THREE-DAY “BIG DOG OPEN” ON TAP FOR ALTAMONT MOTORSPORTS PARK

Source: AMP Media Relations/sb
Date: 10/12/2007

TRACY, California – A huge 2007 for Northern California Late Model racing will come to a close this weekend, as the Western Late Models and SRL Late Models highlight the inaugural NORCAL Nationals Big Dog Open at Altamont Motorsports Park in Tracy, CA.

American Limited Stockcars and Grand American Modifieds will also be in action.

The Big Dog Open, presented by Hoosier Tires, will encompass three days, with open practice kicking off Friday night. Practice and qualifying is slated for Saturday, as well as the Mid-Valley Iron & Metal 100 to close the 2007 SRL Wild West Shootout. Sunday will see feature action for the Late Models, ALSC, and Modifieds.

The Western Late Model 125 lap feature on Sunday will pay $4000 to win, the ALSC 75 lap event on the quarter-mile track will be 75 laps and $1500. Modifieds will go 50 laps on the half-mile for a whopping $2500 to win.

Some of the top drivers in the nation will be on hand to do battle.

Saturday’s SRL event sees 2006 Altamont Motorsports Park WLM champion Dave Byrd of Monterrey, CA holding a slight lead over Modesto’s Steve Belletto. The Byrdman has 13 career NASCAR championships and is often ranked as one of the top NASCAR Whelen All-American Series drivers of all-time.

Former Southwest Series standouts Jim Petit, Greg Voigt, Eddie McKean, Bob Lyon, and Darrell Lamoure are also entered, along with Tracy driver Rick Ruzbarsky.

The weekend’s Western Late Model activities will be chock full of talent, headlined by the return of West Sacramento’s Burney Lamar to west coast racing competition.

Lamar began his career at the late Stockton Speedway before advancing through the ranks and competing for the first half of 2006 for Kevin Harvick Inc. in the NASCAR Busch Series.

Lamar will have to contend, among others, with 2005 SRL Wild West Shootout champion Jason Fensler of Wilton, CA. Fensler has several Late Model wins in 2007 and is currently on-track to compete in the NASCAR Grand National West Series in 2008.

Both drivers will have their eyes squarely focused on 2007 Altamont Western Late Model champion Ryan Philpott of Tracy, CA. Philpott nabbed ten wins and 15 fast-times this year in weekly competition.

Another driver to watch will be 2007 All American Speedway and 2006 SRL champion Eric Schmidt of Roseville, CA. Philpott bettered Schmidt in their previous meeting at Altamont back in May.

Other headlining drivers include Greg Potts and Tracy’s Rick Ruzbarsky, who will both run double-duty, Troy Shirk, a former Altamont Modified champion, Hispanic driver Juan Pitta, Altamont runner-up Ken Benhamou, three-time Altamont ALSC champion Matt Erickson, and Carson City, NV teenager Bobby Hodges.

One of the Late Model long-tows will be Las Vegas, NV’s Glen Burke.

Alan Beebe and Mike Doss are expected to field two cars each.

In the Grand American Modified division, stars from multiple states will be chasing the big money.

All American Speedway champion Scott Winters will be back, and he will have his hands full. Lodi’s Mikey Regalman will be in action, along with Altamont standouts Jaime Jackson, Tracy’s Todd Lynch, and Thomas Leiby of Copperopolis, CA.

Modesto’s Kyle Gottula will be behind the wheel of the Tom Burkett-owned 22 entry.

Rob Vest will be making the long tow from Magic Valley Speedway in Idaho, coming off of a third place points finish in that track’s Premier Series.

American Limited Stock Car action features another field that has multiple championships and wins to its credit, with drivers from as many as five tracks taking part in the 75 lap feature.

Altamont champion Jim Dulla of Hayward, CA leads the field that will include drivers from Roseville’s All American Speedway and Madera Speedway.

Pleasanton driver Ryan Steele will be making his return engagement to Altamont Motorsports Park, after running full-time in 2006.

Friday night serves as open practice session for the teams. Cost is $125 per team. Gates open at 1 p.m. with practice from 2 - 7 p.m.

Saturday action kick starts with pit gates opening at 8 a.m. and practice beginning at 11:30 a.m. Racing action starts at 5 p.m.

Pit gates will again open at 8 a.m. Sunday with racing beginning at 1 p.m.

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