Palo Alto’s Rusty Buholz claimed his second ACDelco Late Model victory of the season at Altamont Raceway Park this evening. Buholz, who was last year’s ACDelco champion, reminded all of us how that came about as he took the lead by lap three, and cruised to the win by five car lengths over the rest of the field. A six car inversion put Doyle Moen from Modesto on the pole, Livermore’s Chris Hall, on the outside, David Hulsey from Manteca in third, Lodi’s Travis McCullough fourth, and Verg Beaty of Ceres, fifth. As lap one began a multiple car incident occurred that really did a number on several cars. Hurricane Howard Nevens, of North Highlands was unable to return to the track and several others fought it all night long. The announcers stated several times that we had “Naked cars on the track”! Describing the many cars missing their hoods and fenders. About a third of the way through the 30 lap main, McCullough, Moen and Anthony Swan of Newark did a synchronized spin in turn three which brought out the caution again. Luckily there was no observable damage to any of them. By the second half of the race, the Three B’s, Buholz led, Fast Qualifier Bammer was in second, and Beaty, third. They finished in this order with Daly City’s Greg Leonard, who came through the first lap smash-up with a badly banged up right side, took a respectable fourth, and Moen claimed fifth. Things to mention; Todd Bammer blew his motor and installed another before the main event, Steve Yatsko of Pleasanton who was running ninth in overall points also had the misfortune of blowing his engine during practice, tried desperately to find a ride, but was unable to. John Flanagan from Stockton who was out for his initial race, lost his clutch and was not able to field his No. 50 ACDelco Late Model.
Opening ceremonies this evening included, Markus Quinones who comes to us from the Marine Corp. via Iraq presented the colors this evening during the parade lap in the Tracy Dodge Pace truck as the National Anthem was sung. Modesto’s Bob Van Tuinen of ROOT M OUT Plumbing in conjunction with CACE (Calif. Assoc. of Compensory Education), presented a plaque to Fabian Gonzales of Mark Twain Jr. High in Modesto for Most improved Student this year.
The Pro Trucks arrived for their third race of the season and had Mike Simpson of Citrus Heights make a clean sweep of it. He claimed his heat race, took the Trophy Dash, and won the main event. In a six-truck inversion, Mike Clark of Pleasanton took the pole, Simpson in shotgun, San Lorenzo’s Ken Wright and Ty Schmidt from San Jose, second row, with Fast Qualifier Todd Lynch of Tracy starting fifth. Rookie Nick Williams also from Tracy opted to the rear. On the Green flag, Wright did a big 360 spin on the back straight. Simpson kept the lead, but Schmidt jumped right in behind him and nipped at Simpson through the entire race. The only other yellow in the 20-lap main was for another big spin on the backstretch involving Clark. Clark must have barefooted his tires as he had another spin out coming out of turn four. He left he race at that point. At the checkered flag Simpson claimed first, Schmidt in second, Lynch, third, Mike Lehman, fourth, with Williams quietly riding it out to a fifth place finish.
Baby Grands had a great run this evening without one caution thrown in their 30 lap main. Dave Figuerrido, Sr. of Tracy started on the pole with Mike Conti, also of Tracy, beside him. Don Houston was third, Vicki Simmons of Brentwood, fourth and Saratoga’s Brian Carter started fifth. Mark Smith from Tracy whose fast time got him an eight spot inversion, managed to shoot from that position to second by lap two. At the halfway point, the finishing order was set and Smith had the lead. Figuerrido claimed second. Ron Simmons from Brentwood came from a seventh place start to finish third, Carter and Houston rounded out the top five.
At this point in the evening the Altamont winds must have blown weirdness. Super Stocks started their main event with last week’s winner on the pole; Tracy’s Jim Thompson brought them to the green with Rick Avila of Pleasanton on the outside. Todd Carnahan from Discovery Bay, third. Fast qualifier, Noah Salazar of Livermore pulled the inverted fourth position, and Pacifica’s Gary Hazelhofer started fifth. First lap had George Conners with a big smash and out for the night. Several more spinouts occurred, but no caution flags and Avila had taken the lead. Salazar came right along with him. Thompson and Pat Akers of Fremont were holding third and fourth respectively, and Chris Bammer from Pleasanton completed the race in fifth. Now the weirdness begins. This is the fifth race of the season for Super Stocks. The first, second, and fourth place finishers, Avila, Salazar, and Akers were disqualified for running frames heights too low. This is a big upset for Avila and Salazar who were running first and third in the overall point’s standings. This also gave the win to Thompson who won his heat and the dash. Bammer finished second. “Mr. Tuxedo” Jerod Popejoy of Manteca took third, Hazelhofer was fourth and Terry DeCarlo from Martinez in fifth.
The Mini Super Trucks started the race with Fast qualifier David Burchett from Tracy pulling an eight spot inversion. This put Dublin’s Jeff Brissey number one, Ray Bunn from San Jose second, Tracy’s Larry Bohringer inside second row, Tom Moss from Redwood City, fourth and Hayward’s Walt Bruegger rounding out the top five. “One Man Team” Bunn charged right out and grabbed the lead. Moss who had to sit out the last race due to extensive damage, hounded him for the entire run. Brissey, Bohringer, and Rudy Marquez of Modesto had their own battle going on. The rest of the pack kept on digging. Burchett took third just past the halfway point. The finish had Bunn in first, Moss, second, Burchett, third, Marquez, fourth, and Bruegger fifth. The weird wind was really blowing, as Bunn must have been so excited over the win he went directly to his pit, instead of tech, and was disqualified. This put Moss first, Burchett, second, Marquez, third, Bruegger, fourth and Bohringer, fifth. What a heart breaker for Bunn, who comes out each week and is the pit crew and driver.
Altamont Raceway is the place to spend next Saturday night, with “Fathers’ Day 50 presented by Bud Light” showcases SRL STARS sanctioned AC Delco Late Models will run 50 laps. Triple Thunder comes when “Open Wheel racing returns with the CASA Sprints, NCMA, and U Race It.Com Spec Motor Modifieds. The program will be rounded out with Mini Super Trucks and Mini Cup Jr. Stars. Bring your Dad, bring your Son, bring your Uncle or Brother and enjoy an action packed evening on the “Fastest Half-Mile in the West” at Altamont Raceway Park.
