NASCAR returns to Altamont this Saturday with Late Model Twin-50s
By: Steven Blakesley
 
Tracy, Calif. – NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing returns to Altamont Motorsports Park this Saturday afternoon, with competition for the Western Late Models, Grand American Modifieds, American Limited Stock Cars, Future Champions Development Series, Formula-4s, and Spectator Racing Series.

Family friendly starting and ending times will see racing begin at 2 p.m. and conclude by sundown.

The NASCAR Western Late Models will headline the program with twin-50 lap features on the “fastest half-mile in the west.” Drivers will earn points for two starts for the all-important NASCAR State and National championship battles.

Drivers competing Saturday will include Brentwood, CA driver Doff Cooksey, the 2007 Altamont Rookie of the Year. Other drivers in action will be 2007 runner-up Ken Benhamou of San Ramon, CA, 2005 track champion Jason Gilbert, and Fresno, CA emerging star Dallas Glenn.

Grand American Modifieds will go 30 laps on the half-mile in their radical open-wheeled cars.

American Limited Stock Car feature racing will be 30 laps on the Altamont “quick” quarter-mile.

The brand new Future Champions Development Series will commence its first race on Saturday. Series competitors are ages 14-16, competing in Western Late Model cars with minor performance limits.

Driver development is the name of the game, and the young drivers will start off the season on the quarter-mile before transitioning to the half-mile.

A 20 lap feature is scheduled with drivers from northern and southern California along with northern Nevada expected to attend. Drivers in the field have experience in Baby Grands, Mini Cups, Outlaw Karts, and Karts.

The fast-growing Formula-4 division has two ten lap races on the Altamont 1.1 mile road course scheduled for Saturday. These stock, four-cylinder cars allow for equal competition and affordability.

Rounding out Saturday’s event line-up will be the Spectator Racing Series. Spectator Racing allows fans to live their dream of competing in a real NASCAR race. For a nominal fee, drivers get the use of a car and all the safety gear needed to go racing.

Spectator Racing Series will run its main event on the quarter-mile, and the series utilizes four-cylinder scale versions of the popular Grand American Modifieds.

Pit gates open at 8 a.m. on Saturday, with grandstands opening at 11 a.m.

Qualifying will begin at 12:30 with opening ceremonies slated for 2 p.m. Racing will conclude before sundown.

Ticket information and event schedules are available online at the Altamont Motorsports Park website, at www.altamontracing.com

 
McClish, Zimmerly big winners in USAC Pacific Coast Nationals at Altamont
By: Steven Blakesley
 
Tracy, Calif. – Brian McClish of Santa Rosa, CA made the most of his new car, in a race that resembled a former CASA race, as McClish led San Francisco’s Nick Rescino Jr. to the finish in the USAC Pacific Coast Spring Nationals, Saturday.

Saturday’s racing at Altamont Motorsports Park featured USAC Sprints, Midgets, and Ford Focus, along with NCMA Limited Sprints and Altamont Formula-4s. The event marked the first of seven appearances by USAC at Altamont for the 2008 racing season.

McClish made winning look easy after taking the lead from 2007 USAC Western Sprint champion Ryan Kaplan of Chico, CA on lap 14. McClish cruised home to win the 50 lap-feature on the half-mile asphalt oval.

USAC Silver Crown veteran Tim Barber of San Francisco, CA led the 16 car field to green, with Kaplan assuming the point for the third starting position on lap three.

McClish and Kaplan dueled for six laps side-by-side before McClish took control.

Antelope’s Greg Anderson battled with Rescino throughout the first half of the race for second, before Anderson faded late.

Eighth-place starter and two-time Altamont winner Tanner Swanson of Kingsburg, CA methodically worked his way forward to fight it out with Anderson for third position. The entertaining duel came down to the final turn, with Swanson holding out for third.

The top-five at the finish were: McClish, by four seconds, over Rescino, Swanson, Anderson, and a hard-charging Chase Scott who started 11th.

Three-time series champion Tony Hunt of Lincoln, CA continued his tough start to the season, dropping out of the race with mechanical problems after just 14 laps.

Swanson set the fast-time in qualifying, covering the oval in 17.052 seconds for a 105.559 mph average.

An outstanding field of USAC Western Midgets also took were in competition, with racers from Canada, Washington, Colorado, Indiana, and Florida all competing.

USAC National Midget driver Ricky Ehrgott of Riverview, FL was eliminated in a crash on lap 11 that also involved Steven Matthews of Ontario, Canada.

Western Speed Racing driver Paul Zimmerly of Ridgefield, WA took the lead from fellow Washington driver Evan Margeson on a lap 16 restart.

The following lap, Garrett Hansen of Manhattan Beach, CA made contact with Alfred Galedrige of Los Altos, CA in turn three to bring out the caution.
Galedrige stalled on the ensuing restart, collecting Tony Hunt and Robby Jossett of Santa Clarita, CA in a chain-reaction crash.

Once racing went green, Hansen and Matthews went to work, with Hansen crawling all the way up to fifth position.

Meanwhile, Michael Faccinto of Hanford, CA was involved in a heavy battle for second with Nic Faas.

Faccinto and Faas made contact in turn one on lap 23, while simultaneously Hansen moved to the outside of Daniel Bedford for fourth.

Hansen slammed into the spinning Faas, resulting an oil fire and two badly damaged race cars. USAC officials ended the race under a red-checkered for the lengthy clean-up.

Zimmerly was credited with the win, followed by Faccinto, Bedford, Levi Roberts of Broomfield, CO, and Matthews.

Heat race wins went to Mark Atkinson of Seattle, Shannon McQueen of Bakersfield, and Bedford.

Fast-time went to Scott Peirovich of Alamo, CA, with a time of 16.848 at 106.838 miles per hour.

USAC Ford Focus racing on the quarter-mile saw a close battle between the top-three cars for much of the race.

Garrett Peterson of West Sacramento, CA led the first 22 laps of the 30 lap feature, with 14 year-old Alex Bowman of Tuscon, AZ and Mike Maier in tow.

Maier picked off Bowman on lap 19 and passed Peterson just three laps later.

Local favorite Jessica Brunelli of Hayward, CA was eliminated in a crash with Tommy Astone III on lap six.

The top-five were: Maier, Peterson, Bowman, Charles Maier, and Pleasanton’s Ian Millie.

Heat race wins went to: Charles Maier and Peterson. Mike Maier stopped the clock at 13.386 to lead time trials.

NCMA Limited Sprint’s 20 lap feature on the half-mile started only six cars, but an exciting battle between the top-three cars came down the finish.

Ageless Gary Koster held off Ed Amador for the popular win, with David Goodwill of Napa a car-length behind. Jeff Burrows and Burt Silverling rounded out the top-five.

A great field of 15 Formula-4’s competing in two 10 lap features on the 1.1 mile Altamont road-course. Each race for the stock four-cylinder cars was fast-paced and caution free.

Bob Wilson won the first feature, with Doug Foreman, Jr., rookie Rod Deridon, 2007 runner-up Richard Hull, and Jake Morgenstern the top-five.

A fully-inverted second feature allowed Jim Robbins to take home a convincing win, holding off Dan Durbin. The remaining top-five were Ken Riley, Hull, and Wilson, who started 14th.

Next Saturday, Altamont Motorsports Park returns with the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action. The NASCAR Western Late Models will compete in twin-50 lap features. Grand American Modifieds will also compete on the half-mile. Quarter-mile action will include American Limited Stock Cars, Future Champions Development Series youth Late Models, and Spectator Racing Series. Formula 4’s will return for twin-10s on the road course.

Qualifying will take place at 12:30 with racing at 2 p.m. The new family friendly racing program will be completed by sundown.

Race fans can also enjoy award-winning Kinder’s BBQ throughout 2008.

For more information about Altamont Motorsports Park, log on to www.altamontracing.com

 
USAC Pacific Coast Spring Nationals coming to Altamont Saturday
By: Steven Blakesley
 
Tracy, Calif. – Saturday afternoon, Altamont Motorsports Park will present the USAC Pacific Coast Spring Nationals, the first of seven events on the 2008 slate for the USAC-sanctioned track. United States Auto Club Sprints, Midgets, and Ford Focus Midgets will tackle the half- and quarter-mile ovals, with NCMA Limited Sprints and Altamont Formula-4’s also on the bill.

Saturday’s Sprint car feature will be the feature event of the weekend, with 50 laps of feature racing on tap for the 145 mile per hour open-wheeled cars.

Altamont will be the home track for sprint cars in 2008, with seven of the series’ 16 rounds scheduled there. The series features many storylines, including a crop of competitive young guns, drivers from families with strong racing backgrounds, and the introduction of new chassis and engine suppliers.

2007 series champion Ryan Kaplan of Chico, CA has relocated to Indiana but has left his seat in good hands, with Altamont SRL feature winner Porter Smith of Aztec, NM at the helm.

USAC racing has bred some of the top NASCAR stars, including Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, and Tony Stewart. Several drivers in action on Saturday appear poised to join this list.

Tanner Swanson of Kingsburg, CA, the hard-charging 17 year-old, who scored two wins at Altamont last year, is one of the favorites to watch. Swanson won the dash race last week in Roseville and recovered from an early race incident to finish fourth.

Swanson will be going head-to-head with teenager JoJo Helberg of Rohnert Park, CA, who finished third in the series standings in 2007.

Both drivers are excited to visit the Altamont speedplant.

“I’m definitely excited to get back to Altamont,” Swanson said. “The racing is fast, close, and side-by-side.”

“At Altamont you gotta be gutsy,” Helberg said. “It has two complete grooves and it’s all about smooth movements.”

The series also features young guns Eric “Hot Rod” Humphries of Chowchilla, CA, three-time Ford Focus champion Tim Skoglund of Fresno, CA, and Washington’s Snake Livernash.

Swanson enjoys the competitive nature of the young drivers.

“With all the young drivers out there, it’s fun,” Swanson said. “You know what’s going through their heads and the butterflies they’re feeling, because you’ve felt them too.”

Joining the crop of up-and-coming talent, are several well established drivers looking to make waves in 2008.
For Nick Rescino Jr. of San Francisco, old is new again. Rescino has returned to his 2006 car, and is hoping to return to the form that made him a multiple-time CASA champion.

Tony Hunt of Lincoln, CA will be looking for his record extending fourth championship in 2008, and the Alan Kaiser-owned team has moved to Toyota power. Hunt will join Western Speed Racing drivers Skoglund and Chase Scott in Toyotas.

New chassis company Hornet Chassis, based near Altamont Motorsports Park, will feature BCRA champion John Sarale and Jimmy Riddell as pilots of its entries.

Teams are excited to have Altamont as the home track for USAC in 2008.

“It’s awesome that they are thrilled to have us,” Swanson said. “We feel welcome there and that they respect the series. We are as happy to have them as they are to have us.”

“It’s great to have a track support us like this,” Helberg said.

Five of the seven United States Auto Club events at Altamont will feature the Midgets, with four-cylinder power. The mighty midgets are currently led by Scott Pierovich and Nic Faas atop the points standings.

More young gun racing will take place on Altamont’s quarter-mile on Saturday, with the identically powered USAC Ford Focus Midgets.

