AMADOR SWEEPS AT ALTAMONT


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Sep 6, 2008

NCMA SPRINTS

Source: Debbie Shipherd
Date: 03/21/2004

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TRACY, California -- Ed Amador of Modesto won the 25 lap feature, trophy dash, and the six lap heat race in the NCMA's first season appearance at Altamont's 1/2 mile paved track on Saturday, March 20. Amador started on the front row next to son Steve Amador in the feature, and had his J& J Dairy's car dialed in to win tonight, leading every lap. Early on Manteca's Pat Ariaz was close on his tail, but fell back with brake problems. Patterson's Steve Amador ran a strong third until Contra Costa Auto Parts' Keith Shipherd passed him on lap 22. At the checkers it was Amador, Ariaz, and Keith Shipherd of Pleasant Hill in the top three.

With a full schedule at the new Altamont Motorsports Park, the pits, parking lots, and stands were overflowing. The sprints took the field very late after the SRL cars ran a 100 lap main. The sprint feature ran all 25 laps clean and fast with only one yellow for a spun car. The two six lap heat races were won by J& J Dairy's Amador and Alum-Line's Pat Ariaz, and Amador made it a sweep by powering his Stinger sprint to win the trophy dash as well. This was his first NCMA asphalt feature win at Altamont, and he was thrilled. Another small victory in this evening's races was Homeowner's Electric Steve Amador's first trophy dash race at Altamont where he finished 2nd behind his father.

In an afternoon practice session veteran driver Don Hicks hit the wall and was all right, but very sore and unable to race. In another practice session, rookie John Silva from Tracy hit the wall as he was exiting the track, but with a lot of help from other teams his car was repaired and he finished his first NCMA feature in 5th place. CL Bryant generously donated fuel awards to 5th place finisher Silva, fast qualifier Ariaz, and to the last place finisher.

After two races in a full 24 race schedule, Ed Amador leads the point race in asphalt, dirt, and combined points. Since many of the traveling club's teams run on both asphalt and dirt tracks, they will be busy changing car set ups for the next race at Chowchilla Speedway on Saturday, March 27. The next pavement race will be the following week, April 3, at Altamont. Drive safe, have fun and take care.

Summary: Fast time: Pat Ariaz 18.865 Heat 1: Pat Ariaz, Burt Siverling, Steve Amador, Michael Zarevich Heat 2: Ed Amador, Keith Shipherd, John Silva, Sam Davies Trophy Dash: Ed Amador, Steve Amador, Pat Ariaz, Keith Shipherd Main: Ed Amador, Pat Ariaz, Keith Shipherd, Steve Amador, John Silva, Burt Siverling, Michael Zarevich, Sam Davies, Don Hicks (DNS) ####