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THE SRL CAME TO TOWN AND JACOB GOMES STOLE THE CROWN AND THEN THE WLM CAME ...

On Saturday, June 18th, the SRL Spears Southwest Tour Series Late Models roared onto the high-banks for their first appearance of the year in the Mid Valley Iron & Metals 150. And, as expected, the high-octane entertainment the Series produced was second to none. Also on the Ticket for the Evening were the NASCAR Whelen All American Series Western Late Models, Super Stocks, Bombers and the Mini Cups. For the 4000 fans in the stands, it was easy to decipher whether their collective cups were half-full or half-empty with excitement because the consensus was: like the grandstands for this Event, the excitement level poured out over the brim in a continuous flow. On this night, Saturday Night Short Track Racing was Alive and Well in Stockton, California.

The Mini Cups were on tap for their fourth appearance of the year to get this event underway. Division Points Leader from Scotts Valley, Bryce Napier (03) made quick work of the 25-lapper to score his second win on the Season.

With Napier at pole and Lodi's Jackson Ezell (15) close at hand, the green flag fell on a beautiful day for racing. Napier got a fantastic jump and grabbed the lead immediately where he would ride it out to the checkers for the flag to flag, dominating Victory, his second of the year. "It was fun to come out here and win my second race this year," said the well-spoken young driver, then added, "This race gave us more points for the Championship, and that's what we're racing for this year." Once this race strung out, it finished pretty much in the same order it started with Ezell finishing well-back in second. 2010 Champ Cody Johnston (50) of Stockton had his usual solid run in finishing on the podium in third, while Danville's Colin Mullan (27) wrapped up his night in fourth. The #48 of Discovery Bay's Jared Cronk, suffering mechanical failure at the onset, had to settle, if a top five can be considered having to settle, for fifth.

In the Bombers Main, Mike Massone (007) of Stockton proved, once again, he was one who would have to be reckoned with as he drove to his second win of the year in their 30-lap Main Event.

Massone inherited P1 due to a six invert, while Stockton's Dave "Fluff" Anderson (500) inherited the #007's right-side door panel to get this one up to speed. The inside line seemed to be the preferred line on this night, car-attitude-wise, anyway, as Massone beat the field down into turn one where he assumed the point early on and held strong, despite some intense nibbling at his back bumper by Tyler Guzman (93x) of Ceres, until lap 21 when the #043 of Stockton's Roy Luft came spinning high off turn two, which brought with it the first yellow of the night. On the restart, before the field even got back to take the green, Guzman and Bobby Simpson (819t) of Stockton, apparently resumed their rivalry by making contact coming out of four and both cars came spinning down the front-stretch bringing with them the second caution of the race. On what would be the final restart on lap 21, Massone assumed his position out front where he would not be denied on this night as he rolled beneath the checkers for the wire to wire win, he second on the year. Points Leader Jeremy Tucker (028) of Stockton, showed his skills in a borrowed car by finishing second, which allowed him to retain the Point's Lead thus far. Stockton's Guido Bindi, Jr. (816) also showed some skills of his own by finishing on the podium in third. Bindi usually drives in the Mini Truck Division. Simpson slipped back, if only slightly, to finish up in fourth with Guzman losing the most ground, but still managing a fifth place finish.

THE SRL SPEARS SOUTHWEST TOUR MAKES THEIR FIRST APPEARANCE OF THE ...

After a weekend, two weeks ago, of Event-changing weather, which postponed the original date for this race, the light comes to shine, once again, on Saturday, June 18th when the SRL Spears Southwest Tour Series Late Models roll onto the high-banks for their first appearance of the year in the Mid Valley Iron & Metals 150. With little doubt, this is one of the finest touring series on the West Coast. This is one you definitely don't want to miss. So come early because the Old Girl is going to be full to the brim. Also on the Ticket for the Event will be the NASCAR Whelen All American Series Western Late Models, Super Stocks, Bombers and the Mini Cups.

The SRL has a familiar face heading the field in to Stockton this year, and that face comes in the form of M.K. Kanke (33) of Frazier Park. After three races so far this Season, he leads the youngster, Jacob Gomes (16) of Manteca, by a slim four points (500-496). At this point, both drivers are sitting on a win and both drivers have plenty experience on the tight quarter-mile. However, lurking around another six points off the pace, Jim Pettit II (03) of Prunedale, has felt the magic of circling Stockton 99 Speedway for many years. And, to have him that close in the rearview mirror has to be unsettling, to say the least. This promises to be a fantastic battle with a fantastic star-studded field.

Six races into the Season, Modesto’s Jeff Belletto (12x) has three wins to his credit in the Western Late Model Division, which has enabled him to retain the Points Lead and increase it to twenty over now second place, Dave Byrd (78) of Seaside (282-262). Sitting another fourteen points in arrears, Modesto’s Mike Beeler (6) is enjoying a great Season of his own through consistency and perseverance. With much time left on the year, you can already feel the intensity moving up the scale.

In the Super Stocks, due to mechanical issues, Rich Harper (5) of Stockton lost his lead last week and it is now West Modesto’s Garland Tyler (73) with a five point lead in the Division (431-426). Another twenty-two points back, Hughson’s Mike Graham (93) sits in third and is poised to pounce should one or both of the front-runners falter. This is the tightest Points Race in this Division in quite some time, perhaps ever.

Despite suffering a set-back last week, Jeremy Tucker (351) of Stockton still managed to hold onto the Points Lead in the Bomber Division by nineteen points over second place runner, Mike Massone (007), also of Stockton. A mere two points off second, Stockton’s Tony Karsting (312) has quietly made his way to third. Stay tuned to this one, it’s going to get really good before it’s over.

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