The NCMA Limited Sprints are lower horsepower versions of USAC Sprints, and will take to Altamont’s half-mile for the first of nine appearances this year.

Rounding out Saturday’s line-up will be the Altamont Formula-4’s. This fan-favorite, affordable class, features completely stock four cylinder race cars running on Altamont’s 1.1 mile road course. Two 10-lap features are scheduled for this non-contact class.

Fan gates open at 11 a.m. Saturday, with time trials at noon and the first heat races at 2 p.m. Altamont’s new family-friends racing schedule will find racing ending before sundown. Fans will have the opportunity to feast on the award-winning Kinder’s BBQ, Altamont’s official purveyor of fine BBQ.

Ticket prices are as follows:
General Admission 12 and over $25
Seniors 65 + & Military with ID $20
Children 6-11 $15
Family Package 2 Adults & 2 Children $65

Altamont Motorsports Park is the bay area’s only NASCAR-sanctioned track, and the only USAC-sanctioned race track in the country. Altamont Motorsports Park is online at www.altamontracing.com

 
Fensler takes $3000 “Tribute to American Graffiti” Altamont opener
By: Steven Blakesley
 
Tracy, Calif. – Jason Fensler showed again why he is a force to be reckoned with in the West Coast late model scene, putting on a dominating performance to win the Noceti Grupe Inc. “Tribute to American Graffiti” at Altamont Motorsports Park on Sunday.

The weekend’s events were round one of the Big Dog series, and the first points race of the year for Altamont, NASCAR, and Westcar points. More than $40,000 in awards were posted for the two-day, four-division program.

An outstanding field of 30 late models took the green flag for the 125 lap feature. Fensler, coming from third position, passed pole sitter Michael Wendt to lead the first lap.

Fensler led the opening 32 laps which ran caution free. Another caution flew on lap 37 when Bobby Hodges of Carson City, NV tangled with Steve Yatsko. Hodges was running fifth at the time and dropped to the rear.

On the restart, Hodges began picking his way through the pack while a tremendous battle throughout the top-ten wowed fans.

Fensler and Chris Bammer pulled away from the pack as the battling ensued.

Nascimento Motorsports drivers Greg Potts of Manteca, CA and Dallas Glen of Fresno, CA, along with 2007 Rookie of the Year Doff Cooksey of Brentwood, CA and 2005 champion Jason Fensler of Pleasanton, swapped spots multiple times throughout the opening 100 laps.

Hodges clawed his way up to eighth by the lap 80 caution, which set-up for a 20 lap run to the lap 100 break.

The race shifted on lap 95 suddenly, when a caution flew for debris. As Gilbert slowed crossing the line, Potts slammed into him, sending his car violently over the top of Gilbert’s and ending both drivers’ afternoons.

Racing resumed on lap 100 after the scheduled fuel stop with 22 cars answering the call for the 25 lap sprint to the finish.

Cooksey restarted third but had a brilliant restart and moved inside of Bammer entering turn three. But Cooksey spun, sending a cloud of tire smoke over the field of cars.

When the smoke cleared, Cooksey, Chris Crompe, and 2007 Truck champion Ron Robeck emerged with serious damage. After a red flag to clear the destroyed Robeck entry, racing resumed.

Fensler held the point over Bammer, Hodges, Glen, and James Weston of Goleta on the restart.

Guy Guibor of Manteca passed Weston on lap 107 to move into fifth. Hodges completed his dramatic run to the front as he made a pass on the outside of Bammer on lap 120, but Fensler was in control.

Leading every lap, Fensler cruised to a three second lead and the $3000 win over Hodges, Bammer, Glen, and Guibor. Weston, Troy Shirk, rookie Casey Scheier, Andrew Livengood, and Rudy Marquez rounded out the top-ten.

Saturday’s Late Model heat race winners were Wendt, Cooksey, Bammer, and Fensler.

In other competition over the weekend, Jason Philpot of Sacramento, CA took a new car to victory lane in the Grand American Modifieds. Philpot, a former Stockton Speedway champion, won his Saturday heat race before winning the feature.

Restart strategy proved to be a factor as Philpot used a late race restart over Todd Lynch of Tracy, CA to take a close one second victory.

Lynch, who was the other heat race winner on Saturday, fell to fourth early in the race before battling back to second position for much of the 50 lap feature.

2007 champion Tony Noceti of French Camp, CA swapped blows with Robert Kennedy of San Francisco, CA several times before claiming the third position.

Sammy Solari of Salida, CA managed a fifth place finish in his new car in the class.

Solari added a runaway victory in the ALSC division to his fifth place in the Modifieds.

Solari controlled the point from the pole, and lapped up to fourth place in the 50 lapper on Altamont’s quick quarter-mile.

Rich Harper maintained second for all 50 laps, albeit five seconds behind the leader.

2006 Rookie of the Year Tim Rappa of Hayward, veteran Don McLaren, and Jacob Cardoza rounded out the top-five.

Heat race number two winner Joe Racer suffered mechanical problems and finished 11th. Heat race one runner up Anthony Gourley of San Jose, CA spun out of the top-five on lap four but was able to salvage a sixth place finish.

The weekend’s action also included a pair of West Coast Enduro races on Altamont’s unique interior road course.

Saturday’s 100 lap event saw 31 cars take the green flag for the $2000 to win purse. Richard Bentz claimed the win, followed by Ben Lewis, David Papst Jr., Jay Cookson, and Adam Baggett rounded out the top-five.

Sunday’s $600 to win “Second-Chance” 50 lap Enduro, which featured CW31 personality Alan Sanchez, was won by Joe Addison, who was followed by Alan Deabenderfer, and Robert Daniels.

Altamont Motorsports Park takes this Saturday evening off, and will host the Cars and Guitars car show in Downtown Tracy. The event will be part of the Tracy Farmers Market kick off for 2008. For more information, log on to www.carsandguitars.org

Altamont returns on Saturday afternoon, April 19, with the USAC Pacific Coast Spring Nationals, featuring high-speed USAC Sprints, Midgets, Ford Focus, NCMA Limited Sprints, and Altamont Formula-4s. Ticket and event schedule information is available at the Altamont Motorsports Park website.

Altamont Motorsports Park is home of the family-friendly starting and ending times in 2008. For more information, visit www.altamontracing.com

 
2007 Champs Honored at Awards Banquet February 9
By: Altamont Motorsports Park
 
Emcee Tony Karis, 2008 President of the Motorsports Press Association, and host of "The Dave Coffin Motor Sports Show" on AM Radio KNRY (Monterey/Salinas/San Jose, CA) called the 2007 race champions to the podium at the Altamont Motorsports Park Awards Banquet in Tracy on February 9. Track president and general manager Jeff Macey, and CEO John Condren also honored the Altamont staff for outstanding contributions to the 2007 season. Jeff also presented John Condren, who has announced his retirement from AMP management for full-time attention on the Riverside Motorsports Park project, with a honorary plaque signed by competitors, fans and staff. The evening culminated with the rocking tones of Ron Petana and his his band.

Stay tuned for more info and photos--to be posted as soon as available!

 
Altamont Pumpkin Smash and Family Fun Day attract huge crowd
By: Steven Blakesley
 
Tracy, CA – A tremendous 2007 season at Altamont Motorsports Park in Tracy, CA was capped off by the Pumpkin Smash 300 Enduro and Family Fun Day, Saturday, with Stockton’s David Papst Jr. navigating the wet and pumpkin-filled course to claim the $4000 victory.

One of the largest crowds of race fans for the season came out to witness a 56-car field compete in the enduro event that stretched over three hours. Despite the hard hitting action, 29 cars survived to finish.

Larry Moniz led up to the 75 lap break on the road course, before turning the lead over to Ryan Strmiska coming out of the refueling break. After some back-and-forth battling, Moniz was back out front on lap 89.

Strmiska moved back into the lead on lap 104 before ALSC regular Chad Holman of Stockton took the lead on lap 136.

Holman held the point until the break on lap 150.

The field returned for 150 laps more of racing, this time on the quarter-mile oval.

Holman and Strmiska exchanged the lead multiple times up until lap 178, when Holman took a substantial lead and Strmiska dropped out with mechanical problems.

Holman’s lead would be short lived as Papst moved onto the lead lap and Holman had to duck to the pits for repairs, losing eight laps.

Papst lead the remaining 105 laps and took the popular win.

The team of Joe Addison and Doug Mangeli came home second, with Craig Mastropierro, Adam Baggett, and Holman rounding out the top-five.

The family fun day lived up to its name, with 2006 Mini Super Truck Champion Ron Pestana and “The Pit Crew” entertaining fans with live rock music in the midway. Several food vendors and apparel vendors also lured familes to the midway, as did representatives from “Get Real Behind The Wheel,” the new teen driver safety program being implemented this winter. The group raised funds with food sales. The exciting midway activities will be a mainstay in 2008, according to track management.

Several fans left with more money than they came with, as fans competed in pumpkin carving, pumpkin putt, and the Halloween costume contest.

The 2007 race season featured more than 50 events and close, competitive racing action at the most diverse short-track facility in the nation. The 2008 season promises to be even better, with Riverside Motorsports Park management continuing in its third year of operation of the facility, as part of a long-term commitment to central valley motorsports.

Coming up next will be announcements of the 2008 racing schedule, as well as the teen driving program and the racing school. The Altamont Motorsports Park is hosting the 2007 season's awards banquet for Altamont weekly series and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series competitiors and the Eldorado Westcar Late Model Series on January 5th, 2008 in Reno, NV.

Race fans can stay tuned to www.altamontracing.com for all the happenings at Altamont Motorsports Park.

 
Fensler Crowned 2007 Big Dog at Altamont Motorsports Park
By: Jeff Downey
 
Fensler Crowned 2007 Big Dog at Altamont Motorsports Park

Tracy, Calif., October 14th, 2007 - Wilton, Calif's Jason Fensler was crowned this year's Big Dog in the Big Dog Open presented by Hoosier Tire at Altamont Motorsports Park on Sunday afternoon. Fensler emerged victorious after an exciting and action packed 125 laps of late model racing on the 1/2-mile that saw a total of six lead changes throughout the afternoon.

Fensler was able to escape a fuel shortage pitfall that befell other Big Dog Open leaders in the waning stages of the race, including Roseville's Eric Schmidt, Porter Smith of Aztec, NM and Jim Courage Jr, also of Roseville.

"We did not put a small fuel cell in our car and those other guys did," said Fensler in victory lane.

"It was a mistake on their part but this is what happens when you prepare and have a great race car for 125 laps." said Fensler.

Fensler charged 15 positions from the rear of the lead lap after briefly pitting during a caution on lap 85.

A battle between track champions took up the better part of the first half of the race with Altamont's 2007 late model champ, Ryan Philpott, closely following the race leader, Eric Schmidt, the 2007 late model champion at All American Speedway.

Philpott retired from the race later in the event for unknown reasons. Schmidt ran out of gas on lap 108 and went one lap down.

2005 Aztec Speedway Track Champion, Porter Smith, led 22 laps before running out of gas on lap 110.

Jim Courage inherited the lead from Smith but was passed by Fensler one lap later.

2006 Busch Series driver Burney Lamar of West Sacramento survived some left side damage earlier in the race to finish second in the 125 lap event. Lamar started the race in the 24th position after transferring into the race from the B main held on Saturday.

