STOCKTON, California -- The U.S. Army color guard marched to the start-finish line, raising the American flag in support of Armed Forces, and officially kicked off the celebration of "U.S. ARMY NIGHT" at Stockton 99 Speedway last Saturday. From there, the night belonged to Modesto's Harry Belletto. The seasoned veteran led 29 of the 30 laps for his fourth Western Late Model victory this season and his 81st checkered flag overall.
Belletto has also won two of the last three races during the 25-week NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series. He remains one of five WLM drivers to win main events this season.
Belletto took the lead away from Dave Byrd of Pacific Grove on lap 2 and never relinquished his position. Byrd, who won the dash and had the fastest qualifying time, finished second ahead of Roseville's Eric Schmidt.
In the Grand American Modified division, Citrus Heights Jay Linstroth, who was currently second, blew his left-front tire on lap 26 restart and eventually blew his chances of winning for the fourth time in 2003. Instead, Sacramento's Jason Philpot led the final four laps for his second 30-lap main event victory of the season. Salida?s Sam Solari finished second despite leading nine laps.
Stockton's Joey Stearns was third and Stockton's Buzz Devore placed fourth in a race which featured seven lead changes including five through the first nine laps.
Stockton's Gary Shafer Jr. continued his dominance of the Pure Stocks, coasting to his fifth main event victory in eight races this season. Shafer Jr. led the final 28 laps after diving inside of Stockton's Chad Holman on turn 2 of the caution-free race.
Holman managed a second-place finish. Lodi's Michael Wendt was third in front of Stockton's Richard Harper.
Lodi's Jeff Ahl, who had finished fourth, was disqualified after check inspections. The Pro 4 had a very eventful 25-lap main event, Todd Lewis of Riverbank became the fifth different winner in as many races. Lewis gained his first lead on lap 22 and led the final three laps for his first win of the season.This win was special for Todd because it was his first career main event victory.
Modesto's Tim Lewis finished second and Saratoga's Carrie Miller recorded a third-place finish after a roller coaster race. Miller bumped and spun out leader Michael Brooks Jr. on lap 8, forcing her to move to the back of the field.
After weaving into position, Miller regained the lead on lap 13 before slipping off the pace nine laps later with a slow leaking tire.The division should continue to grow with new trucks joing the field in the comming weeks. Carrie Miller is the new point leader for the Pro 4 truck division.
Stockton 99 Speedway will be closed this Saturday night. The following week, June 28, Stockton 99 Speedway returns to its regular schedule on "U.S. GYPSUM NIGHT" with Western Late Models, Grand American Modifieds, Pure Stocks, Pro 4 Trucks and the Legend cars revisit the Speedway after a week off.
It will serve as the final tune-up before the second leg of the "HOT WOOD TRI-HOLIDAY FIRECRACKER 100-LAP CLASSIC" for Western Late Models, which will take place on Thursday evening, July 3.
The evening's entertainment will be capped of with an aerial fireworks display.
- Top Qualifier
- Dave Byrd, 14.357
- Dash
- 1. Byrd 2. Harry Belletto 3. Wes Miller 4. Eric Schmidt
- Main
- 1. Belletto 2. Byrd 3. Schmidt 4. Danny Guibor 5. John Moore 6. Robert Knittel 7. Harold Rieker 8. Wes Miller 9. Mike Garcia 10. Pete Ramirez 11. Larry Hoover
- Top Qualifier
- Angelo Queirolo, 13.983
- Dash
- 1. Jason Philpot 2. Chris Mays 3. Sam Solari 4. Queirolo
- Main
- 1. Philpot 2. Solari 3. Joey Stearns 4. Buzz Devore 5. Stewart Cullom 6. Mike Regelman 7. Jack Stone 8. Ted Montague 9. Jay Linstroth 10. Ed Cullom 11. Queirolo 12. Mays 13. Dwayne Apedaile
- Top Qualifier
- Michael Wendt, 16.833
- Heat 1
- 1. Mike Robinson 2. Greg Tyler 3. David Sullivan 4. Chet Hopkins 5. Tony Smith 6. Chris Norton
- Heat 2
- 1. Ron Greenmeyer 2. Ray Bird 3. Shelia Wall 4. Kurt White 5.Brian Vosburg 6. Tom Dibble
- Semi
- 1. Sullivan 2. Hopkins 3. Dibble 4. Smith 5. Wall 6. White 7. Norton
- Main
- 1. Gary Shafer Jr. 2. Chad Holman 3. Wendt 4. Richard Harper 5. Bob Simpson 6. Tom Bolin 7. Johnny Cardoza 8. Dave Ball 9. Aaron Shankel 10. Charlie Clawson 11. Brian Miller 12. Robinson 13. Boyd Camper 14. Jacob Cardoza 15. Tyler 16. Sullivan 17. Bird 18. Hopkins 19. Greenmeyer
- Top Qualifier
- Michael Brooks Jr., 15.949
- Dash
- 1. Carrie Miller 2. Gary Franks 3. Brandon Trevethan 4. Brooks Jr.
- Main
- 1. Todd Lewis 2. Tim Lewis 3. Miller 4. Franks 5. Bruce Hopper 6. Brooks Jr. 7. Mike Curry 8. Trevethan 9. Ron Robeck 10. Randy Jahoda 11. Chris Devore
