MILLER WINS, BELLETTO TAKES TITLE AT STOCKTON

Source: Jim Shiels/99 Media Relations
Date: 09/02/2002

STOCKON, California -- The final leg of the three-race HOTWOOD Tri-Holiday Series took place at Stockton 99 Speedway this week for the Western Late Models running in the NASCAR/Union 76 Gas Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge. Wes Miller of Delhi took the final 100-lap segment, but Harry Belletto of Modesto became the overall series champion with the luck, his-not theirs, of eight yellow flags that sidelined the major competition and allowed him a slim 16-point margin of victory at the end.

Paul Dorritty Jr, of Modesto beat Verg Beaty of Ceres to the first lap lead on the initial green with the first yellow falling on lap-five As Miller was sighted for spinning Beaty in turn one. The resulting pile up involved fast timer Eddie Laws of Citrus Heights, Beaty, and Pete Anderson, Jr. of Stockton with cars already being lapped under the three-lap yellow-before pitting rule, in effect.

Tracy Bolin of Valley took the lead on the restart with Belletto advancing to second on the next pass. Belletto, the dash winner on the night, had started seventh on the 21-car field. Pete Ramirez of Manteca spun to bring out a yellow on lap-14 and Belletto beat Bolin to the flag to take the lead in a restart consisting of himself, Bolin, Harold Rieker of Orangevale, Dorritty, and Melissa Davis of Santa Rosa.

A flat tire on Anthony Swan of Newark halted the show on lap-30 with Rieker moving to second on lap-38 to be spun by Bolin with no yellow as Rieker continued on. A yellow for debris on lap-40 saw Bolin sent to the rear for his spin of Rieker and a restart of Belletto, Dorritty, John Moore of Granite Bay, Miller, and Buzz Devore of Stockton.

Belletto's night came to an end of sorts as a yellow fell on lap-46 for a tangle between Chris Monez of Lodi and Walt Haas of Antioch in turn one. A red was thrown for oil on the track that led to Belletto's car and a broken Snap ring on the transmission. Belletto was forced to pit and was several laps down before returning to the fray.

Wes Miller, driving a car loaned to him by Owner Doug Ollis and driver Jeff Belletto, both of Modesto, restarted as the leader with yet another caution coming out on lap-53 when Bolin and Brock Monroe of Escalon tangled going into turn one and Monez piled into Bolin.

A quick yellow for a stalled ride on lap-58 was the only halt on the way to lap-88 as a major red flew when Beaty, thinking himself clear, dove low and into Monez going into turn-one. Both cars locked and twisted as Monez took a hard shot against the turn-one wall and his entire fiberglass body was ripped from the car. After getting dirt flushed from his eyes and a trip to the local hospital for a quick check, Monez was OK.

A final yellow on lap-92 set the stage for an up-car battle to the checkered that was won by Miller over Moore, Rieker, Dorritty, and Monroe.

Belletto's overall season point lead now stands at 174 over second place runner Miller, with Bolin five back of Miller and Anderson in fourth.

Kannai Scantlen of Stockton and Tom Bolin of San Jose led the first lap of the Pure Stock feature with Bolin taking charge on lap-10. Scantlen and Cindy Freitas of Lodi tangled off turn-two with Charlie Clawson sliding into Freitas on lap-17. Joey Stearns took the point on lap-23 and never looked back as he scored his third 2002 season win over fast timer and dash winner Michael Wendt of Lodi. Aimee Sullivan of Lodi ran third ahead of incoming point leader and defending champion Danny Guibor of Manteca. C.W. Davis of Stockton rounded out the top five. Guibor now leads Johnny Bird of Stockton by 140 points in the title battle.

Seven lead changes made for a wild BCRA/USAC season ender this week with Ken Bonnema leading the first three laps and the rest of the night divided between leads by Marc DeBeaumont and Alex Harris, with Harris leading the one that counted. Floyd Alvis of San Carlos was declared the BCRA overall season champion for the sixth time in his long career, with the local level Stockton championship going to DeBeaumont by virtue of better feature finishes in the five race series over Alvis, who tied him in actual points.