Mike Beeler, Greg Potts and John Dalerio rounded out the top five.

Troy Shirk finished sixth with Eric Schmidt finishing an amazing seventh place after putting some fuel in the tank of his 05 Yellowpages.com Chevy on lap 108. Both Shirk and Schmidt finished one lap down.

Rick Ruzbarsky, Travis McCullough and Lisa Riordan rounded out the top ten. Riordan started from the rear of the field in position 27 after being given a promoters exemption to enter the race. Riordan missed the transfer spot by one position on Saturday.

Overall, 33 late models tried to make the field on Saturday afternoon with 27 finally entering the show.

American Limited Stock Car veteran Donnie Darter of Stockton had an impressive run in the 75 lap ALSC event, taking the lead on the first lap and holding onto the number one spot for the remaining 74 laps of the race.

Just five of 19 cars stayed on the lead lap, surviving 75 laps of action packed racing.

Next year Darter plans to enter the late model ranks and is currently looking for some sponsors for his ride.

"It is going to be sad to see this car go but it was a beautiful thing to get this last win in it." said Darter.

The win was not an easy on for Darter as the 91 of Dennis Saunders kept pace with Darter in the final 35 laps of the race.

"I don't know how I stayed out of that traffic," said Saunders. "I had about five or six incidents right in front of me and I was lucky enough to avoid them all."

"I raced with Donnie Darter all season long and I wanted this win really bad." said Saunders.

Saunders started on the pole but faded a bit in the early laps of the race.

Pete Anderson Sr and Jim Dulla placed themselves squarely behind Darter in the first half of the race until an incident on lap 34 finished Dulla's and Anderson Sr's chances for the afternoon.

Rounding out the top five were Don McLaren, Tim Rappa and Ben Lewis.

Roseville's Grand American Modified Champion Scott Winters led a wire-to-wire victory, starting on the pole and taking the win in the 50 lap GAM event on the half-mile oval that paid $2500 dollars to win.

"I've really got to thank the crew," said Winters. "Last night in the trophy dash we picked up a vibration and it turned out we found a broken transmission."

"This morning a new transmission and drive line and all that went into it so they worked real tough to get this win for us." said Winters.

Winters was followed past the stripe by Todd Lynch, Tony Nocetti and Rob Vest.

Fourteen year old go-kart racer, Jessica Brunelli of Hayward, driving in the first full-size car event of her young career, finished an impressive run in the fifth position of the 12 modifieds that entered the event. Jessica was recently named the Skip Barber 2007 Western Regional Race Series "Rookie of the Year".

Saturday's SRL Mid-Valley Iron Works 100, the final SRL event of the season, was captured by Porter Smith who served double duty this weekend, racing in both the SRL event and Big Dog Open.

2006 Altamont Late Model champion Dave Byrd took home the 2007 SRL championship after narrowly escaping a late race points charge by Tracy Bolin.

Source: Jeff Downey/Altamont Motorsports Park

 
Big Dog Open Show preliminary night in the books
By: Steven Blakesley
 
Tracy, CA – Saturday night competition for the Big Dog Open Show presented by Hoosier Tires and Mid Valley Iron Works at Altamont Motorsports Park featured the Mid Valley 100 for the SRL Wild West Shootout, and stirring preliminary events for the Late Models, Modifieds, and ALSC cars.

Ryan Philpott grabbed the pole position for Sunday’s 125 lap feature by claiming the fast time over the 33 Late Model teams in competition.
Philpott will share the front row with Roseville’s Eric Schmidt, the 2006 SRL champion and 2007 All American Speedway champion.

The top-22 qualifiers were locked into the feature, with the remaining 11 cars competing in the 25 lap B-Main event. The event proved to be a dandy as the drivers jockeyed for four transfer spots.

A surprising group of talented drivers were in the event, including 3-time ALSC champion Matt Erickson, 2007 Altamont runner-up Ken Benhamou, and 2006 Busch Series driver Burney Lamar of West Sacramento, CA.

Lamar was in the event after missing qualifying with engine problems.

Brian Koski took the lead on the opening lap, with Erickson and Glen Cook of Fremont bringing out the first caution on lap two after huge contact in turn three.

Cook was eliminated from the event, with Erickson restarting at the rear of the field.

By lap 11, Lamar found his way to third and Erickson ran fifth.

Lamar made a nice passing move on Koski to take over the lead on lap 15.

Benhamou was shuffled back to fifth place in turn four, but quickly regrouped.

Benhamou passed Erickson on the outside on lap 16 to move into third, setting up a battle between Benhamou and Koski.

Benhamou and Koski got together in turn one on lap 18, sending Koski spinning and out of the race, with Benhamou being moved to the rear of the field.

On the restart, Lamar and Erickson drove away from the field, setting up a dog fight for third place.

Jeremy Hopkins of Ukiah, CA inherited third with Mark Squadrito putting on a thrilling duel with rookie Lisa Riordan of Scotts Valley, CA for the final transfer spot.

Lamar held on for the win, with Erickson rounding up second, followed by Hopkins and Squadrito, with Riordan narrowly missing the transfer.

The SRL Mid-Valley Iron Works 100, the final event of the 2007 season, was captured by rookie driver Porter Smith, as he nailed down his first ever SRL victory.

The race featured a great run by Tracy Bolin, as Bolin attempted to move from third to first in the series points standings. Bolin led much of the event ahead of Smith and MK Kanke of Frazier Park, CA.

Late race drama ensued as points leader and 2006 Altamont champion Dave Byrd struggled with problems on the right-front of his race car that forced him to spend much of the race in the pits.

Mechanical problems slowed Bolin and forced him to fall back to seventh by the finish, handing Byrd the narrow championship win.

In ALSC action, heat race wins went to Mike Soiseth and 2007 Altamont champion James Dulla, with Joe Racer claiming the dash.

The Modified dash win went to 2007 All American Speedway champion Scott Winters.
Philpott won the Western Late Model dash.

Racing action kick starts at 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon, with feature racing for the ALSC, Modifieds, and Late Models.

ALSC cars will go 75 laps on the quarter-mile for $1500 to win, the Modifieds will run 50 laps for $2500 to win and the Late Models will round out the Norcal Nationals Big Dog weekend with the 26 car, 125 lap feature, that pays $4000 to win.

 
Altamont Motorsports Park Crowns its 2007 Track Champions
By: Jeff Downey
 
Tracy, Calif., September 29, 2007 - Altamont Motorsports Park crowned its 2007 track
champions Saturday night in the last points event of the season. Tracy's Ryan Philpott
was crowned the 2007 track champion in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Western Late Model
division with Hayward's James Dulla taking the American Limited Stock Car division.
Tony Noceti of French Camp won the Grand American Modified division with San Jose's Ron
Robeck emerging victorious in a close points battle in the Pro-Truck division. Debbie
Foreman of Brentwood took the 2007 track championship in an equally close points battle
in the Formula-4 division.

With 10 wins at Altamont Motorsports Park this year, Philpott had the car to beat in
2007.

"It was actually kind of fun this year being chased and not having to chase [2006 AMP
Champion] Dave Byrd around the track," said Phillpott. "And next year we are going to
try to step up to the Grand National West."

Ken Benhamou was the runner up to Philpott for 2007, finishing second in Western Late
Model points. Brentwood's Doff Cooksey finished third in Western Late Model points and
also earned the Rookie of the Year award for 2007. Doff's sister, Morgan, earned the
Rookie of the Year honors in the Grand American Modified division.

Wes Miller took the checkers in the first of two Western Late Model events of the
evening. Miller, who ran the quickest qualifying time earlier in the afternoon, got around
the 5 of Rick Ruzbarsky on a restart on lap 23. Ruzbarsky, who led the first 22 laps
of the evening, finished second in the event.

Miller's fast lap in qualifying earned the driver from Turlock the distinction of being
the only driver this season to finish ahead of Philpott in the qualifying session.

Ryan Philpott, who ran as high as second, was not a factor in the final stages of the
race after being part of a group of cars that were sent to the rear of the field due to
a incident in turn three that led to the lap 23 caution.

Philpott's luck continued to turn south in the Western Late Model nightcap with Ryan
retiring the "Red Rocket" during the warm up laps after a problem with the car's frame.

Ryan Mock netted his first Western Late Model win in the second Late Model race of the
evening as his "lucky" #13 racer outclassed the field, leading the race in a
wire-to-wire victory.

Wes Miller finished second in the nightcap followed by Cooksey in third.

American Limited Stock Car driver Jim Dulla entered the final ALSC event of the season
with a 29 point lead over Jim Earl. Dulla started next to Earl in the third position
after a six car inversion and drove his #68 Hayward Chevy to a third place finish to
clinch the 2007 ALSC title.

"I've had fun all year racing with these guys," said Dulla in victory lane. "I can't
wait for the banquet."

Dulla narrowly escaped disaster, negotiating around a spinning Pete Anderson in turn
two on lap 13 of the thirty lap event.

Zach Huffman, who finished third in points for the season, took the checkers in the
event followed Stockton's Chad Holman.

Ron Robeck's second place finish in the Pro-Truck event clinched his 2007 Pro-Truck
title, the first division title of his racing career. Robeck came into the race with just
a six point lead over Oakdale's Nathan McNeil who finished sixth in the 20 lap event
on the 1/4-mile oval.

Robeck secured his victory, charging from the sixth starting spot of the eight trucks
that entered the event after a six truck inversion. Robeck qualified his #3 truck in
the top spot earlier in the afternoon.

Walt Bruegger drove his #6 truck into victory lane, winning his second Pro-Truck race
of the season.

Grand American Modified driver Tony Noceti had the championship locked up coming into
Saturday's event. Noceti ran the quickest qualifying time of the afternoon but finished
near the rear of the field after contact with the #1 of Todd Lynch set Noceti the back
of the pack late in the race.

Thomas Leiby took the Grand American Modified win on Saturday night. A fourth place finish by Todd Lewis should move Lewis over Jamie Jackson from third to second in the overall point standings. Jackson, who made contact with a slow car on lap 16, finished ninth on Saturday night.

Debbie Foreman, leading the Formula-4 division by just 12 points over Richard Hull,
captured the 2007 track title by taking the checkers in the first Formula-4 event of the
evening and securing an eighth place finish in the nightcap. Hull finished sixth and
third respectively.

Altamont Motorsports Park is dark next weekend, preparing for one of its biggest events
of the year, the Big Dog Open which takes place the weekend of October 13th and 14th.
Highlighting the show is a 125 lap Western Late Model event on Sunday. Qualifying
and heat races are scheduled for Saturday along with a 100 lap SRL Late Model
championship event.

 
Mike David Crowned 2007 NASCAR Grand National West Champ
By: Jeff Downey
 
Tracy, Calif., September 15, 2007 - 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 left him with only 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.

jdowney@altamontracing.com

 
Swanson Sweeps Sprint, Midget Races
By: Jeff Downey
 
Tracy, Calif., Sept 8, 2007 - Race fans at Altamont Motorsports Park were treated to
two types of racing on Saturday night with open wheel action from the Lucas Oil USAC/CASA
Western Sprints and Midgets as well as fender-banging excitement from Altamont's
local American Limited Stock Car and Pro-Truck divisions.

