Source: ARP Media/jd
Date: 09/16/2007

TRACY, California - Modesto's Mike David was crowned the 2007 Champion of the NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series in the series finale in front of a packed house at Altamont Motorsports Park on Saturday night. David finished third in the event with Eric Holmes, the 2006 Grand National West champion, finishing first in the 200 lap Dan Gamel RV Centers 200.

David, who had to finish 22nd or better to secure the championship, actually took the championship on lap 90 when six of the 28 cars that qualified for the event were officially retired from the race.

"I did not know I had it on lap 90," said David, adding, "About lap 150 they [told me]: 'You are the champion!'"

David most likely could have used the news earlier in the race as he was fighting a transmission problem that eventually only left him with his high gear.

In victory lane David said he had serious concerns whether his transmission would make it to the end of the race.

"It was shaking and popping and making noises it's not supposed to." said David.

David entered the Grand National West series in 2002 where he earned the Rookie of the Year honors. Last season he drove his #2 Bennett Lane Winery Ford to the runner up spot in the championship standings.

David Mayhew of Atascadero Calif. had an impressive run in the Dan Gamel RV Centers 200, taking his 21 Golden Gate Petroleum Richard Childress Racing Ford from a starting position of 21st to finish second.

Redding Calif's Kyle Cattanach driving a Dan Gamel RV Centers-sponsored Toyota finished in the fourth position after starting 22nd on the grid.

Jason Bowles rounded out the top five in an outstanding year for the Ontario, Calif native - one that earned him Rookie of the Year honors for 2007.

Starting on the pole, Brian Ickler led the first seven laps of the race until giving the lead to Holmes who led the remaining 193 laps. Ickler was not a factor in the race after having a right front tire go down on lap 72.

Tracy's Ryan Philpott ran as high as sixth place in the event until suffering what appeared to be an engine failure. Stockton's Ross Strmiska did not qualify after losing an engine in practice.

Rounding out the top 10 were Daryl Harr, Mike Duncan, Alex Haase, Eric Richardson and Eric Harden. Duncan finished second in points for 2007, 114 points behind Mike David.

Earlier in the day a large contingent of 26 Western Late Models battled it out on the half mile in a 100 lap event. When the dust settled the familiar face of Dave Byrd, the 2006 Altamont Motorsports Park Late Model Champion, emerged in victory lane.

Byrd and Ryan Philpott, the 2007 Altamont Late Model Champion, brought the crowd to their feet, battling door-to-door for the first spot on laps 30 and 31. Philpott gained the top spot but eventually went a lap down after being caught up in a wreck later in the race that was not of his making.

Mark Holeman finished in the second position with Gary Glen, Kyle Cattanach and Brock Monroe rounding out the top five.

The day of racing started off with 30 laps of Grand American Modified action in which Todd Lynch secured the top position followed by Tony Noceti and Scott Winters.

Altamont Motorsports Park returns to NASCAR Whelen All-American local racing next weekend.

Altamont Motorsports Park is located between Livermore and Tracy, Calif., within an hour's drive from most points in the San Francisco Bay Area as well as the Central Valley.

Source: Jeff Downey/Altamont Motorsports Park

NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION, WEST SERIES-DAN GAMEL RV CENTERS 200 Results Saturday At Altamont Motorsports Park Tracy, CA

(Start position in parentheses)

1. (2) Eric Holmes, Escalon, Calif., Chevrolet, 200 laps, 57.297 mph, $6,917.
2. (21) David Mayhew, Atascadero, Calif., Chevrolet, 200, $4,717.
3. (6) Mike David, Modesto, Calif., Ford, 200, $3,667.
4. (22) Kyle Cattanach, Redding, Calif., Toyota, 200, $2,400.
5. (5) Jason Bowles, Ontario, Calif., Ford, 200, $3,517.
6. (17) Daryl Harr, St Albert, Alberta, Chevrolet, 200, $2,717.
7. (8) Mike Duncan, Bakersfield, Calif., Chevrolet, 200, $3,367.
8. (18) Alex Haase, Las Vegas, Nev., Chevrolet, 200, $3,767.
9. (10) Eric Richardson, Bakersfield, Calif., Chevrolet, 199, $3,180.
10. (16) Eric Hardin, Anaheim, Calif., Chevrolet, 198, $3,167.
11. (25) Rick Wall, Irvine, Calif., Ford, 197, $2,167.
12. (3) Justin Lofton, Westmorland, Calif., Ford, 197, $2,017.
13. (14) Jason Fensler, Wilton, Calif., Chevrolet, 196, $1,500.
14. (19) Brett Thompson, Jerome, Idaho, Chevrolet, 195, $2,567.
15. (11) Rick Ruzbarsky, Tracy, Calif., Chevrolet, 194, $1,350.
16. (1) Brian Ickler, San Diego, Calif., Chevrolet, 193, $3,967.
17. (24) Moses Smith, Tempe, Ariz., Chevrolet, 192, $1,667.
18. (28) Wes Banks, Oakdale, Calif., Ford, 192, $1,200.
19. (26) Ed Vecchiarelli, Sr., Brighton, Colo., Chevrolet, 192, $1,000.
20. (23) Jason Gilbert, Dublin, Calif., Chevrolet, 179, $1,000.
21. (7) Ryan Foster, Anderson, Calif., Chevrolet, 147, steering, $1,417.
22. (12) Ryan Philpott, Tracy, Calif., Ford, 100, oil line, $1,000.
23. (4) Johnny Borneman, Ramona, Calif., Ford, 42, accident, $2,167.
24. (9) Jason Patison, Corona, Calif., Ford, 41, accident, $1,000.
25. (27) Thomas Martin, Auburn, Calif., Chevrolet, 30, engine, $1,000.
26. (15) Ben Walker, Santa Clarita, Calif., Chevrolet, 28, brakes, $1,000.
27. (13) Jim Inglebright, Fairfield, Calif., Chevrolet, 16, accident, $2,167.
28. (20) Mike Gallegos, Wheat Ridge, Colo., Ford, 0, accident, $1,417.

Located in Alameda County, between Tracy and Livermore, Calif., Altamont Motorsports Park (www.AltamontRacing.com.) is a NASCAR-sanctioned motorsports facility featuring a 1/2-mile, high-banked paved oval that is the only 1/2-mile paved oval between Redding and Los Angeles. The facility also features a 1/4-mile paved oval, a 1.1-mile road course, Figure 8 track, Drifting course, and Kart course. An operating short-track in Northern California since 1963, the facility was acquired and refurbished in 2006, by Riverside Motorsports Park, LLC (www.RMPracing.com) of Atwater, Calif. Altamont Motorsports Park features the NASCAR Whelen All-American Weekly Racing Series, USAC-CASA-BCRA sprint car competitions, and a variety of automobile and motorcycle motorsports events. In 2006, Altamont Motorsports Park was awarded the Race Organizer of the Year Award by the United States Automobile Club (USAC) racing organization, and the Best Facility Improvement Award, as a Premier Short Trac k, by NASCAR.

See Also .:

• Mike David Driver Card
• Eric Holmes Driver Card
• Altamont Motorsport Park Track Page

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