BYRD & ZAMPA BIG WINNERS AT STOCKTON

Source: Jim Shiels/99 Media Relations
Date: 09/30/2002

STOCKTON, California -- Only 62/1000th of a second in time trials kept Dave Byrd of San Jose from a clean sweep in his return to HOTWOOD Western Late Model action this week at Stockton 99 Speedway in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by DODGE and sponsored by C.L. Bryant Union 76 Gasoline.

Byrd had left the track after the July 20th event when his car owner and former Stockton Late Model champ, Tim Gillit of Lathrop became embroiled in a parts issue and withdrew from competition. Gillit returned the car to action with Bob Strandwold of Modesto behind the wheel on 9-14 and spent two weeks bringing the already quick car to full song before Byrd stepped back in to protect his fifth-place season point standing this week in the final race of the 2002 season.

2002 season champion Harry Belletto of Modesto, set the quick time and won his heat, with Byrd running second quick and claiming his heat and the dash to set the main event drama. Byrd started 7th on the grid, one spot ahead of Belletto as Buzz Devore of Stockton grabbed the first lap lead. Byrd was in fifth by lap four with Belletto keeping pace. On the 15th circuit Byrd took the point with Belletto slipping to second as the two pulled away to their own private battle.

The yellow flag blues hit first on lap-20 as Johnny Berndt of Clements spun in turn two with Byrd, Belletto, Devore, Tracy Bolin of Valley Springs, and Wes Miller of Turlock making up the top five on the restart. Another yellow fell a lap later as Stockton driver Jerry Crawford wound up backwards against the front wall off turn four. Just as quick another yellow fell as Berndt made contact with Anthony Swan of Newark and Swan spun in the second corner. Miller moved to third on the next pass with yet another yellow flying on lap-24 as Devore and Robert Knittel of Lodi tangled in turn two. The top five at this point consisted of Byrd, Belletto, Miller, Bolin, and Crawford with only three laps going into the score book before the worst of the yellows came on lap-27 when Berndt took a straight-on hit into the pit exit gate concrete. Berndt spent a few moments remembering childhood Christmas presents before climbing from the car to wave at the fans.

Cars scattered to the pits under the yellow for repairs with accusations and recriminations flying as to who was responsible and why and the process Belletto and Devore retired from the event. Byrd continued the final laps to score the win, his fifth of the year, ahead of Miller, Chris Monez of Lodi, Crawford, and Bolin.

Miller ended up the season second in points behind Belletto, with Bolin running third. An absent Pete Anderson, Jr., of Stockton finished fourth in the tally with Byrd holding his spot in fifth.

The SRL Late Model Wild West Shootout Series concluded their fourth and final event for the season with Joey Zampa of Napa putting on a perfect driving job by leading all 100-laps of action and fending off furious charges by previous Stockton winner John Gaalswyk of Ripon.

Four yellows slowed the early action, but the final 25-laps were a fan-pleasing barn burner with Gaalswyk making try-after-try to get low under the steady Zampa. Gaalswyk could get the line, lap-after-lap, but Zampa had the power to hold off the charge at the next corner.

Zampa took the win with dash winner Gaalswyk on his bumper, and both followed by Ron Strmiska, Jr. of Manteca, Nathan Tucker of Sonora, and Chris Wadsworth of Oakley. Michael Carver of Placerville was the fast time man on the night.

Incoming series champion Jeff Anthony of Livermore was out early in a 13th lap crash that broke suspension parts. Anthony got the car put back togeather and joined Zampa in a series of circle-burns on the front straight after the checkered flag.

The Pro-Four Truck series produced a strong count of 20 drivers with Gary Franks of Manteca continuing to show his season dominance with a quick time on the field and a feature win by almost ¾ of a lap.

Franks started 10th on the grid and took the lead on lap seven after early leads by Todd Lewis of Riverbank and Mark Slife of Livermore. Only one quick yellow slowed the pace with Franks leading at the checkered over Rudy Marquez of Modesto, strong running Carrie Miller of Saratoga, Bret Barney, and Slife. Heat wins went to Randy Johoda of Tracy, Mike Frank of Denair, and Troy Ermish of Fremont, who also nailed the dash win.

