WILTON, California -- Two SRL rookies looked great early, but it was the tour car veterans that proved to have what it takes with a tremendous battle that ended with Craig Raudman holding off points leader Jim Pettit for his first victory of the 2008 season in the summer sun at Altamont Motorsports Park.
The warm July afternoon race began with lots of action up front. The outside row starters quickly slipped past pole starter Keith Spangler. Justin Westmoreland’s 3M Automotive Aftermarket Ford and the Bolin Builders #02 Chevrolet of Tracy Bolin took over up front early and rookie Josh Combs swiftly worked his way into the third spot.
The race’s first caution came early when the #88 car of Jamie Dick spun out and hit the wall in turn 1 on lap 5. Jamie was not hurt but his car was damaged to the point he was not able to return earning him the Ron’s Rear Ends Hard Luck Award. Jamie was trying for the second leg of a back to back after his race at Irwindale Speedway Friday night.
Unfortunately for Westmoreland, faded back in the pack after he missed a shift on the restart and Bolin and Combs were able to take over the top two spots. On a positive note, 2001 SRL Champion Nathan Tucker in the #41 Mid Valley Iron and Metals Chevrolet who was returning to the SRL after a couple years off was holding his own and remained in the top 10 for much of the first half of the race
The tight pack up front of the #02 of Bolin, the #7 of Combs, the #2 of Raudman and the #03 Top of the Hill Performance Ford of point leader Jim Pettit were running nose to nose. Then in lap 19, the young rookie Combs made his move and took over the race lead.
40 laps into the event, the Auto-Pro Racing Engines Chevrolet of Greg Voigt had just joined Tucker and the Alfred Matthews Pontiac of Troy Ermish in a closely grouped second pack before his afternoon ended in lap 41 when he had major engine issues.
So while Combs, Raudman and Pettit continued to pull away, further back in the pack, the #18 Chevrolet of local favorite Todd Bammer and the #48 Chevrolet of Fresno’s Mike Lay got tangled up and spun at lap 42 with Lay getting the worst of it hitting the wall in the middle of turn one and two and ending his day.
And coming out of this yellow, rookie Combs who had looked so strong out front fell back after his front right tire went down. “It was great experience for me being up front with short track veterans Raudman and Pettit. I am just sorry that we had some bad luck with the flat. We had a car that I thought would give us a chance for our first win”, said Combs.
So after a strong showing by the two SRL rookies, Raudman and Pettit, the tour veterans with not only lots of experiences but lots of success were running out front by themselves by lap 55. And as the raced progressed, the two leaders began to encounter lapped traffic. Would this be a chance for points leader Pettit to make a move on Raudman? The two were nose to nose around the half mile oval and were going at it like a couple of boxers. Pettit would make a move and Raudman would counter. Raudman would get loose in turn three but would hold on and keep Pettit behind him. The end result was a great race between two drivers with many championships between them and this time Raudman captured his first win for 2008
“It feels great to finally get a win this year!” said Raudman. “I have a great crew and a great owner in Bob Strandwold. I am so glad to get a win for him after he believed in me enough to have me drive the #2 car. We hope this win can put us on track to finish this season well and win the Flashco SRL Championship”, Raudman continued.
“Raudman had the grove and was locked in. I had a couple small chances to make a move but Craig is a great driver and he held on” said Pettit. “My car didn’t seam quite as strong as last time and I was struggling with overheating especially when I was running close behind him. I really enjoyed putting on a great show for the fans with a fellow tour car veteran”, continued Pettit.
Third place finisher Troy Ermish said, “I was happy with our finish as I think we got the most we could out of our car today. I am looking forward to Colorado and a chance to try to make up some ground in the points standings.”
Top rookie finisher Justin Westmoreland said “Our car wasn’t as strong as the first Altamont race but I think my crew did a great job and we got a good finish!”
David Mantooth of Cotati, CA had a great race after a brief break from the tour earning the Mid-Valley Iron and Metals “Hard Charger” for coming all the way up from his 17th starting position to finish 7th.
“We would like to thank the great team at Altamont Motorsports Park for letting us be part of their Independence Day weekend celebration”, said Steve Fensler, executive director of the SRL. “Both round one and round two of the Tri-Holiday Series have been great races. We can’t wait to come back for Round 3!”
Next stop for the Flashco Southwest Tour Series is Colorado National Speedway on August 16th.
About the FLASHCO SRL Southwest Tour Series:
Celebrating its eighth season in 2008, the FLASHCO SRL Southwest Tour Series is a regional stock car series competing on paved ovals in the southwestern portion of the U.S. The series utilizes cars based on the former NASCAR Elite Division Series rulebook. First 2008 event is this weekend at Roseville’s All-American Speedway.
For more information contact the FLASHCO SRL Southwest Tour Series offices at 916-687-7284 or go to www.srllatemodels.com
About Flashco, Inc. – Contractor Supply and Equipment Rental Company:
Flashco, Inc. is a privately owned company based in Bakersfield, California. For over three decades Flashco has been an industry leader in traffic control and safety, and the equipment rental company of choice for the Central Valley. www.flashcoinc.com
| SRL - Altamont |
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| FP SP Car Driver Team / Make Laps Points Money Status 1 7 2 Craig Raudman Approved Memory, Performance Electric / Chevrolet 100 52 $2,000.00 Running 2 10 03 Jim Pettit II Top of the Hill Performance / Ford 100 53 $1,300.00 Running 3 9 38 Troy Ermish Alfred Matthews / Pontiac 100 50 $1,000.00 Running 4 1 37 Keith Spangler L.E. Oil / Chevrolet 100 44 $800.00 Running 5 2 9 # Justin Westmoreland 3M Automotive / Ford 99 42 $700.00 Running 6 4 02 Tracy Bolin Bolin Builders / Chevrolet 99 40 $675.00 Running 7 17 5 David Mantooth Hot Rods By Lew.com / Chevrolet 98 38 $650.00 Running 8 15 54 # Joe Farre’ Sigma Engineering / Chevrolet 98 36 $625.00 Running 9 6 7 # Josh Combs The Country Bear / Ford 97 35 $600.00 Running 10 12 18 Todd Bammer Moeller Bros / Chevrolet 93 32 $575.00 Running 11 11 23 Dan Holtz Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Center/ Ford 91 30 $550.00 Mechanical 12 14 84 # Eddie Secord Carpenter Trey Engineering / Chevrolet 86 28 $550.00 Running 13 3 41 Nathan Tucker Mid Valley Iron and Metals / Chevrolet 85 26 $550.00 Running 14 16 14 # Rex Lockwood Prime Time Racing / Chevrolet 68 24 $550.00 Mechanical 15 8 4 Greg Voigt Auto Pro Racing Engines/ Chevrolet 40 25 $550.00 Mechanical 16 13 48 Mike Lay ATS Plumbing/ Chevrolet 40 20 $500.00 Accident 17 5 88 Jamie Dick Viva Auto Group / Chevrolet 5 18 $500.00 Accident # - Rookie-of-the-Year Contender Margin of Victory: +0.489 Fastest Lap, Josh Combs @ 18.170 Mid Valley & Metal Hard Charger Award David Mantooth Ron’s Rear Ends Hard Luck Award Jamie Dick Top Finishing Rookie Justin Westmoreland |