Kody Swanson of Kingsburg, Calif swept the open wheel events, winning both the Sprint
and Midget features in impressive fashion.

After starting fifth in the field in the 50-lap sprint event, Swanson was able to take
the lead on lap 28 by passing the #80 of Mike Murgittio who led for most of the first
28 laps of the race.

Swanson claimed his fourth win of the season by surviving several late cautions,
including a two lap shootout to finish the race.

The win was Swanson's second back-to-back USAC Sprint victory of the season. Swanson
won last weekend at Rocky Mountain Raceways. His brother, Tanner Swanson, won the July
14th and June 6th USAC/CASA Sprint events at Altamont Motorsports Park earlier in the
summer.

Murgittio capped a strong run by finishing behind Swanson in second place.

"Kody's car was awesome on restarts," said Murgittio. "Our car was missing just a
little bit."

Points leader Ryan Kaplan finished in the fifth position. Tim Barber and Jojo Helberg
finished third and fourth respectively.

Tony Hunt, who was second in points coming into the event, had a rough night, retiring
early and finishing 16th out of the 17 sprint cars that entered the event. Hunt was
collected in a wreck in an early heat race but made the necessary fixes to his #1 sprint
car to get it into the main event.

In the Midget race, Swanson, who ran the quickest qualifying time, started in the sixth
position after a six car inversion.

After battling for the third position with the 31 of Justin Melton and the 35 of Scott
Pierovich early in the race, Swanson was able to get by the 29 of Brad Galedrige and
the 41 of Mike Faccinto to take the top spot on lap 18.

Galedrige finished second in the event with the #10 of Mike Murgoitio rounding out the
top three of the 21 car field. Murgoitio ran the third quickest qualifying time
earlier in the afternoon.

Midget points leader, Johnny Rodriquez, did not finish the event after suffering what
appeared to be an engine problem in the first few laps of the race.

At the start of the show, long time open wheel car owner, Bob Consani, who passed away
on Monday, was honored with a memorial lap by two former Consani-owned cars driven by
Brian McLish and Jojo Helberg.

Two former American Limited Stock Car champions squared off against each other on the
1/4-mile oval with Stockton's Chad Holman edging out Ceres, Calif's Matt Erickson in the
30 lap event.

Stockton 99 ALSC champ Holman took the lead on lap 14 after getting by the 01 of Zach
Huffman who led the first 13 laps of the race. Three time Altamont Motorsports Park
ALSC champion, Matt Erickson, stayed on Holman's bumper for the remainder of the race but
could not make the pass to earn his first victory of the season at Altamont Motorsports
Park.

"Matt was fast all day and he is always a competitor right to the end so you have to
give him credit." said Holman.

"I tried to get the outside working for us tonight," said Ericson. "But I screwed up
with the brake bias and got to much rear brake going in and that is why we were loose
tonight."

The win gives Holman his sixth victory of the season at Altamont Motorsports Park.

In Pro-Truck action points leader Ron Robeck rocketed to the front of the field on the
first lap and held on to win the 20 lap event on the 1/4-mile oval.

Nathan McNeil, who is second in points in the Pro-Truck division, followed Robeck
across the stripe after holding off strong pressure from the third place truck of Walt
Bruegger.

"Walt is a great racer." said McNeil in victory lane. "I've raced with Walt for three
years now and he's trust worthy - you can race right beside him."

Robeck also won the Pro-Truck Trophy Dash earlier in the afternoon.

Formula-4 driver Dan Durbin sealed his first victory of the season in the early
Formula-4 event, beating the 11 of Doug Foreman and the 7 of Bob Wilson across the stripe.
Rodney Lopez took the checkers in the Formula-4 nightcap.

Next weekend is one of Altamont's biggest weekends of the year with the touring NASCAR
Grand National West series visiting the track for their final race of the season with
the national championship on the line. The event will be nationally televised on HDNET
TV. A 100 lap Late Model feature is also on the ticket.

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.


jdowney@altamontracing.com

 
Philpotts Reign at AMP!
By: Jeff Downey
 

Tracy, Calif., August 24, 2007 - The Philpott family of Tracy, Calif put on an
impressive display at Altamont Motorsports Park on Saturday night, lining the podium in a
1-2-3 finish that featured Ryan Philpott in the number one position followed by cousin
Justin Philpott as the runner up and uncle David Philpott rounding out the top three.

Ryan's win, his ninth of the season at Altamont, may have been his toughest fight yet,
besting a field of 26 talented drivers including Ross Strmiska, Mark Holeman, Brian
Koski and Matt Erickson.

Coming into the race, Strmiska led the NASCAR Whelen All-American Late Model points
standings in California followed by Mark Holeman in the fifth position.

"This is awesome," said Philpott in victory lane. "The Philpotts are one, two and
three. That is how it should be every week."

Ryan and his #52 "Red Rocket" did not have an easy task ahead of him after ending up in
the rear of the field after an early race incident with the #26 of Mike Beller and the
#57 of Doff Cooksey.

"I felt a little difference in the wheel." said Philpott about the wreck. "We got it
in the rear wheel and the front wheel but it eventually felt fine."

The wreck retired Cooksey for the evening after the young gun from Brentwood led the
first eight laps of the contest.

Ryan Philpott narrowly avoided disaster on lap 22 when he negotiated around a wreck in
turn 4 that included his uncle David and Ross Strmiska.

Strmiska finished fifth for the evening with the #73 of Ken Benamou finishing ahead of
Strmiska in the fourth position.

Rounding out the top ten were Holeman, Jeff Orr, Helder Garcia, Rudy Marquez and Brian
Koski.

Ryan Philpott ran the quickest time in qualifying followed by Ross Strmiska and Mike
Beeler.

Earlier in the day it was the visiting Donnie Darter who took the checkers in the
American Limited Stock Car event, besting a talented field of fifteen ALSC drivers. Darter
took the lead on lap 20, getting around ALSC driver Chad Holman who had won five out of
the last sixth ALSC events at Altamont Motorsports Park coming into Saturday nights
contest.

Rounding out the top five were Jim Earl, Jim Dulla, Jacob Cardoza and Tim Rappa.

The #3 of Bryan Jones led the first three laps of the 40 lap ALSC shootout on the
1/4-mile.

In Grand American Modified action the #1 of Todd Lynch dominated the field, leading all
but three laps of the 40 lap event on the half mile oval. Lynch was followed past the
stripe by the #47 of Thomas Leiby and the #06 of Tony Noceti.

 
Kaplan Wins Open Wheel Thriller
By: Jeff Downey and USAC PR
 
Tracy, Calif., August 18, 2007 - Lucas Oil/USAC Western Sprint Car point leader Ryan
Kaplan of Chico, Calif. emerged the winner of Saturday night's 50-lap thriller at
Altamont Raceway Park. He took the lead in his K & N Filters/Platinum Powder Coating Eagle
from Kody Swanson on lap 48 and held on to beat Tony Hunt, Swanson, JoJo Helberg and Greg
Anderson.

Hunt ended up crossing the finish line backwards after a spirited duel for the number
two position. Nick Rescino Jr. also led in the feature.

Coming into Saturday night's feature Kaplan had a nine point lead over Helburg and a 10
point lead over Hunt.

Nick Green ran the quickest qualifying time earlier in the afternoon.

With the win, Kaplan snaps Tanner Swanson's two race winning streak at Altamont
Motorsports Park this season.

USAC California Pavement Ford Focus point leader Tim Skoglund of Fresno, Calif.
extended his lead to 54 points over Nic Faas, winning Saturday night's 30-lap feature at
Altamont Motorsports Park on the 1/4-mile oval.

Trailing Skoglund's Western Speed & Fuel/Ranchos Auto Repair Gerhardt were Daniel
Adler, Faas, Ian Miille and fast qualifier Beau DeBard. Miille led the opening lap before
yielding to Skoglund.

DeBard of Reno, Nev. won the last Ford Focus Midget feature at Altamont Motorsports
Park on July 14th.

The USAC/CASA Sprint cars make their fourth appearance at the track this season on
September 8th. In 2006, Altamont Motorsports Park was awarded the Race Organizer of the
Year Award by the United States Automobile Club (USAC) racing organization.

Dave Ball won the Legends of the Pacific event at Altamont Motorsports Park on Saturday
night followed by Zach Kavert and Derrek Copeland.

Visiting the track for the first time this season, the Thunder Roadster event was won
by Doug Pulver who bested an impressive field of 14 Thunder Roadsters. Thunder Roadsters
resemble the roadsters that dominated the Indianapolis 500 and Indy Car racing through
the 1950s and 1960s.

Next Saturday night Altamont Motorsports Park returns to local racing with a 75 lap
NASCAR Whelen All-American Western Late Model event headlining the show. Also scheduled
for next Saturday is racing from Grand American Modifieds, American Limited Stock Cars
and Formula-4s on the road course.

 
Philpott Returns to Form at Altamont Motorsports Park
By: Jeff Downey
 
Tracy, Calif., August 11, 2007 - A full slate of local racing was on tap for race fans at Altamont Motorsports Park on Saturday night as four of five local divisions took to the track with an additional visit from the NCMA Sprint cars.

A 50 lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Western Late Model shootout saw Tracy, Calif's Ryan Philpott return to form, taking the lead on the first lap and holding on to the number one position for all 50 laps of the event on the "Fastest Half Mile in the West."

Philpott, the Western Late Model points leader, had stuttered as of late, giving up the past two Late Model wins to 2006 Champ Dave Byrd and Brentwood's Doff Cooksey.

"We've been working real hard but have been having bad luck with these tires." said Philpott.

"You can't abuse these tires," said Philpott. "If you abuse them for two laps you have to let them cool for four laps."

The win on Saturday night was Philpott's eighth victory of the season.

Philpott's main challenger this season, Doff Cooksey, retired early in the race with transmission problems.

Rounding out the top five of the 14 Late Models that entered the event were Ryan Mock, Ken Benamou, Rod Winfree and Jason Gilbert.

The second and third finish positions of Mock and Benamou were the racers' first podium appearances of the season.

Philpott ran the fastest qualifying time earlier in the afternoon but started on the outside of lane two, right behind Cooksey, after a four car inversion. At the start of the race both Cooksey and Philpott rocketed by the inside cars and then Philpott cleared Cooksey coming down the back stretch.

Several mid-race cautions put Philpott's restart skills to the test but in the end no one had what it took to challenge Ryan and his #52 "Red Rocket."

Tight racing highlighted American Limited Stock Car racing as a late caution set up a five lap shootout to determine the winner of the 30 lap event. When the dust settled it was Stockton's Chad Holman taking the checkers securing not only his fifth win in the past six races but also his first three race winning streak.

Holman, the 2006 ALSC Champ at Stockton 99 Speedway, bided his time in the event, waiting for the leader, Jim Earl and second place car, Jim Dulla, to make a mistake. Eventually both did, bobbling on laps 20 and 21, and letting Holman get around both of them for the win.

"They were racing hard and I was racing hard and I figured I would see what happened near the end," said Holman. "I didn't really have much for them before that."

"I was working with a really loose car," said Jim Dulla. "I made an adjustment after the trophy dash. I was tight and I made the adjustment too far. [Chad] capitalized on that."

