was at a fever pitch on Saturday, with an eye-popping 27 cars on hand to compete in the twin-50s program.

The Western Late Model class has averaged over 25 cars throughout the five features run in 2008.

Stockton’s Vito Ranuio led the field in the opening laps of the first 50 lap main, while 2005 champion Jason Gilbert of Pleasanton, CA moved through the large field.

Clean racing allowed the 27 car pack to race the first 30 laps without a caution.

Gilbert closed in on Ranuio on lap 19, and made an exciting pass for the lead on lap 21 in turn three.

Joey Sterns of Stockton, CA spun on lap 30, and Brian Koski of Pleasanton, CA spun on lap 32 to bring out successive cautions.

Points leader Guy Guibor of Manteca, CA went to work, reeling in Ranuio and Phil Perry by the 38th lap. By lap 44, Guibor was up to second, when the caution flew for a spinning Andrew Livengood.

With six laps to go, Gilbert led Guibor to the line in a crucial restart. The thrilling shootout to the finish was won by Gilbert, followed by Guibor, Perry, Ranuio, and Tim Spurgeon of Danville, CA.

The second 50-lap main event was a complete contrast to the first, with several cautions in the opening laps.

Greg Potts of Morada, CA made a strong charge from the start and made contact with leader Spurgeon on the opening lap in turn three. As Potts exited turn four, the car went head-on into the wall.

Potts went back across the track, and collected Carlos Vieira, Lisa Riordan, Rod Winfree, Koski, and Doff Cooksey. Koski and Potts were both done for the race.

On the restart, Cooksey and Livengood tangled in turn three, with Livengood vaulting over the top of Cooksey’s car in dramatic fashion. Cooksey was able to continue but Livengood could not continue.

After the field had settled down, Guibor took advantage. Assuming the lead after the Spurgeon and Potts accident, Guibor maintained the spot nearly unopposed until lap 39.

Gilbert moved into second on lap 12, and kept chase with Guibor through persistent lap traffic.

Riordan and Winfree tangled in turn three to draw the yellow on lap 39, setting up another Guibor and Gilbert duel.

Guibor made a brilliant restart, and took the wire-to-wire win over Gilbert. Tim Bost of Paradise, CA completed a solid run for third, with David Philpott of Tracy, CA and Ranuio rounding out the top-five.

Kingsburg, CA teenager Tanner Swanson picked up his third career Altamont win, with a dominating performance in the USAC Western States Sprints.

Swanson entered the evening trailing points leader Nick Rescino Jr. of San Francisco in the duel for the points lead. Saturday’s events at Altamont marked round five for the series and the second of seven appearances at Altamont.

Swanson claimed fast-time with a 16.885 at 106.603 MPH, just ahead of popular Nick Green, who was making his return visit to Altamont.

An eight car invert put Rescino on the pole, with Green and Swanson on row four.

Swanson made quick work of the field, slicing his way forward quickly and then taking the lead from Rescino on a lap 12 restart.

The accident on lap 12 dropped Chowchilla’s Eric Humphries to the rear. Green spun in dramatic fashion on lap 25 in turn three while running second.

On the restart, Humphries hunted down Rescino to take over third.

Swanson maintained a 2.7 second advantage to claim the win over Greg Anderson. Humphries, Rescino, and JoJo Helberg rounded out the top-five. The impressive victory for Swanson in the 50-lap feature also allowed his to take over the points lead.

USAC Sprints return to Altamont on June 28th.

San Francisco’s Robert Kennedy took a close win over points leader Todd Lynch of Tracy, CA in the NASCAR Grand American Modifieds. Todd Lewis, Morgan Cooksey, and Jose Gutierrez rounded out the top-five finishers.

Formula-4 points leader Bob Wilson went winless for the first day of the season, winning neither of the ten lap main events. Jake Morgenstern of Stockton, CA claimed victory on the Altamont road course in the first race, with 2007 runner-up Richard Hull pulling in a win in the second. Wilson snagged a pair of second places to keep his points lead over Hull.

Ed Amador held off a tough challenge from Manteca’s Jeff Burrows to win the NCMA Limited Sprint race. David Goodwill, Rob Hammond, and David Burchett also scored top-fives.

Next Saturday afternoon, Altamont Motorsports Park presents the Tri-Holiday Classic and Military Appreciation Day, sponsored by Jasper Racing Engines. All active Military with ID will be admitted free for this headline event.

On tap are two 100 lap features, with both the SRL Flashco Southwest Tour and NASCAR Western Late Models (w/ Westcar stars) slated for the century mark distance.

American Limited Stock Car’s will try to tame the half-mile for the first time in more than three seasons, and the Future Champions Development Series Late Model drivers, ages 14-16, will chase a $200 Jasper Engines-sponsored win on the quarter-mile. Altamont’s Formula-4’s will compete on the road course.

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