STOCKTON, California -- Davey Hamilton’s SRL Wild West Shootout returned to Stockton99 Speedway for the final event of the 2002 racing season. Joey Zampa of Napa California picked up his second career shootout victory. John Gaalswyk finished second behind Zampa. Ron Strmiska Jr. of Manteca finished third. Nathan Tucker the 2001 SRL Wild West Shootout champion came in fourth, while Chris Wadsworth of Oakley finished fifth.
The evening began with Michael Carver of Placerville setting fast time around the ¼ mile track. Carver turned a lap of 14.140. Strmiska was second quick with a lap of 14.174. John Gaalswyk won the trophy dash over Zampa, Strmiska, and Carver. A four-car invert would put Zampa on the pole for the 100-lap feature.
Zampa took the green flag and headed into turn one with Gaalswyk a close second. Strmiska maintained the third position with Carver fourth; Wadsworth fifth as the field was slowed down for a crash in turns three and four involving the 2002 SRL Wild West Shootout champion Jeff Anthony. Anthony and Gene Garrett of Sacramento came to a stop with the front of Anthony’s car up in the air on top of Garrets. Both drivers were finished for the night, but Anthony would return after the race to celebrate his championship with donuts on the front stretch.
As the race went back to green, Chris Wadsworth passed Michael Carver on lap 36 for the fourth position. A lap 40 caution was brought out when Ray Lawson Jr. of Fresno spun in turn four and hit the wall. Lawson would continue and finished ninth. At the half way point John Gaalswyk started to put some serious pressure on leader Zampa until lap 56 when Scott Sanchez lost a motor and brought out a caution. Zampa was still leading with Gaalswyk in second, Strmiska third, Wadsworth fourth and Nathan Tucker fifth.
Gaalswyk was putting more and more pressure on Zampa as the laps winded down. With 15 laps to go the leaders caught up to lap traffic, but Zampa passed every car with Gaalswyk right behind him trying to make a move for the top position. Zampa held on to take his second victory of the season. “My car started going away with about 20 laps to go, I was getting a little nervous,” said Zampa in Victory lane. “Gaalswyk raced me real clean, it was a great race, and good way to finish off the year”.
Carver would go on to finish in the sixth position, 2001 Rookie of the year Tim Stratmeyer finished seventh, with Ed Coughenour eight. Raw Lawson Jr. finished ninth, as Wes Banks rounding out the top ten.
Consistency was the key to the championship for Jeff Anthony. Before the race at Stockton99 Speedway, Anthony posted ten top ten finishes in a row before finishing a disappointing last. “It feels good to win the championship, this was a great thing to accomplish, I have a real good crew” said Anthony the 2002 season champion.
With Nathan Tucker’s fourth place finish he was able to move into second in the final standings for the 2002 season. Raw Lawson Jr. a two-time winner this year finished third. Rick Ruzbarsky finished fourth, and also was awarded the 2002 SRL Wild West Shootout Rookie of the year. Race winner Joey Zampa finished fifth in the season standings.
Davey Hamilton’s SRL Wild West Shootout would like to thank it’s 2002 Series sponsors which include: Sunoco, Hoosier, Western Seed & Fuel, Extreme Race Wear, Five Star Stock Car Bodies, Frank's Radio Service, F. R. E, & Print Works. For complete season standings please visit our website at: http://www.supermodifiedracing.com
