ANTHONY BECOMES FIRST REPEAT WINNER OF 2004

Source: SRL Public Relations/Eddie Alves
Date: 07/26/2004

TRACY, California -- Livermore’s Jeff Anthony became the first repeat winner in Davey Hamilton’s SRL Wild West Shootout last night at Altamont Motorsports Park. “We tested here the other day, tried some new things and it paid off. Early on you have to get what you can and put pressure on the guys in front of you and move to the front. We had a real good car tonight, and a little bit of luck.” Anthony said. Ken Boyd finished second, followed by Steve Belletto, Rick Ruzbarsky, and Mark Smith.

Ken Boyd was the quickest car in qualifying, with a lap of 18.385 seconds around the fast half mile. Steve Belletto qualified second with a lap of 18.418 seconds, followed by Mark Smith who ran a lap of 18.428, Ryan Foster was fourth as he stopped the clock with a 18.465 second lap. Rounding out the top five was current point leader Rick Ruzbarsky with a lap of 18.467 seconds.

Ken Boyd pulled a ten out of the deck of cards to determine the inversion for the 100 lap feature event. Patterson’s Aaron Days started on the pole, with Roseville’s Eric Schmidt on the outside of row one. Day’s took the lead exiting turn 2, as Schmidt followed down the backstretch. Napa’s Joey Zampa ran third with Troy Ermish fourth, and Jeff Anthony fifth. Anthony passed Ermish on lap five to take fourth. On lap 32 Jeff Anthony made his way around Joey Zampa to take the third position. The evening’s first caution was brought out on lap 34 for debris and fluid on the race track. After running in the second position for 34 laps, Eric Schmidt retired due to an oil leak.

As the field restarted on lap 36, Days continued to lead, Anthony inherited the second position with the exit of Schmidt. Zampa ran third as Ryan Foster moved into fourth from his seventh starting position. Ken Boyd moved into fifth after setting quick time earlier in the evening and started tenth. Foster passed Joey Zampa on lap 42 to take the third position, and Boyd followed to take fourth.

As the field reached the halfway point, Anthony began to put pressure on Days. Anthony was able to pass Days in turns one and two on lap 60 for the race lead. Four laps later Ryan Foster attempted to pass Days for second going into turn three. The two cars made contact, sending Days hard into the wall as Foster spun in the grass, along with Ken Boyd who was running fourth. Foster and Days cars were both retired for the rest of the night. Zampa moved into second after avoiding the wreck, but lost power on lap 80 and retired his racecar for the rest of the night.

The race restarted with 18 laps remaining. Jeff Anthony continued to lead, Steve Belletto moved into second, Rick Ruzbarsky third, Rusty Buholz fourth and Mark Smith fifth. Ken Boyd took fifth from Smith on lap 84, and then moved into fourth place on lap 93 after passing Buholz. With two laps remaining in the 100 lap feature event, Ruzbarsky and Steve Belletto made contact in turn one. Ruzbarsky and Boyd both passed Belletto to take second and third. Belletto was able to gather up his racecar, after nearly spinning. Jeff Anthony cruised to take his second Sunoco Checkered Flag at Altamont Motorsports Park in 2004. After the completion of the race, Ruzbarsky was moved back two spots and finished fourth. Ken Boyd finished second. “These guys work so hard on this car all week long. We have a good handle with the setups at all of the tracks we go to now. We are definitely ready and looking forward to Mesa Marin.” Boyd said.

Steve Belletto finished third and Mark Smith fifth. After starting in the 16th position, Tracy Bolin finished sixth. Rusty Buholz finished seventh, followed by Burney Lamar, rookie Mike Mason, and Fresno’s Ray Lawson Jr. rounding out the top ten.

With just three races left in the 2004 season Ruzbarsky leads Jeff Anthony by 23 points (366-343). Ken Boyd moves into third, Steve Belletto fourth, and Ryan Foster fifth.

Davey Hamilton’s SRL Wild West Late Model Shootout returns to action on Saturday, August 7th, 2004 at Mesa Marin Raceway.

Race Leaders: Aaron Days (1-60), Jeff Anthony (61-100)

Average Race Speed: 85.636 MPH

Best Lap Time: 18.878 (95.349 MPH, Troy Ermish)

Margin of Victory: 2.885 Seconds

Don’t forget to check out the SRL Wild West Shootout website at: http://www.srllatemodels.com

Davey Hamilton’s SRL Wild West Shootout would like to thank their 2004 Sponsors, which include: Apex Financial Group, Bassett Racing Wheels, Beam Design, Brodix Inc., Dynatech, Finishline Racing Equipment, Five Star Stock Car Bodies, Frank's Radio, G. P. Fabrication., Hoosier Tire West, Impact Racing, Paul Oil Co., Peterson Fluid Systems, Pit stop usa.com., Print Werx, Sunoco, Total Seal Inc., U. S. Brake, and Victory Circle Chassis and Parts.

See Also .:

• Altamont Motorsport Park Track Page

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