Johnny Rodriguez set the fast time with heat wins going to Cliff Servetti and DeBeaumont.

The night was rounded out with a 30-lap Pro-Four-Mini Truck feature that went non-yellow. It only took four laps for fifth place starter Gary Franks of Manteca to take the lead from early leader Troy Ermish of Fremont and add the win to his fast time and dash win performance on the night. Ermish finished second over Carrie Miller of Saratoga, Mike Frank of Denair, and Bret Barney.

Stockton Speedway will be closed on September 7th, but will return to action on September 14th with a double point program for Western Late Models, Grand American Modifieds, and Pure Stocks. The third of four SRL Tri-Track Late Model events will be held, and the Legends of the Pacific will also be on hand.

RACE RESULTS:

FAST TIME: Eddie Laws (Citrus Heights) 14.344

DASH: Harry Belletto (Modesto), Wes Miller (Delhi), Chris Monez (Lodi), Laws.

MAIN: Miller, John Moore (Granite Bay), Harold Rieker (Orangevale), Paul Dorritty, Jr. (Modesto), Brock Monroe (Escalon), Laws, Johnny Berndt (Clements), Pete Anderson, Jr. (Stockton), Melissa Davis (Santa Rosa), Robert Knittel (Lodi), Buzz Devore (Stockton), Verg Beaty (Ceres), Scott Chappell (Lodi), Anthony Swan (Newark), Tracy Bolin (Valley Springs), Belletto, Monez, Walt Haas (Antioch), David Houck (Oakdale), Pete Ramirez (Manteca), Jerry Crawford (Stockton).

FAST TIME: Michael Wendt (Lodi) 16.975

DASH: Wendt, Chad Holman (Stockton), Joey Stearns (Stockton), Charlie Clawson (Modesto).

B-MAIN: John Medina (Galt), Larry Moore (Lodi), Brain Miller (Railroad Flat), Brian Ennis (Stockton), Ray Bird (Stockton), Karen Wagner (Lodi), John Flanagan (Lodi), Dick Thomas (Stockton), Jerry Madden (Stockton), Terry Ayers (Sonora), Mike Graham (Manteca), Tom Dibble (Sonora).

MAIN: Stearns, Wendt, Aimee Sullivan (Lodi), Danny Guibor (Manteca), C.W. Davis (Stockton), Medina, Tom Dahl (Stockton), Clawson, Dave Ball (Stockton), Tom Bolin (San Jose), Holman, Rich Harper (Stockton), Johnny Bird (Stockton), Brian Vosburg (Stockton), Moore, Ennis, Miller, Cindy Freitas (Lodi), Kannai Scantlen (Stockton), Jeff Ahl (Lodi).

FAST TIME: Johnny Rodriguez (13.437)

HEAT-1: Cliff Servetti, Alex Harris, Rodriguez, John Harkraider, Glen Carson, Pete Davis, Bill Lindsey, Travis Berryhill, Jim Fowler.

HEAT-2: Marc DeBeaumont, Rory Price, Floyd Alvis, Desi Bray, Ken Bonnema, Ken Molica, Ralph Cortez, Stuart Birkenbine, Tim Joyce.

MAIN: Haris, DeBeaumont, Price, Carson, Rodriguez, Alvis, Servetti, Birkenbine, Bonnema, Harkraider, Brey, Lindsey, Molica, Cortez, Davis, Joyce, Fowler.

FAST TIME: Gary Franks (Manteca) 16.005

DASH: G-Franks, Carrie Miller, Troy Ermish, Mike Frank.

MAIN: G. Franks, Ermish, Miller, M. Frank, Bret Barney, Danny Basto, Todd Lewis, Brandon Threvethan, Richard DelGuidce, Dick Carter, Ron Robeck, Mike Curry, Randy Johoda.

See Also .:

News Index | E-mail to a Friend