Tracy, Calif., -- Ryan Philpott brought his #52 Red Rocket into victory lane for the fourth time this season, besting a field of 13 NASCAR All-American Whelen Western Late Model stock cars at Altamont Motorsports Park on Saturday night. Philpott, from Tracy, Calif, is currently undefeated at Altamont Motorsports Park this season.

"Making the car happy for 50 laps takes a lot of work," said Philpott in victory lane. "We have put a lot of work in this car and you guys can see it."

The win put Philpott's restart skills to the test, as the racer from Tracy got the better of three restarts in the last thirteen laps of the race.

Doff Cooksey, who battled with Philpott last weekend, looked like he was set up for a second place finish until contact with Danville's Tim Spurgeon brought a tire down on Cooksey's #57 on the last lap of the race.

Spurgeon fought hard with Cooksey for the second position in the later stages of the race, eventually taking the runner up spot of the 50 lap event on the 1/2-mile oval.

"Cooksey is a heck of a race car driver," said Spurgeon. "If he is a rookie that is impressive,"

"Cooksey had everything going on but with 15 laps to go his rear tires went away and he had his hands full." said Spurgeon.

Taking third was the #21 of Modesto's Kyle Gottula who made a impressive debut, having not taken any practice laps earlier in the afternoon.

The #12 of Sacramento's Josh Combs and the #17 of Stockton's Jeff Orr rounded out the top five.

The #98 of Glen Cook finished in the sixth position. Cook battled in the top five for most of the race until two late spins put Cook further in the back.

Philpott currently leads the Western Late Model points battle at Altamont Motorsports Park with Tim Spurgeon close behind Philpott in the second position. Spurgeon has finished second in three of the four NASCAR All-American Whelen Western Late Model events at AMP this year.

"I've got the #78 car breathing down my neck," said Spurgeon. "He drives hard and we are going to have to take it one race at a time."

Also racing on the 1/2-mile oval were nine Grand American Modifieds who kept the fans on their feet with three different leaders over the 30 lap event.

Pole sitter Tony Noceti took the win bumping the #1 of Todd Lynch out of the way coming out of Turn 2 on lap 21. Lynch appeared to have the second position locked up until what appeared to be an engine problem retired his #1 in a puff of smoke on the final lap of the race.

Todd Lewis and Johnny Cardoza finished in the second and third positions of the 30 lap event.

Ryan Mock led the first eight laps of the event until his car slowed, eventually finishing in the sixth position for the evening.

The American Limited Stock Car's put on an equally impressive display on the 1/4-mile oval. Pole sitter Jim Dulla from Hayward ran in the first postion for all thirty laps of the race, holding off strong pressure from the #75 of Jim Earl for the first 20 laps of the race.

"I knew Earl was back there and every time he bumped me I had to slow down so I wouldn't go around," said Dulla, who now has two ALSC wins under his belt this season.

On Lap 20, Earl spun in Turn 4, opening the second position for the #5 of Stockton's Rich Harper. Harper finished in the second position, followed by the #33 of Tim Rappa in third.

Don McLaren and Anthony Gourley rounded out the top five of the nine ALSC cars that qualified for the 30 lap event.

The husband-wife tandem of Doug and Debbie Foreman split victories in the Formula 4 races, with Doug winning the first 10 lap race of the evening and Debbie taking the checkers in the night cap.

Racing returns to Altamont Motorsports Park next Saturday with a full lineup featuring Western Late Models, Grand American Modifieds, Pro Trucks and ALSC.

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