Jim Dulla, the points leader coming into the event, won the trophy dash before the main event. Both Dulla and Earl followed Holman past the stripe to round out the top three of the ten cars that entered the event. Holman ran the quickest qualifying time earlier in the afternoon.

A large contingent of 15 Grand American Modified cars took to the half-mile oval for an entertaining 30 laps of racing.

San Francisco's Robert Kennedy took the win, making the outside groove work for him by passing Tony Noceti on lap 19. Kennedy moved to the outside of Noceti in turn one and eventually made the pass stick between turns three and four.

"Tony is a hard driver. I was on his outside once and couldn't get by him but I got him the second time." said Kennedy in victory lane.

"He's hard driver but he always drives like a gentleman." said Kennedy of Noceti.

Noceti, the Grand American Modified points leader coming into the event, dominated the early races of the season but the last five races in the division have now seen five different winners with Kennedy being the most recent victor.

Kennedy ran the second quickest qualifying lap earlier in the afternoon with Thomas Leiby running the fastest time to get in the show. A six car inversion started Kennedy in the fifth spot with Noceti starting in the third position.

A frightening wreck down the backstretch after a restart on lap 10 saw the #25 of Jim Reeves roll several times in the air before coming to a rest. Miraculously Reeves walked away from the incident unscathed as several cars were retired from the event in chain reactions that followed the initial incident.

NCMA Sprint driver Jimmy Lavell also made the outside groove work for him, passing the #17 of Rob Hammon on lap 5 and holding on for the victory in the 30 lap event of the visiting NCMA touring series.

Jeff Burrows took second in a photo finish between his #9 machine and the #42 of Micheal Zarevich.

In victory lane Jimmy Lavell dedicated the win to the wife of NCMA driver Gary Koster who did not race in the event on Saturday evening as he was caring for his wife who is suffering from a serious illness.

Earlier in the day in qualifying Lavell broke the 100 mile per hour barrier, getting around the half-mile oval in 100.111 seconds - the quickest qualifying time of the evening.

Points leader Leo Solari took the checkers in the early 10 lap Formula-4 race on the road course, coming across the stripe with a full eight second lead over the rest of the pack. Richard Hull crossed the stripe first in the night cap.

Next weekend Altamont Motorsports Park hosts another "Another Open-Wheel Madness Night" as the popular USAC/CASA Sprints and Ford Focus Midgets duel it out once again on the half-mile and 1/4-mile ovals. Also on tap next Saturday night is a visit from the Legends of the Pacific and the Thunder Roadsters.

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.

 
Pettit, Fensler Emerge Victorious at Altamont Motorsports Park
By: Jeff Downey
 

Tracy, Calif., August 4, 2007 - A large turnout of stock car racing fans had their fill of entertainment Saturday night at Altamont Motorsports Park as two of the premier west coast Late Model touring series visited the track for two 100 lap shootouts sponsored by Mike Marchant's Mid Valley Iron and Metals.

Highlighting Saturday night's show was a visit from the SRL Wild West Late Model Shootout series, racing in their fifth event of the 2007 season and only appearance at Altamont Motorsports Park this year.

The series lived up to its namesake, coming down to a two lap shootout to determine the victor of the 100 lap event.

In the end, Jim Pettit II became the series first repeat winner of 2007, holding on to the number one position on the restart and crossing the stripe in first place.

"I was going to bide my time and ride for about 60 laps but things started getting real free on us." said Pettit in victory lane.

"We knew as soon as a yellow came out we were going to come in and make adjustments to the chassis." said Pettit.

Pettit, the 2004 and 2005 Southwest Series champion, passed Aztec, NM's Porter Smith on lap 68 and held on for the remaining 32 laps of the event.

Smith, the 2005 Aztec Speedway Track Champion, passed the 7 of Rick Ruzbarsky to take the lead on lap 23. Both Ruzbarsky and Smith got around pole sitter Dave Byrd on the previous lap. Smith led 45 laps until being passed by Pettit on lap 68.

"The tires went away quick in this race," said Smith. "In the early part of this race our car was just awesome."

Dave Byrd, the 2006 Western Late Model Champion at Altamont Motorsports Park, finished the race in the fourth position.

Greg Voight finished one behind Smith in third place. Tracy Bolin rounded out the top five.

The Eldorado Hotel Casino Westcar Series brought 22 fast cars to the 1/2-mile oval competing in the sixth of eight Westcar events this season. The #35 of Jason Fensler dominated the race, taking the lead on lap 10 and holding onto it for the victory. Several late cautions put Fensler's restart skills to the test but the native of Elk Grove, Calif was able to get on the gas quickly to preserve his #1 position.

"Early in the race we just didn't have anything on the top so we had to go to the bottom and fall back in line and just start picking them off." said Fensler.

"Once we got up front we kind of cruised a little bit," said Fensler. "The car got little bit tight after yellows but in long runs the car was awesome."

Fensler is no stranger to victory lane, winning the SRL Championship in 2005. The win on Saturday night was Fensler's first Westcar victory this season.

Tight racing for positions two through five had the fans on their feet in the last 15 laps of the race until contact between Doff Cooksey and Greg Potts took Cooksey out of the event on lap 94. The #56 of Bobby Butler, who was also in the mix, faded away after the final restart on lap 94.

When the dust settled fans saw Jared Buddow, Greg Potts, Randy Hedrick and Michael Wendt round out the top five. Rookie driver, Jared Buddow, was the Eldorado Hotel Casino Westcar Series points leader coming into the event.

Altamont Motorsports Park's 2006 Champion and current SRL points leader Dave Byrd was not a factor in the race. After qualifying second fastest and moving to the second position after a six car inversion, Byrd eventually succumbed to tire problems on lap 36. Top qualifier, Craig Swim, also had a strong run cut short by tire problems.

Altamont Motorsports Park's current NASCAR Whelen All-American Western Late Model points leader, Ryan Philpott, was not at the track on Saturday night.

In NASCAR Whelen All-American American Limited Stock Car action Stockton, Calif's Chad Holman secured his fourth victory of the season. Holman, Stockton 99's 2006 ALSC Champion, has dominated the last five races at Altamont Motorsports Park, winning four of the last five.

Coming across the stripe in positions two and three of the 30 lap event were Hayward Chevrolet teammates Jim Dulla and Tim Rappa.

Formula-4 driver Jake Morgenstern took the checkers in the early 10 lap Formula-4 race on the road course holding off strong pressure from the #16 of Rodney Lopez. Doug Foreman took the checkers in the night cap.

On Sunday, August 5th, the popular West Coast Enduro's will hit the road course for a 200 lap event. The price is just $100 for a car and driver to enter the event.

Next weekend the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series returns in full force with the Western Late Models, Grand American Modifieds and ALSCs all scheduled to compete. NCMA sprint cars are also on tap for next Saturday's schedule.

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.

 
Byrd is Back
By: Jeff Downey
 
Tracy, Calif., July 21, 2007 - A full slate of local racing was on tap for race fans at Altamont Motorsports Park on Saturday night as all five local divisions took to the track just outside of Tracy, Calif.

A 100 lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Western Late Model shootout was the main feature of the evening and did not disappoint a large turnout of fans as 2006 Late Model Champion Dave Byrd showed up to take on the current points leader and hot foot out of Tracy, Ryan Philpott.

Philpott showed his mettle coming from the back of the pack and into the top three but in the end Monterey's Dave Byrd found his way to the finish line in his first Western Late Model appearance at Altamont Motorsports Park this season.

"It was great running with these guys," said Byrd. "They had me on the restarts. Something is up with our gearing but once we got going we were fine."

Philpott took his #52 Red Rocket to the pits in the waning stages of the race after tire problems ended Ryan's evening early.

Brentwood's Doff Cooksey did not let Byrd off easy, shadowing Byrd throughout the final laps of the race to take home a second place finish.

"We burned the right rear off or we might have had something for him at the end." said Cooksey after the race.

Cooksey earned his first victory of the season in the last Western Late Model race at the track, also a 100 lapper, on June 30th.

The tone of the evening was set early in the afternoon when Philpott nailed the fastest qualifying time of 18.326 seconds followed closely by Byrd with a differential of just 0.15 seconds.

After starting fifth Byrd made his way to the front of the field by lap four.

Philpott and Byrd ran in the top three spots until a spin and some contact sent Philpott to the back of the pack on lap 30.

Dallas Glenn, who started on the pole after a six car inversion, finished in the third position with Ryan Mock putting his #13 "lucky" racer in the fourth position.

San Ramon's Brian Koski finished fifth after starting from the rear of the field.

A wild night of bumping and banging took place as a 15 car field of American Limited Stock Cars packed the 1/4-mile oval for a 30 lap event that paid $650 to win.

Some heavy beating by lap 14 thinned out the field to 9 cars and allowed Chad Holman to secure his third victory of the season.

"It was a wreck filled race that's for sure," said Holman after the event. "I avoided a big one down the frontstretch and I think that was probably the key to this race."

"I was right in the middle of it and somehow squeezed through it." said Holman.

Joe Allen took the second position. Allen, racing in just his second race at Altamont Motorsports Park this season, has a first and second place finish to his credit.

Zach Huffman, Jim Earl and Don McLaren rounded out the top five.

Pete Anderson Sr., Rich Harper and points leader Jim Dulla who all brought fast cars to the track did not survive the early carnage on the 1/4-mile oval. Anderson Sr won the ALSC Trophy Dash earlier in the afternoon.

Grand American Modified driver Todd Lynch nailed his first win of the season passing points leader Tony Noceti on lap 10 and holding on for the win of the 30 lap event on the half mile oval.

"The car has been good the last couple weeks," said Lynch in victory lane. "It gets pretty easy to drive so it has been fun."

Lynch, who ran the quickest qualifying time, made use of the outside groove to pass Noceti who had led the first nine laps of the race.

Lynch was able to survive a lap 23 caution that bunched up the field and put Noceti on his outside on the restart.

Jamie Jackson rounded out the top three cars of the eight Modifieds that qualified for the event.

In Pro-Truck action Ron Robeck crossed the stripe just ahead of Walt Bruegger to take the win in the 20 lap event on the 1/4 mile oval. Bruegger, who ran the quickest qualifying time earlier in the afternoon, was able to close the gap on Robeck who had taken a half straightaway lead on the field halfway through the race.

Nathan McNeil, the points leader coming into the race, rounded out the top three in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Pro-Truck division.

"Queen Bee" Debbie Foreman took the checkers in the early 10 lap Formula Ford race on the road course holding off strong pressure from the #23 of Richard Hull and the #16 of Rodney Lopez. Debbie's husband, Doug Foreman, took the 10 lap Formula Ford nightcap.

Next weekend Altamont Motorsports Park hosts two days of "Big Bad Bike Weekend!" featuring the SuperMoto USA National Championship. The following weekend it is back to stock cars with an outstanding lineup featuring the SRL Wild West Shoot-Out and El Dorado Hotel and Casino WestCar Series in a race sponsored by sponsored by Mike Marchant Mid-Valley Iron and Metals.



jdowney@altamontracing.com

 
Swanson wows Altamont USAC crowd
By: Steven Blakesley
 
Kingsburg , CA teenager Tanner Swanson scored a crowd-pleasing victory Saturday night at Altamont Motorsports Park in the USAC Best in the West Series.

