Source: Eldorado Westcar Series/sb
Date: 08/02/2007

Rookie and points leader Jarred Beddow of Roseville, CA will lead a large field of drivers into Tracy, CA, Saturday night, as the Eldorado Westcar Tour of Champions invades the half-mile paved Altamont Motorsports Park.

Both Westcar regulars and local favorites will come together to compete for a $13,000 purse that includes $2000 to win and $300 for taking the green flag in the 100 lap contest.

Beddow leads the series points standings by 32 points over 2005 Rookie of the Year Bobby Butler of Sacramento, CA. The race marks the sixth of the seven round series.

Beddow, 26, has five top-fives and five top-tens in five starts but remains winless. Butler is also looking for his first win of 2007 in the Eldorado Hotel Casino-backed series.

The series entry list includes the return of touring standouts Troy Shirk, Dave Byrd, and Greg Potts to the series.

Shirk will pilot an Eldorado-sponsored entry. Shirk finished in the top-five in the Westcar Series in 2006 and has multiple Altamont track championships.

Byrd claimed the Altamont Western Late Model championship in 2006 with 13 wins.

The championship marked Byrd’s 13th in NASCAR-sanctioned competition. Byrd will run double-duty on Saturday, as the Monterrey, CA veteran is also the points leader in the prestigious SRL Wild West Shootout.

Jason Fensler, 2005 SRL champion, will also return for his third appearance of the year after a runner-up finish at Shasta Raceway Park.

Leading the charge for the local contingent will be Doff Cooksey of Brentwood, CA.

The 18 year-old driver currently sits third in the Altamont points standings with one win as a rookie.

Other local drivers will include Hispanic rookie Juan Pitta of Galt, CA, Tim Spurgeon of Danville, CA, and Mark Squadrito of Livermore, CA.

Michael Wendt of Lodi, CA, who finished 14th in the 2006 standings, will make his first Westcar start of 2007.

Friday will see open practice from 2-8 p.m. with a free Barbeque for all teams.

Saturday pit gates open at 9 a.m. with practice beginning at noon and qualifying at 3:15 p.m. Opening ceremonies start at 5 p.m. with dashes to follow.

Fans will be treated to an on-track autographs session before the Westcar Late Models fire for their 100 lap feature.

About Westcar: The Westcar Series was started in late 2004 in Northern California by Phil Perry of Perry Race Cars and Jeff Macey of JME, who looked to create a solid touring series for weekly-type Western Late Models. This series became the Eldorado Westcar Late Model Series, which is preparing for its third season in 2007. Westcar continues to evolve and in is in the process of launching the Eldorado Westcar Pot O’ Gold Grassroots Championship.

Altamont Motorsports Park (1/2 mile oval) Saturday August 4th, 2007 Previous race winner: Ryan Philpott Previous fast time: Ryan Philpott, 17.868 Westcar track record: Ryan Philpott, 17.868 Who: Eldorado Hotel Casino Westcar Late Model Series What: Round 6 of 7 in the 2007 season Where: Altamont Motorsports Park, Tracy, CA Posted awards: $13,800 Distance: 100 green flag laps/50 miles Media Contact: Steven Blakesley, Westcar Late Model Series Media Director, (916) 316-4854 Track Contact: Jeff Macey, Altamont Motorsports Park G.M., (530) 846-4545

Current Entry List for Altamont 100 at Altamont Motorsports Park August 4th: 1 Dave Byrd Monterrey, CA Team Chevrolet/Super Clean Chevy 2 Greg Potts Morada, CA Sta-Rite Pool Products Chevy 2 Michael Wendt Lodi, CA Wendt Construction Chevy 3 Chet Danburg Carson City, NV Horseshoe Club Chevy 5 Brian Koski Pleasanton, CA Groth Bros. Chevrolet Chevy 7 Kris Keller* Carson City, NV Wenkel Pontiac-GMC Chevy 11 TBA 13 Ryan Mock Salida, CA Mid-Valley Iron Chevrolet 15 Jake Smith* Tracy, CA Groth Bros. Chevrolet Chevy 16 Andy Livengood Richmond, CA West Construction Chevy 20 Paul Hansen Richmond, CA West Construction Chevy 21 Eric Nascimento* Manteca, CA Aqua Pool & Spa Chevy 22 Craig Paulsen Reno, NV Aurora Designs Chevy 25 Randy Reeves Modesto, CA Scenic Autocare & Towing Chevy 31 Mark Squadrito Livermore, CA Manteca Roofing Chevy 33 Juan Pitta* Galt, CA BPS Propane/CASCAR/Reality World Chevy 35 Jason Fensler Wilton, CA Allen’s Tire Ford 56 Bobby Butler Sacramento, CA Mid-Valley Iron Pontiac 57 Doff Cooksey* Brentwood, CA Ariel Control Chevy 75 Jarred Beddow* Roseville, CA Marina Grill Chevy 777 Troy Shirk Oakley, CA Eldorado Hotel Casino Chevy 78 Tim Spurgeon Danville, CA Mid-Valley Iron Chevy 89 Bobby Hodges Carson City, NV NATC/Team Marines Racing Chevy Summary: 23 cars entered 2 drivers making his Westcar debut: Juan Pitta, Mark Squadrito 5 rookies (Kris Keller, Jarred Beddow, Jake Smith, Eric Nascimento, Juan Pitta, Doff Cooksey) 4 drivers from Nevada, 19 from California

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