WILTON, California — Flashco SRL points leader Jim Pettit knew he would have to put together a great effort to continue his winning ways and hold off championship challenger Craig Raudman. He probably expected fellow track legend Dave Byrd to be battling with him as well as Greg Voigt who came into Saturday's event at third in points.
What he might not have been expecting was such strong showings from Altamont favorite Todd Bammer and Southern California's Dan Holtz and Keith Spangler. But in the end, Pettit made the moves he needed to get out front and show why he has won 4 of the last 5 Flashco SRL Southwest Tour Series events.
Todd Bammer's race day started of on a positive note as the luck of the draw of a 10 car invert, placed Bammer's Chevrolet on the pole for the start of Saturday's "Moeller Brothers/Performance Electric 100". Bammer looked great from the start after his team made some adjustments coupled with his many laps of experience at his home track. Todd continued to hold on to first place heading into the second half of the 100 lap main event but a lot was going on close behind that would effect the final outcome.
One characteristic of the Flashco SRL Southwest Tour Series that their fans are aware of is how closely matched these teams are and how this can create tight racing even on Altamont's half-mile oval. Three laps into the race, a mid pack battle resulted in a red flag with fast qualifier Jason Fensler's #5* Air Tech Services Chevrolet getting airborne before hitting the wall between turns 3 and 4. Fensler was alright but his car was destroyed as the hit was so fierce it dislodged the crank from the engine. Several other cars were involved and suffered damage including Raudman, Voigt, Troy Ermish, Kevin Callehan, Justin Westmoreland, Mike Lay and the #7 Mudracing Ford of top rookie Josh Combs who like Fensler, was unable to return to the race.
When the green flag dropped it was back to the exciting nose to tail racing at the with Bammer, Byrd and Pettit out front followed by a tight battle featuring the #2 Performance Electrical Chevrolet of Raudman, the
#23 Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Center Ford of Holtz and the #37 L.E. Oil Chevrolet of Spangler. Raudman was trying to fight his way to the front pack after pitting for repairs Holtz and Keith Spangler.
The #4 Auto Pro Racing Engines Chevrolet of Greg Voigt was a fast car as well despite having nearly his entire right side body panel damaged and removed courtesy of the lap 3 incident. Voigt still managed to move his way back through the field and finished 7th even after a couple pits under caution. But the story up front involved two of the "usual suspects".
Bammer was doing a great job of holding on to the top spot and having one of his best races since the series opener at Roseville's All American Raceway. But Pettit who had been held off by Byrd for 60 plus laps saw a brief opening on lap 63 and made a hard charging pass deep into turn 3 to get by the #1 car and position himself behind the race leader. Following Bammer closely, he waited all of 4 laps to move passed Bammer to take over the race lead, a lead that he was not to relinquish in route to his 4th win of the SRL season.
Pettit and his team celebrated in the winners circle at Altamont once again, but it was short lived as the realized their day wasn't done yet.
Pettit was going directly from another SRL victory on to race on the dirt at Antioch Speedway on the other side of the Tri-Valley area. So after a few photos with his trophy and crew he turned and asked with a smile, "Now whose idea was this dirt race tonight?"
Todd Bammer was pleased with his performance after a season of ups and downs. "I really appreciate the great effort by my crew on this one. We were without our normal crew chief and the team really did a great job.
Our car was solid and it enabled me to be right there with Pettit and Byrd" said a happy Bammer.
Like Pettit, Dave Byrd can't seam to get enough racing in as one race on Saturday wasn't enough for him either. Immediately following the race he was being driven down to Madera for their Late Model Event. Car owner Bob Strandwold was happy with his driver's performance. "We had a good car but just couldn't make the move we needed to get past Bammer"
said Strandwold.
Jason Fensler was the fast qualifier with a time of 17.871 which was just one thousandth of a second faster than rookie points leader Josh Combs. Joe Farre' was the race's The Mid-Valley Iron and Metals "Hard Charger" for finishing 9th up 8 spots from his 17th place starting position. Eddie Secord was the Ron's Rear Ends "Hard Luck" award winner after mechanical issues forced him out of the race after completing only one lap. The top rookie finisher was Henderson, NV's Joe Farre' in his Bruno's Peppers number 54 Chevrolet. Farre' currently sits in 3rd place in the Victory Circle Chassis rookie of the year points.
Driver Dan Holtz spent some time in the ambulance after suffering from the extreme heat inside his car. Holtz was treated and released by the on-site EMT's.
"We would especially like to thank the folks at Moeller Brothers Body Shop and Performance Electrical for sponsoring this make-up race" said Steve Fensler, executive director of the SRL. "Thanks also to Jeff Macey and his crew at Altamont who have helped us put on great events there this year", continued Fensler.
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.
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
