MORE FIRST TIME WINNERS AT ALTAMONT RACEWAY IN USAC AND NASCAR ACTION

Source: AMP Media Relations/sb
Date: 07/19/2008

TRACY, California – Altamont Raceway was again the track with first time winners, as Scott Pierovich of Alamo claimed his first career USAC Western Sprint Car feature, while Alex Bowman and CJ Sarna took home their first Altamont wins.

The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program for the Western Late Models saw race wins go to Brentwood’s Doff Cooksey and points leader Jason Gilbert of Pleasanton.

The first NASCAR 50 lap feature on the fastest half-mile in the west was slowed with a huge crash on the second lap.

Clovis’ Trevor Schlundt and All American Speedway visitor Gary Glenn of Orangevale tangled on the backstretch, and slid hard into the turn three wall. The crash eliminated both drivers from the race.

On the restart, Modesto’s Mike Beeler pulled away from Gilbert as the top-six raced closely.

Lap 11 saw Gilbert and Tracy High graduate Justin Philpott collide in turn three, giving Gilbert a flat tire and putting both cars to the rear of the order.

The restart allowed Cooksey to make his move on Beeler, passing him off turn two on lap 16.

While Cooksey pulled away with the lead, Gilbert went to work on the pack. It took Gilbert just 17 laps to catch Carlos Vieira of Merced and take fourth place.

Beeler dropped out of contention on lap 38, yielding second to Sacramento’s Josh Bews.

Cooksey cruised home for his second win of 2008 over Bews, Manteca’s Guy Guibor, Gilbert, and Vieira.

In the second 50 lap main event, Gilbert took a dominating win after the race had only one caution period.

Gilbert took the lead at the start of the race, with Bews chasing in second. Several seconds back, Guibor was under heavy pressure for a line of as many as six cars.

On lap 21, Guibor drifted up the race track and ended up falling all the way back to eighth.

Schlundt recovered from his wreck in the first race to challenge Vieira for the third spot for the closing laps.

Gilbert hung on after a lap race restart with Bews, to take home his fourth win of the 2008 season.

Rounding out the top-five were Vieira, Schlundt, and 2007 champion Ryan Philpott of Tracy.

The USAC Western States Sprint Car 30 lap main event saw Pierovich claim his first ever sprint car win in just his third start in the series.

Three-time champion Tony Hunt of Lincoln led the opening laps. Second place in the points standings Nick Rescino Jr. of San Francisco touched wheels with Jojo Helberg of Rohnert Park and ended up in the air.

This relegated Rescino the rear of the field in what turned out to be a frustrating run for the popular local.

Pierovich took the lead on lap eight from Hunt and took the thrilling win in the caution-free event.

Chowchilla’s Eric Humphries had a huge run coming home in second, with Brian McClish of Santa Rosa third. The remaining top-five were points leader Tanner Swanson of Kinsburg and visiting Bobby Santos of Franklin, MA.

Heat race wins went to Rescino and Helberg.

After a caution-filled affair for the USAC Western States Midgets, emerging star and former dirt-only driver CJ Sarna, of Palm Desert, earned the win.

Sarna led every lap fighting off hard charges from Bryan Clauson Inc. driver Shane Golobic of Fremont and Ridgefield, WA’s Paul Zimmerly.

Zimmerly was eliminated from contention on lap eight.

The race was restarted late on lap 16, with Golobic and points leader Nic Faas making spirit charges at Sarna from the outside.

But Sarna took the checkered flag with Faas second and Golobic third. Michael Faccinto of Hanford was fourth, and Pierovich was fifth.

Faas and Brentwood’s Daniel Bedford claimed head race wins.

Alex Bowman took a wire-to-wire USAC Ford Focus California Pavement series on the Altamont Motorsports Park quarter-mile.

Bowman chased Brandon Langlois for 19 of the event’s 30 lap distance before making the exciting pass on the inside of turn two.

Bowman then fought off an exciting drive by the experienced Santos, the take the win.

Langlois was third, with Ian Mille of Pleasanton and West Sacramento’s Garrett Peterson rounding out the top-five.

Hayward’s Jessica Brunelli and Langlois were heat race winners.

Racing action resumes at Altamont Raceway, the home of the “Big Show,” with the NASCAR Whelen All- American Series (w/ Westcar stars) 100 lap feature, as part of “Sponsor Appreciation Day.”

American Limited Stock Cars and Grand American Modifieds will also be in action the half-mile, with Future Champions Development Series on the quarter-mile and Formula-4s on the 1.1 mile road course.

For ticket information and event times, visit the track website.

Altamont Raceway is located just west of Tracy at the merger of Highways 205 and 580.

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