The end of the season Pure Stock Power Puff event gave the wives, Moms, and gal friends of racing the chance to strut their stuff in competition on the quarter-mile oval with Bobby McCaul of Manteca leading the first lap before bowing to last years winner Donna Jacke of Stockton. Heat and dash winner Cindy Bentz of Lodi grabbed the top spot on lap-five with Jacke taking it back a lap later and holding off Bentz to lap-12 before Bentz retook the lead for good. Geri Knittel of Lodi, the other heat winner on the night, stepped into the second spot on lap-16 and chased Bentz to the checkered. Jacke held strong for third ahead of Robin Ratcliff of Stockton, and Gina Holman, also of Stockton. Four minor yellows slowed the event with fun had by all.

Stockton Speedway will close the 2002 season on October 5th with it?s annual 250-lap Enduro contest, running 125-laps in each direction on a wet and soapy track. A roll over contest will add excitement to the night as will a planned five-lap "BACKWARDS" race open to a maximum of 10 cars that choose to enter after the Enduro event is over.

The Management and staff of Stockton Speedway sincerely thanks the many drivers, teams, and especially the fine and long list of sponsors that have made the 2002 season a great success.

FAST TIME: Harry Belletto 14.475

HEAT-1: Dave Byrd, Chris Monez, Tracy Bolin, Johnny Berndt, Jeff Belletto, Dwight Pilcher.

HEAT-2: H-Belletto, Wes Miller, Jerry Crawford, Robert Knittel, Buzz Devore, David Houck, Anthony Swan.

DASH: Byrd, Miller, H-Belletto, J-Belletto.

MAIN: Byrd, Miller, Monez, Crawford, Bolin, Knittel, Swan, H-Belletto, Devore, Berndt, Houck, J-Belletto, Pilcher.

FAST TIME: Michael Carver. 14.140

DASH: John Gaalswyk, Joey Zampa, Ron Strmiska, Jr., Carver.

MAIN: Zampa, Gaalswyk, Strmiska, Nathan Tucker, Chris Wadsworth, Carver, Tim Stratmeyer, Ed Coughenour, Ray Lawson, Jr., Wes Banks, Troy Ermish, C.J. Jahnke, Paul Guthmiller, Rick Ruzbarsky, Jessie Apodaca, Scott Sanchez, Chad Pais, Wes Miller, Greg Lewellen, Gene Garrett, Jeff Anthony.

FAST TIME: Gary Franks. 16.022

HEAT-1: Randy Johada, Brandon Threvethan, Tim Fernandes, Sr., Ronnie Robecks, Tim Fernandes, Jr., Mike Curry, Chris Blair.

HEAT-2: Mike Frank, Carrie Miller, Dave Fly, Bret Barney, Joe Williams, Ron Pestana.

HEAT-3: Troy Ermish, G-Franks, Rudy Marquez, Mark Slife, Todd Lewis, Kevin Earp.

DASH: Ermish, Franks, Miller, Barney.

MAIN: Franks, Marquez, Miller, Barney, Slife, Lewis, Blair, Threvethan, Fernandes, Jr., Pestana, Robecks, Fernandes, Sr., Ermish, Johoda, Curry, Fly, Williams, Frank.

HEAT-1: Cindy Bentz, Robin Ratcliff, Samantha Clement, Shyerl Harper, Donna Jacke, Bobby McCaul, Evelyn Bird.

HEAT-2: Geri Knittel, Stephane King, Moe Keener, Chrissy Allen, Mary Little, Gina Holman, Lisa Touchstone.

DASH: Bentz, Knittel, King, Ratcliff.

MAIN: Bentz, Knittel, Jacke, Ratcliff, Holman, Keener, McCaul, Allen, King, Harper, Bird, Clement, Touchstone, Little.

See Also .:

News Index | E-mail to a Friend