Swanson’s win on the fastest half-mile in the west was “more satisfying,” this time around, the young driver said in victory lane before a standing ovation.

Swanson diced through the field from his eighth starting position using the outside groove to carve up to second place by lap 23.

Three laps later, Swanson took the lead from Nick Green of San Jose. Swanson never relinquished the lead for the remaining laps in the 50 lap event.

Swanson powered to a 3.7 second win, with Lincoln, CA’s Tony Hunt working up to the second position at the line. Greg Anderson emerged from an eight-car battle to take home third, with JoJo Helberg and Green rounding out the top-five.

The fuel-injected 360 cubic inch sprint cars set a furious clip on the half-mile, with Swanson setting fast-time with a 16.739 at 107.533 miles per hour average. The sprint cars wowed fans with 140 mile per hour top speeds.

Ryan Kaplan and Green won heat races.

Race fans were treated to an on-track autograph session with the stars of the Lucas Oil sponsored series. The first 50 fans onto the track were awarded free tickets to the NASCAR Grand National West Series event on Sept. 15th.

Altamont also welcomed the West Coast Pro Trucks to Altamont for their first appearance in more than seven seasons. The southwest-based series presented an exciting show of full-sized spec trucks with average speeds over 90 miles per hour.

Series points leader Jeff Williams of Newberry Park, CA took the victory after passing James Weston on lap six in the 50 lap feature. 15 year-old Christian Copley suffered a grinding crash on lap 42 in turn three that dropped him out of the race.

David Timewell also ran out of fuel and nursed his truck to the finish.

The top-five were Williams, Jim Satterfield, Neil Conrad, Timewell, and Copley.

The $1000 to win Modified open-comp was won by Tracy’s Scott Winters. Winters, the current points leader at All American Speedway in Roseville, CA, took a close win over fellow Tracy driver Todd Lynch.

Kelly Peacock from Shasta Raceway took home third, with Robert Kennedy fourth, and Shasta’s Charlie Kramm fifth. Modified points leader Tony Noceti claimed fast-time but fell out of the race on lap 18.

Beau Debard led all 35 laps to claim victory in the USAC Ford Focus Midgets on the quick quarter-mile inside Altamont. Daniel Adler, Tim Skoglund, Ian Mille, and Mark Atkinson rounded out the top-five.

USAC action returns August 18th to Altamont Motorsports Park, with USAC Sprint Cars, USAC Ford Focus Midgets, Legends of the Pacific, and Thunder Roadsters.

Next week Altamont Motorsports Park welcomes the return of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action. The Western Late Models will headline the racing with a 100 lap feature for $1500 to win. Also on tap are: ALSC, 50 Laps, $650 to win; GAM, Pro 4 Trucks, $500 to win; and Formula-4 on the road course.

 
Swanson Secures Second Win of Season
By: Jeff Downey
 
Tracy, Calif., July 14, 2007 - USAC/CASA Sprint Car driver Tanner Swanson has two victories to his credit this season, both coming on the "Fastest Half Mile in the West" at Altamont Motorsports Park. Swanson of Kingsburg, Calif secured his latest win Saturday night at Altamont Motorsports Park, coming from the sixth position to take the checkers of the 50 lap event.

Tony Hunt, Greg Anderson, JoJo Helberg and Nick Green rounded out the "top-five" of the 14 Sprint cars that entered the event. Nick Green led the first 25 laps of the race.

With the second place finish, Hunt sliced Ryan Kaplan's series point lead to just two points. Kaplan finished 10th at Altamont Motorsports Park on Saturday night.

In Ford Focus Midget action on the 1/4-mile oval Beau DeBard of Reno, Nev. led all 35 laps in his Ron Sutton's Winners Circle Ford Focus to win Saturday night's 35-lap feature. DeBard was followed to the stripe by Daniel Adler, Tim Skoglund, Ian Miille and Mark Atkinson.

The V8-powered West Coast Pro Trucks made their inaugural and first of two visits to Altamont Motorsports Park on Saturday night. The West Coast Pro Truck Series races in the southwest portion of the nation including stops in California, Nevada, and Arizona. The southwest region holds most of its events at its home track in California, Irwindale Speedway.

Jeff Williams of Newbury Park continued his dominance of the series on Saturday night, securing the number one qualifying position and taking home the victory in the 50 lap event on the half mile.

A new face was added to the winners circle in the Grand American Modified division with Scott Winters taking the checkers in the 40 lap Open Competition event. Tony Noceti, who has four Grand American Modified victories to his credit this season, ran the quickest qualifying time earlier in the afternoon but only completed 18 laps in the 40 lap event.

Todd Lynch, Kelly Peacock, Robert Kennedy and Charlie Kramm rounded out the top five Modifieds of the seven cars that entered the race.

Local racing returns to Altamont Motorsports Park in full force next weekend with all five divisions racing on Saturday night. The highlight of the evening will be a 100 lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Western Late Model shootout.

The USAC/CASA Sprint cars make their third appearance at the track this season on August 18th for "More Open Wheel Madness!" Night. In 2006, Altamont Motorsports Park was awarded the Race Organizer of the Year Award by the United States Automobile Club (USAC) racing organization.

 
Charity Wins at 24 Hours of LeMons
By: Jeanne Harper
 
Heat, wind, lemons, cars, creative teams. It was one fun event in the first return of the 24 Hours of LeMons to "home track" Altamont Motorsports Park. Some 83 cars, many surpassing drivers' dreams for endurance, and many requiring some fixing along the way, ran the race that spanned Saturday and Sunday--starting on the 7-7-7 date that has been dubbed the luckiest day in the century. Winning team the Lemon Lappers, from Washington state, completed 655 laps on the 1.1 mile road course and collected $1500 (in coins, of course--why make anything easy?) for their "lemonaid," otherwise known as children's charities. They also collected the trophy, or as LeMons promoter Jay Lamm referred to it--the "best candy dish ever seen." Peoples' Choice Winners, the holy rollers team, completed 635 laps. It was their affable ways and creativity, though, that made them the Peoples' Choice--or was it their roman collars and the intimidation--er, influence--of the pope peering faithfully, lap on lap, from his position above the rear of the car? The holy rollers were "Racing for Earl," lapping for money to offset medical costs for a friend. The Lemon Lappers, on receipt of their prize monies, immediately donated some of their winnings to the holy rollers' cause for Earl. Finally, Altamont Motorsports Park GM Jeff Macey invited those who wished to leave an intact, driveable car at the track as a contribution to the Altamont youth program. There just were no losers present this week end.

For more details about the 24 Hours of LeMons, watch for videos on YouTube, articles in participant publications like Car and Driver (placed third, by the way, with 641 laps) or Popular Mechanics, as well as for the prolific number of blog links already filling cyberspace. Drivers and teams also can find their standings on the Altamont Motorsports Park page of My Laps.com, as transponders on each car also ran lap after lap.

Altamont Motorsports Park is proud to host the great people who participate in this creative twist on endurance racing, and eagerly anticipates the next squeeze in October when the 24 Hours of LeMons will once again be back! Stay tuned for more information.

 
Cooksey Wins a Thriller at Altamont Motorsports Park
By: Jeff Downey
 
Tracy, Calif., June 30, 2007 - It was a long four week wait but it was worth it for
local racing fans at Altamont Motorsports Park as the Western Late Models finally returned
to the track with Brentwood's Doff Cooksey making a thrilling lap 97 pass of Phil
Perry to win the 100 lap race on the "Fastest Half Mile in the West."

Cooksey setup the pass in turn 4 and made it stick on the inside in turn 1.

"Phil got loose coming out of turn 4 and I was not going to lift." said Cooksey.

Cooksey had to come from the rear of the field to secure the win, pitting on a lap 14
caution and starting at the rear on the restart.

"We pitted early because I thought we had a flat but we didn't." said Cooksey. "So we
pitted for nothing."

"There was a lot of traffic," said Cooksey, about his charge from the back. "But it but
it looked like they were all tight and our car finally loosened up on the bottom so we
were good enough to go to the front."

Cooksey spent the final laps of the race reeling in the #777 of Phil Perry who passed
points leader, Ryan Philpott, on lap 88.

Philpott, who has seven wins at the track this season, started slowing with 15 laps to
go, finishing the event in the fifth position.

Carson City, Nevada's Bobby Hodges made an impressive debut, crossing the finish line
in the third position. Ryan Mock's lucky #13 racer finished fourth.

Cooksey led the first 13 laps of the race until pitting under yellow at lap 14.
Philpott took over the lead at lap 14 and dominated the race until his #52 "Red Rocket"
slowed in the waning stages of the event.

American Limited Stock Car racer Joe Allen returned to the track in impressive form,
winning both the four lap Trophy Dash and the 40 lap main event on the 1/4-mile oval.
Allen took advantage of some early cautions to move his red #1 hot rod in to position to
dominate the latter laps of the event.

"It was not looking to good at the beginning of race but they just started falling off
one by one and here we are." said Allen in victory lane.

The Hayward Chevy's of points leader Jim Dulla and Tim Rappa finished second and third
in the event.

Chad Holman, winner of the last the last two ALSC races at Altamont Motorsports Park,
finished fourth out of the 11 cars that qualified for the race.

Points leader Toni "The Duke" Noceti took the checkers in the Grand American Modified
division. Noceti passed the topless modified of Thomas Leiby on lap 13 and held on for
the remaining 27 laps. Noceti survived a late race caution on lap 37 to hold on for
the victory.

"The competition at Altamont Motorsports Park is getting a little tougher around here,"
said Noceti. "It used to be kind of easy but these young racers are getting tough
against this old dog."

A six car inversion of the nine car field forced Noceti to come up from the fifth
position to secure the win - his fourth at Altamont Motorsports Park this season.

After taking the lead, Noceti faced some pressure from top qualifier Mike Regelman
until Regelman's #66 suffered mechanical problems on lap 21 and had to be retired.

Leiby finished second, crossing the finish line two car lengths behind Noceti. The #2
of Todd Lewis rounded out the top three.

The racing activities were book-ended by two 10 lap events from the Formula-4 division
on the road course. The #22 of Jake Morgenstern lead all laps in the early race
followed closely by the #12 of Leo Solari and the #28 of Anthony Roeder. Solari took the
checkers in the night cap followed by Roeder in the second position.

The 24 Hours of LeMons shows up at the track next weekend followed by "The Ultimate
Mombo-Combo Night!" featuring USAC-CASA racing on July 14th.



jdowney@altamontracing.com

 
Open Wheel Racing Puts on a Show at Altamont Motorsports Park
By: Jeff Downey
 
Tracy, Calif., June 16, 2007 - Open Wheel racing fans had quite a treat at Altamont Motorsports Park this Saturday night as no less than five divisions raced at the track just outside of Tracy, Calif.

Keeping to its namesake, "The Fastest 1/2-Mile in the West" saw its feature event, the USAC-CASA Sprint series, complete its 50 lap event on the 1/2-mile in just under 15 minutes. Tanner Swanson took the checkers, leading all laps of the caution free event.

Swanson was followed by the #1 of Tony Hunt with the #21 of Ryan Kaplan rounding out the top three.

