JASON FENSLER WINS SIXTH SRL RACE OF 2005

Source: Alves/SRL
Date: 09/27/2005

TRACY, California -- Jason Fensler won his sixth SRL Wild West Late Model Shootout race Saturday night at Altamont Raceway & Arena. Jeremy Wood of Tracy, California finished second, followed by Eric Schmidt, Jeff Anthony, as Aaron Days rounded out the top five.

Tracy Bolin set quick time during qualifying with a lap of 18.300 seconds. Troy Ermish was second quick as he stopped the clock with an 18.320 second lap. Mark Smith was third at 18.344, Jason Fensler fourth with an 18.356 second lap, as Joey Zampa rounded out the top five with an 18.375 second lap.

After setting quick time Tracy Bolin drew an eight to determine the invert for the 100 lap feature event. The eight car invert placed former Altamont Late Model Champions Rusty Buholz and Aaron Days on the front row. Days jumped out to an early lead as Buholz ran second until spinning in turn one on lap two. Joey Zampa moved into second with Mark Smith third, Jason Fensler fourth, and Jeff Belletto fifth. The first caution came out on lap nine as Harold Rieker Jr. came to a stop on the backstretch. Rieker retired his car for the night with mechanical problems and finished 22nd. Joey Zampa took the lead away from Aaron Days on lap 17, but would spin in turn one on lap 18 and backed his Chevrolet Monte Carlo into the wall. Zampa’s night was done as he would finish 21st. Mark Smith and Jason Fensler made their way around Aaron Days racing back to the line as Days would fall to third. Fensler and Smith ran nose to tail for three laps until the two made contact heading into turn three sending Smith’s car hard into the turn three wall. Fensler was put to the back of the field for spinning the race leader.

Jeff Belletto was now the race leader on the lap 28 restart. Tracy Bolin moved up to the second position with Jeremy Wood, Kyle Gottula, and Ken Boyd close behind. Bolin took the lead from Belletto on lap 30 and rookie Jeremy Wood moved into second place. Kyle Gottula ran third, Ken Boyd fourth and Eric Schmidt fifth. Schmidt’s car would not fire for qualifying and had to start 22nd. Jason Fensler made his way back to the top five on lap 48. Bolin continued to lead as the race reached the half-way point on lap 50. Ken Boyd tried to pass Kyle Gottula for third on lap 51 and nearly spun in turns one and two. Boyd kept the car straight thru the grass and continued but fell to the 12th position.

Jeremy Wood passed Tracy Bolin for the lead on lap 60. Lap 61 brought out another caution which would result in a red flag as Kyle Gottula, Tracy Bolin, Mike Mansh, Ken Boyd, Greg Potts, Troy Ermish and Ray Lawson Jr. were all involved in a wreck heading into turn three. Gottula, Ermish, Bolin, Mansch, and Potts all retired after the incident. Ken Boyd was also involved in the lap 61 wreck but was able to continue. Wood led the lap 62 restart before Fensler took the lead once again. Eric Schmidt was third followed by Jeff Anthony who started 21st after missing the drivers meeting. Aaron Days made his way back to fifth as Rusty Buholz was sixth, David Mantooth seventh, Jeff Belletto eight, Joey Stearns ninth, and Carl Pearce tenth.

The race continued green for the final 38 laps as Jason Fensler won his sixth event this season. Jeremy Wood finished second earning him his best career SRL finished and moved into fifth in the championship standings. Eric Schmidt came home third and holds down the third position in the point standings as Fensler continues to lead Mark Smith by 46 points heading into the final event on Saturday, October 8th at Altamont. Jeff Anthony finished fourth and Aaron Days took fifth. Rusty Buholz finished sixth, Jeff Belletto seventh, Ken Boyd eight, Ray Lawson Jr., night, and Rodd Kneeland tenth.

The SRL Wild West Shootout returns to Altamont Raceway & Arena in Tracy, California on Saturday, October 8th.

Average race speed: 82.899 MPH
Best lap time: 18.755 Speed 95.974 (Joey Zampa)
Margin of Victory 2.590 seconds

For more information visit the SRL Wild West Shootout’s website at http://www.srllatemodels.com

Davey Hamilton’s SRL “Wild West Shootout” would like to thank their 2005 Sponsors, which include: Afco, Apex Financial Group, Bassett Racing Wheels, Brodix Inc., Casciaro Homes, Dynatech, DPI, Eibach Springs, FRE, Five Star Stock Car Bodies, Frank’s Radio Service, G. P. Fabrication, Hoosier Tire West, Impact Racing, Fensler Racing Inc., Madera Auto Center, Paul Oil Co., Perry Race Cars, Peterson Fluid Systems, Pit Stop USA.Com, Sunoco, Total Seal Inc., U. S. Brake, and Victory Circle Chassis and Parts.

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