Dave Byrd and Bob Strandwold will team up once again with a common interest of honoring their friend and longtime supporter of their racing careers. This Saturday, August 8th 2009, Dave will pilot Bob Strandwold Racing’s #1 Holiday Inn Express/Conti Material Service Chevrolet, in the “Don Conti Memorial 99” presented by Performance Electrical, in the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series, at Stockton 99 Speedway, in Stockton, California.
" Don had a special way about him were he would watch me run the car and then was never shy about telling me what he thought I should do to be faster."— Dave Byrd
“Dave and I have a common link in that Don has separately been a huge part of both of our individual careers,” explained Bob Strandwold. “On top of that,” continued Bob, “Conti Material Service is just a block from the (Stockton) track. Don was a great friend to this speedway over the years.”
Don started Conti Material Service in 1986 and began to create a diversified transportation enterprise, which he was actively running at the time of his passing. His passion for cars was evident in most any conversation. It was that love of cars that led Don to be the support of several racing careers including Dave’s and Bob’s. Don loved the sport of racing, attended several racing schools and built a car collection that included a series of street legal replica race cars.
“Don came to our Madera (Speedway) race and we were able to sit in our pit and talk about so much”, stated a solemn and reminiscent Byrd. “I’m glad we had that time to remember all we have been through. Don had a special way about him were he would watch me run the car and then was never shy about telling me what he thought I should do to be faster”, reflected a proud and smiling Dave Byrd.
In preparation of the special event, Dave did a pre-run of the new pavement at Stockton 99 Speedway this past weekend, driving Rodney Qualls’ #78 Western Late Model Stock Car.
“The team thought it would be a good idea to run on the new asphalt. I just thought it was a good idea to come to the race track and race a car! I wasn’t going to say no!” laughed Dave. “It was like old home week at the track. I had a blast!”
Dave timed in at 13.959 seconds, qualifying 6th out of 17 late models at the track, finishing 5th and 2nd, respectively, in the duel main events.
Dave was well received by many of the partisan fans at the track, a track that at one time was considered his “Home Track”, going through the complete supply of autograph cards within a half hour. A second autograph session with special “Don Conti Memorial 99” autograph cards is planned for this weekend for those who missed out.
Dave Byrd’s special memorial racing tribute to Don Conti is brought to you by and supported by generous help from Conti Material Service, Holiday Inn Express, RH Motorsports, Bob Strandwold Racing, “LA” Fever Logistics, Kevin Daley, Jim and Pam Garcia, Faith Bumper Service, Kenny Whalen Racing, JLM Motorsports, Mike Kanke and his RPM Motorsports team, Jim Pettit Racing, Leadfoote Jim Foote and Fred Lind Racing.