Points leader Kaplan won the last Western Sprint race and held a six-point lead over JoJo Helberg coming into the 50 lap event at Altamont Motorsports Park.

In 2006, Altamont Motorsports Park was awarded the Race Organizer of the Year Award by the United States Automobile Club (USAC) racing organization.

Matt Mitchell won the Midget race on the 1/2-mile, passing teammate Johnny Rodriguez on lap 22 of the 30 lap event.

Rodriguez led the most laps of the race until suffering engine problems on lap 27, bringing out a red flag caution to clean up a large fluid spill in turn 3.

Mitchell was able to hold on after the restart to secure the win.

Dallas Melby finished in the second position with the 11 of Paul Zimmerly rounding out the top three. Zimmerly recovered from an earlier incident in which contact with Rodriguez for the second position sent Zimmerly spinning in turn one.

Tom Dyer took the checkers in the Ford Focus series on the 1/4-mile. Dyer led the first 7 laps of the 30 lap event until losing the lead to the 40 of Tim Skogland. Dyer regained the lead on a restart on lap 33 and held onto it for the win. Skogland finished in the second position with Beau Debard, Nic Fass and Daniel Adler rounding out the top five.

Focus drivers Mike Maier and Robby Josett won their respective heats earlier in the afternoon.

In NCMA Sprint action, Gary Koster took the lead and the victory with a thrilling last minute pass of Rob Hammond with two laps to go in the 30 lap event on the 1/2-mile oval. Hammond led the first 28 laps of the event.

Twenty-two Legends of the Pacific race cars showed up for a duel on the 1/4-mile oval with 17-year old Zack Kavert taking the checkers after the dust settled.

Altamont Motorsports Park will get back to local NASCAR Whelen All-American Short Track racing at the end of the month with Western Late Model Twin 50s, Grand American Modifieds and American Limited Stock Cars scheduled for June 30th.




jdowney@altamontracing.com

 
Philpott Unstoppable, Wins Both Stock Car Shows at Altamont Motorsports Park
By: Jeff Downey
 
Tracy, Calif., June 2, 2007 - Can anyone stop Ryan Philpott? That had to be the question on the minds of almost 40 late model racers at Altamont Motorsports Park on Saturday, June 2nd as the racer from Tracy took the checkers in both late model events - the 100 lap Westcar Late Model Touring series and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Western Late Model show. The victory was Philpott's seventh in the Western Late Model Series and his first in the Westcar Series this season.

Coming from his eighth Westcar starting position, Philpott took the lead from Greg Potts as the leaders raced back to a caution on lap 62 on Saturday night. Westcar rules allow racing back to caution in their events.

Two hard wrecks in almost the same position of the track in Turn 4 brought out red flag cautions in the event with Kyle Gottula hitting the outside wall on lap 31 and Tim Spurgeon wrecking on lap 71.

Philpott started to check out from the field after the restart following the Spurgeon wreck but the field bunched up after a caution on lap 82. The caution came out when Doff Cooksey and Greg Potts made contact in Turn 2 racing for the fourth position.

Philpott nailed the restart on lap 90, bringing Ryan his first Westcar victory of his young career.

Westcar teammates Garry Glenn and Jared Buddow battled it out in the final 10 laps of the race for positions two and three. Buddow wound up taking second while Glenn finished third. Up until Saturday night, Glenn was undefeated in the Westcar Series this year, winning the first two races of the season at Ukiah Speedway and Shasta Raceway Park.

The much anticipated duel between Dave Byrd, the 2006 Altamont Motorsports Park Western Late Model Champion, and Ryan Philpott never materialized as Byrd had to retire his #1 late model with mechanical problems early in the race. Before Byrd left the track Philpott was able to pass him on lap 13.

"That is how I learned so much - by following [Byrd]," said Philpott, who played runner up to Byrd at Altamont Motorsports Park many times in 2006.

"The Byrd-man is the best in the business," said Philpott. "If you follow him and learn from him you are going to be great."

The Westcar series will be back in action at Ukiah Speedway on June 23rd, where the promoters anticipate one or more NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers will compete in the event.

Philpott had his work cut out for him in the 50-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Western Late Model race as a field of 25 talented teams and a 10 car inversion put Philpott's #52 "Red Rocket" to the test on the 1/2-mile oval.

While the first few laps of the event saw Philpott stuck in ninth place, Ryan was able to rocket up into the top five by lap 10.

Contact between the leaders Tim Spurgeon and Doff Cooksey put Philpott in the top three at lap 18 where Ryan was eventually able to set himself up to take the lead.

"I tried to go outside and pass but the sun was down in Turns 3 and 4 so I got a little bit tight." said Philpott. "I eventually got [the car] back down on the bottom and got it done."

The #2 of Greg Potts and the #7 of Rodney Funston may have had something for Philpott but contact between the two put Funston hard into the outside wall in Turn 2. Funston was uninjured but had to retire from the event. The 21x of Kyle Gottula was also involved in the late lap accident.

Ross Strmiska, who gave Philpott a run for his money during the evening, actually getting around the #52 for the fifth spot at one point, finished in the second position. Rookie, Eric Nascimento, rounded out the top three.

"I think Ryan is beatable," said Strmiska after the race. "But I think it will take some time for me or anyone else to beat him but because he has it figured out."

Tim Spurgeon recovered from his earlier wreck to bring home a top five position, finishing the race in the fourth spot.

Altamont Motorsports Park's 2006 American Limited Stock Car champion, Matt Erickson, also had an impressive run, finishing in the fifth position after starting 17th.

A Philpott almost stole the show in the Grand American Modified division as Sacramento's Jason Philpott led in the early laps of the 40 lap event. The #66 of Mike Regelman eventually got by Philpott on lap 19 and the two finished in that order to close out the open competition non-points event that brought 11 strong modifieds to the "Fastest 1/2-Mile in the West."

Jamie Jackson, Todd Lynch and Victor Machado rounded out the top five. Philpott took the checkers in the Trophy Dash earlier in the evening.

Two 75's dueled it out in American Limited Stock Car action with the 75h of Chad "The Iceman" Holman finding victory lane for the second consecutive race this season. The 75 of Jim Earl applied strong pressure to Holman throughout the 30 lap event on the 1/4-mile but could not pass Holman whose car was glued to the inside groove.

Both Holman and Earl found themselves in some tight racing early on as they hit lap traffic on lap seven and dealt with traffic throughout most of the race.

"The lap cars did a pretty good job today," said Holman, the 2006 Stockton 99 ALSC champion. "They didn't get in the way too much."

Matt Erickson, also driving in the ALSC race, made quite a season debut at the track, qualifying in the number one position. While equipment problems put Erickson at the rear of the 14 car field, Erickson was able to finish the event in the fifth position, his same finishing position in the Western Late Model race.

Jim Dulla finished third with Richard Harper taking home the fourth American Limited Stock Car position.

Pro-Truck driver, Walt Bruegger, brought the raciest truck to the track on Saturday, qualifying a full half-second quicker than the 99 of second place qualifier Brian Miller. Bruegger battled with Miller for the first spot in the first half of the race until Miller lost a wheel in Turn 2 on lap 16.

Bruegger pulled ahead of the field leaving the 3 of Ron Robeck and the 20 of Nathan McNeil to fight for the second position. After some hard racing the two eventually made contact, retiring Robeck and giving McNeil the second position when the checkers flew.

The 98 of "Rockin" Ron Pestana finished third in the 20 lap event on the 1/4 mile oval. Pestana won the Pro-Truck trophy dash earlier in the afternoon.

The Formula-4s started the night of racing off with Doug Foreman beating Richard Hull and Anthony Roeder to the line in the eight lap Formula-4 race on the road course.

Altamont Motorsports Park is off next weekend but returns the following weekend with the popular "Open Wheel Madness" show featuring heart-pounding USAC racing action.


jdowney@altamontracing.com

 
Philpott, Cooksey Cover the Field at Altamont Motorsports Park
By: Jeff Downey
 

Tracy, Calif., May 26, 2007 - On a night where victory lane saw many new faces in multiple divisions the same could not be said for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Western Late Models where the familiar names of Ryan Philpott and Doff Cooksey finished first and second, blowing the doors off the 13 other Western Late Model racers at Altamont Motorsports Park on Saturday night.

The pace that Philpott and Cooksey set was so blistering that at the end of the 75 lap event, only Philpott and Cooksey remained on the lead lap. In fact, the race winner, Ryan Philpott, had a straight-away lead on the #57 of Brentwood's Doff Cooksey, until several late race cautions bunched up the field and drew Cooksey closer in to Philpott. Regardless, Philpott was able to master the restarts and take the checkers, earning his sixth Western Late Model victory at Altamont Motorsports Park this season.

"We are just a little to tight in the middle," said Cooksey after the race. "That is why he is beating us in the middle."

"That is pretty much the key to this race track," said Philpott. "Not necessarily the entry [to the turns] but being able to get back on the gas sooner."

Earlier in the day, Philpott ran a qualifying time of almost 1/2 second faster than the #57 of second place qualifier, Cooksey, getting around the track in 17.941 seconds or 100.329 miles per hour.

Former Modified racer, Ryan Mock, took the checkers in the Trophy Dash, piloting a race car he recently purchased from Bammer Motorsports. Mock was a non-factor in the 75 lap race after early contact damaged his "lucky" #13 racer.

Philpott and Cooksey were followed by Rod Winfree, Bret Hughes and Rudy Marquez to round out the top five in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Western Late Model division.

Chad Holman added a new face to victory lane in the American Limited Stock Car division, taking the checkers of the 30 lap event on the 1/4-mile oval by nailing a restart on lap 23.

"This is the first time I have ever finished a race in good standing and we get first place," said Holman. "You can't beat that."

"I got into a few people in the middle of that race and messed up the handling," said Holman. "I had to fight it the rest of the race."

Holman took advantage of a poor restart by Richard Harper who had led the most laps up to that point.

Jim Earl finished in the second position with Zachary Huffman rounding out the top three. The third place finish for Huffman was his first podium appearance in the ALSC division.

"We started out [this season] with one of the slowest cars and now here we are in third place." said Huffman.

"All the Philpotts have helped me," said Huffman. "I wouldn't be where I am right now without those guys."

The #68 of ALSC points leader Jim Dulla was a contender early in the race until contact on a lap 16 restart retired Dulla's Hayward Chevrolet racer for a few laps.

The Grand American Modified's also saw a new face in victory lane with the #47 of Thomas Leiby taking the checkers. Leiby negotiated a lap 29 pass of the two top runners in the 30 lap event on the 1/2-mile oval.

With points leader Tony Noceti retired early from the race due to engine problems, the pack of Todd Lewis, Jamie Jackson and Leiby raced nose to tail until Jackson tried to pass Lewis on lap 29. Slight contact on the pass opened the door up for Leiby to move from the third to the first position.

"I figured I'd lay back and when I saw Jackson try to make his move I figured I'd try to take advantage of it." said Leiby.

"I went into Turn 1 hard and got hit and got knocked up the track," said Lewis. "[Leiby] capitalized on that which is exactly what he is supposed to do. It was just a racing deal."

Leiby distinguished himself early in the afternoon, winning the Trophy Dash and qualifying second out of a field of nine Modifieds. Lewis and Jackson finished the race in the second and third positions.

