WESTCAR SERIES & THREE ALTAMONT CHAMPIONSHIPS ON THE LINE SATURDAY

Source: Altamont Raceway Park/sb
Date: 09/18/2008

TRACY, Calif — The thrilling 2008 season of Late Model racing continues Saturday at Altamont Raceway Park, with the championship of the Westcar Late Model Series on tap for the fast half-mile oval outside Tracy, Calif.

As many as 30 of the best Western Late Model drivers from both Northern Nevada and Northern California are expected to be in action for the 100 lap affair.

Track championships are also on the line for the American Limited Stock Cars, Grand American Modifieds, and Formula-4s. NCMA Limited Sprints and Spectator Racing Series round out the jam packed racing program.

Carson City, NV standout Chet Danburg, looks to become one of the oldest Late Model champions in the country on Saturday. But Danburg will be busy with another ‘Iron Man’ as Pleasanton’s Brian Koski looms just 12 points back.

A flurry of both Altamont regulars and out of town cars will be in action, with many competing for just the sake of competition, while others will be using the race as a tune-up for the Big Dog Series finale on October 4 and 5.

Newly crowned Altamont and NASCAR State champion Jason Gilbert of Pleasanton will be hoping to add win number 11 to his impressive season.

Gilbert has turned in one of the best performances in Altamont history, against some of the best competition ever. His season earned him seventh in the national NASCAR rankings.

Other drivers fans will want to keep an eye on include Carson City, NV teenager Bobby Hodges, Merced’s Carlos Vieira, Danville’s Tim Spurgeon, and David Hulsey of Manteca.

The track championships for both the open-wheeled Grand American Modifieds and the American Limited Stock Cars are nearly all wrapped up.

Tracy’s Todd Lynch has a comfortable 28 point advantage over Riverbank’s Todd Lewis. San Francisco’s Robert Kennedy, with two feature wins, is over 200 points back and mathematically eliminated.

Saturday’s Modified program will have some extra flair with the expected return of 2006 champ Ryan Mock of Salida.

Sammy Solari of Salida has won eight of the 10 American Limited Stock Car features this year. But Richard Harper of Stockton has finished in the top-five in all ten races to remain in the hunt.

Solari leads Harper by 24 points entering Saturday’s race. A car count of 12 or more cars is necessary for Harper to have any chance at closing that margin for the championship.

The closest track championship battle this season has been in the entry-level Formula-4 division. The Formula-4s are the most unique division in motorsports, running both the quarter-mile oval and 1.1 mile road course in stock four-cylinder cars.

The top-three contenders are separated by just 12 points, with Richard Hull leading the way over Bob Wilson. Jake Morgenstern rounds out the top-three and any one of these drivers could be the champion after Saturday’s twin feature.

Racing action gets started early at 2 p.m., with fan gates opening at noon. Racing will conclude before sundown.

Tickets for this star-studded night of championship racing are just $12 for general admission, $8 for juniors, seniors, and military, and kids eight and under are free. A family pack with two juniors and two adults is just $30.

Altamont Raceway Park is located just west of Tracy at the merger of Highways 205 and 580. An extensive remodeling project during the winter of 2005/06 has made the facility one of the most up-to-date on the West Coast.

For more information on this NASCAR- and USAC-sanctioned, multi-use facility, visit www.altamontracing.com

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