Nathan "Snake" McNeil earned his second victory in the Pro Truck division in a race that was highlighted by an early wreck between the #0 of Tim Cardoza and the #99 of Jason Regello. After the contact, Regello's truck flipped upside down, coming to rest on its hood. With safey crews immediately on the scene, Regello walked away from the accident under his own power.

John Cummings and Walt Breugger rounded out the top three in the Pro Truck division.

Formula-4 driver Debbie Foreman started off the day with a win in the early 10 lap Formula-4 event on the road coarse. Anthony Roeder took advantage of the full inversion of the Formula-4's second race to win the evening's Formula-4 night cap.

Racing will be back at Altamont Motorsports Park next weekend with local divisions racing plus a visit for the popular West Car Late Model touring series who will compete in a 100 lap shootout.

 
Philpott Back to Form, Wins Close Race at Altamont Motorsports Park
By: Jeff Downey
 
Tracy, Calif., May 19, 2007 - After finishing second in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Western Late Model division last Saturday, Tracy, Calif's Ryan Philpott wasted no time in regaining his form, besting a strong field of 14 Western Late Model racers to secure his fifth win at Altamont Motorsports Park this season.

Eric Schmidt, a regular racer at Roseville All American Speedway, showed up at Altamont to make Philpott earn his win, as several late lap cautions forced Schmidt and Philpott to battle it out on restarts as the final laps ticked down.

Schmidt finished in the runners up spot with Doff Cooksey, Chris Bammer, and Justin Philpott rounding out the top five.

"We were off a little bit tonight and Ryan was on." said Schmidt. "We had a second place car tonight."

"We had the week off [at Roseville]," said Schmidt. "We came down here to get some NASCAR points and see how we run down here."

Earlier in the day both Ryan Philpott and Schmidt showed some muscle, running qualifying lap times of over 100 miles per hour on the 1/2 mile oval at Altamont Motorsports Park.

Ryan Philpott started the race in the sixth position after an inversion but wasted no time getting to the front of the pack.

A restart on lap 35 actually put Schmidt in the lead for three laps until Philpott regained the number one spot and held on to it for the win despite some additional late lap cautions.

Doff Cooksey took advantage of a lap 45 restart running door-to-door with the leader Ryan Philpott until fading a bit and being passed by Schmidt on Lap 48.

Last weekend's race winner, Brock Monroe, may have had something for Philpott and Schmidt but did not enter the main event after suffering some damage earlier in the day in the Trophy Dash.

Both David and Justin Philpott qualified in the top six and ran in the top five for the first eight laps of the race. John Philpott showed up to the event but did not race.

The Northern California Modified Association Sprint cars, visiting Altamont Motorsports Park for the second time this season, put on a entertaining show for open wheel fans on Saturday night with the #02 of Jimmy Lavell taking the checkers in the 30 lap event on the 1/2-mile oval.

While Lavell, the quickest qualifier of the pack, held the lead for all thirty laps, the win was not easy as the #17 of Gary Koster shadowed Lavell for most of the 30 lap event.

"Just to get to race against a legend like Gary Koster is something - let alone to be able to go out there and beat him," said Lavell.

The event was red flagged after a frightening nose-over-tail spill by Pat Ariaz brought the safety crews quickly to the infield to assist Ariaz out of his racer. After several minutes, Ariaz emerged fine and walked under his own power to the ambulance. The #3 of David Goodwill was also involved in the wreck.

Ed Amador, who won the first NCMA race at Altamont Motorsports Park this season, finished in the third position, securing the spot with a Lap 27 pass of Jeff Burrows.

In other open-wheeled action the #6 of Tony Noceti made it three-in-a-row, winning the Grand American Modified battle on the 1/2-mile oval. Noceti was followed by the #44 of Jamie Jackson and the #2 of Todd Lewis. Both Noceti and Jackson qualified in the first and second position topping a field of seven strong modifieds that showed up to race on Saturday.

Jim Dulla brought his #68 Hayward Chevy to victory lane for the third time this season in a nail-biting American Limited Stock Car event which saw Dulla take the lead by negotiating a last turn pass of the #75 of Jim Earl and the #5 of Richard Harper. Earl and Harper finished second and third, going past the finish line in a door-to-door controlled slide that brought the fans to their feet, cheering in approval.

"That was the tightest racing we have had out here." said Dulla in victory lane.

"We were all over the track," said Dulla. "It was just exciting racing."

Dulla had to come from near the rear of the eight car field after a deep inversion put some slower cars ahead of the faster cars in the early laps of the race.

Richard Harper held the lead until Earl passed Harper on lap 15. Harper regained the lead two laps later and held onto the front spot until he and Jim Earl made contact on the final lap between Turns Three and Four allowing Dulla to make the winning pass on the outside.

"I got inside of the #5 car and we just got a little squirrelly coming out of Turn 4." said Earl.

"I think the #75 car got a little anxious and got underneath me but it happens," said Harper. "It's racing."

In Pro-Truck action on the 1/4-mile oval Ron Robeck brought home the victory edging out Ron Pestana and Tim Cardoza for his second win of the season. Last week's winner, Nathan "Snake" McNiel may have had the fastest truck on the track but had to retire after some contact in a lap rendered his #20 machine undriveable.

Earlier in the day the #0 of Tim Cardoza took the Trophy Dash on the 1/4-mile oval at Altamont Motorsports Park.

Formula-4 driver Doug Foreman started of day with a win in the early Formula 4 event. Jake Morgenstern took the checkers in the night cap.


jdowney@altamontracing.com

 
Philpott Stuns Crowd With Second Place North State Finish
By: Jeff Downey
 
Tracy, Calif., May 12, 2007 - Howard Ford took the checkers but Ryan Philpott stole the show Saturday night as the North State Challenge Series roared into Altamont Motorsports Park for a 100-lap event on the 1/2-mile oval.

On paper Philpott's #52 "Red Rocket" Western Late Model with its 400 horsepower crate engine would be no match for the 800 horsepower engines of the NSCS racers but somehow Philpott was able to pick off 10 NSCS cars by driving much deeper into the corners over the course of the evening.

"Our car just rolls through the corner," said Philpott. "[The NSCS cars] make a lot of horsepower but if we can make it to the ground I can drive the wheels off it."

The race winner, Howard Ford, a former Southwest Tour and Northwest Tour driver, attributed his victory to tire management.

"A few times I had to let my tires cool off and [Philpott] behind me had to cool [his] too," said Ford. "So I think it was just a matter of who managed their tires the best."

The #2 Craig Raudman held the top spot for the first half of the race until Ford and Philpott rocketed by the former NASCAR Elite series Champion and current SRL driver to claim the first two positions on lap 54.

Raudman finished the race in the fifth position. Local driver Jason Gilbert finished in the third spot with two time defending NCSC champion Mike Doss taking fourth.

Earlier in the day, in NASCAR All-American Whelen Western Late Model action, Escalon, Calif's Brock Monroe put an end to Ryan Philpott's 2007 four race winning streak, beating the #52 of Philpott to the checkers after a hard fought battle.

Philpott finished in the second position, right off Monroe's bumper in the 50 lap Western Late Model event on the 1/2-mile oval.

Monroe passed the #18 of Chris Bammer on lap 20 but had to hold off pressure from Philpott throughout the remaining laps of the event.

"Once I got up there Philpott was behind me pretty quick," said Monroe. "In the final laps it was a lot of mirror racing and a lot of blocking."

Philpott passed the #57 of Doff Cooksey on lap 33, taking the second spot and putting his #52 "Red Rocket" in position to reel in Monroe.

"I was giving it everything I had," said Philpott.

"Monroe deserves the win," said Philpott. "[Brock] was driving the wheels of the thing."

Cooksey finished in the third position with Chris Bammer and Kyle Gottula rounding out the top five.

Tim Spurgeon, second in Western Late Model points, had an uncharacteristic run finishing sixth.

Tim Rappa won his first American Limited Stock Car feature event with teammate Jim Dulla coming in second. Both Rappa and Dulla drive cars sponsored by Hayward Chevrolet.

Rappa, who qualified fourth, started on the pole after a four car inversion. ALSC points leader Jim Dulla quickly moved up to second position with the #75 of Jim Earl rounding out the top three.

Despite strong pressure from Earl, Rappa and Dulla were able to finish in the first and second spots in the 30 lap event on the 1/4-mile oval.

"Jim Earl is fast and he works every part of this race track," said Dulla. "I had to give [Rappa] a few little taps and made him know he had to speed it up a little bit."

"I'd like to thank my wing man, James Dulla," said Rappa in victory lane. "I'm sure he had something to do with this victory."

Rounding out the top five were the #5 of Richard Harper and the #1 of Don McLaren.

Both the #33 of Rappa and the #42 of Western Late Model driver Brock Monroe won their respective Trophy Dashes earlier in the day.

In Pro-Truck action Nathan "Snake" McNeil held onto the first position after starting on the pole after a four position inversion. McNeil was followed by the #6 of Jason Darymple and the #98 of Bill Bentley.

The #3 of Ron Robeck ran in the third spot for most of the 30 lap event but spun on lap 29 after trying to pass Darymple in Turns 3 and 4.

The Pro Trucks, who had not raced since April 7th, showed some rust, with five of the nine entries retiring from the track before the final laps of the race.

After a four car inversion, Grand American Modified driver and top qualifier, Toni Noceti, wasted no time in getting to the front, passing first and second runners Jim Thompson and Jamie Jackson on lap six. Thompson and Jackson finished second and third in the 30 lap event on the 1/2-mile oval.

The race events started off with Altamont Motorsports Park treating 82 members of the Tri-Valley YMCA to a day at the track known as "the fastest half mile in the West."

Racing continues at Altamont next Saturday with a full slate of local divisions plus NCMA Sprint cars.





jdowney@altamontracing.com

 
Philpott Makes it Four for Four with a Win at Altamont Motorsports Park
By: Jeff Downey
 
Tracy, Calif., May 5, 2007 - 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 back in the pack.

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 Philpott. "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 racer 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.



jdowney@altamontracing.com

 
Mike David, Ryan Philpott and Josh Whitfield Entertain a Packed House
By: Jeff Downey
 
Tracy, Calif., April 28, 2007 - Modesto Calif's Mike David brought his #2 Bennett Lane Winery Ford to victory lane, winning the first of two NASCAR Grand National West Series events set for Altamont Motorsports Park this season. David took advantage of hard racing between the #8 of Johnny Borneman and the #66 of Justin Lofton, who made contact and spun on the final lap of the 200 lap event.

The contact between Borneman and Lofton opened the door for David, the series points leader, who lead his first and only lap of the evening on the final lap of the race.

"I was watching [Borneman and Lofton] beating and banging with each other down the back straightaway." said David, "I did not know they would do that to each other but it worked out good for us."

Coming in second was the #44 of Andrew Myers of Newport Beach, Calif. Tim Woods, of Chino Hills, Calif, finished in the third position.

"We had a little carburetor problem so we were kind of sluggish coming down the back straightaway." said Myers, "Mike David and I were fighting each other and the next thing you know I saw Borneman and Lofton go into the corner down there and hit the wall."

"I felt sorry for them but I'll take second." said Myers.