VERG BEATY BEATS 'EM AGAIN AT ALTAMONT

Source: Bragg
Date: 06/19/2003

The California Asphalt Sprintcar Association, alcohol injected sprint cars ran thirty laps from the starting green to checkered flag. Scott Clough, Bryan Bullard, Mike McCreary, C.J. Humphries, and Tony Iacobitti were the top five starters. Bullard grabbed the lead by lap five with Iacobitti in close pursuit. There were several car lengths between them. Lap 22 had Iacobitti closing the gap, and on lap 27 he took the lead. Twenty-seven must be a lucky number for this young racer as this was only his 27th race. Bullard finished in second. Fast qualifier Ivan Worden, won the dash and came in third. Mike McCreary, who is second in points, finished fourth, and CJ Humphries brought in a fifth place.

N.C.M.A. Sprints ran their second race of the year on Altamont’s big oval this evening. Pat Ariaz of Manteca also had a clean sweep taking his heat, dash and the main event. What a great evening he had. He attended a race in Fernley, Nevada last week and came back in pieces. Pat put it back together and took the main. Oakley’s Scott Holloway, who’s the combined points leader to date jumped right behind Ariaz and finished in second. Russ Wullenwaber of Gustine who is running fifth in points cruised in at third, The Flying Farmer, Ed Amador of Modesto finished fourth, and Keith Shipherd from Pleasant Hill, who is running second in points rounded out the top five. The Northern California Modified Association sportsmen sprint cars are powered by a more economical carbureted engine. They also run a separate dirt series as well.

The URACEIT.Com Spec Motor Modifieds also had their second event this evening. The final finish had Fremont’s Glen Cook, first; Whitey Janssen from Newark in second; Discovery Bay’s Doug Davis was third, Mark Schrader from Martinez brought in fourth, and Mike Simpson of Citrus Heights rounded out the top five.

Mini Cup Jr. Stars had a tough start tonight as several cars spun around going into turn one, requiring a total restart which again went three wide with Sarah Davis from Hollister, Chris Oliveria of Danville and Morgan Hill’s Dominic Portera coming into turn one. Davis and Oliveria ended up out for the night. Portera brought home the win. Matthew Harmon of Tracy, who started fourth, took the second spot for the duration. Livermore’s K.C. Keller began fifth and finished in third. Patrick Russum of Citrus Heights was fast time this evening, started in ninth, and made it all the way to finish fourth. Martin McKeefery from Milpitas rounded out the top five.

Pat Akers from Fremont sat the pole for Super Stocks this evening. Rookie Matt Erickson of Tracy, beside him. Discovery Bay’s Todd Carnahan in third, Jim Thompson of Tracy started fourth and Rick Avila from Pleasanton in fifth. Fast time man, Noah Salazar started out in sixth with the inversion but managed to grab the top spot and hang on for the last 20 laps of this 30 lap main. There was lots of action with these aggressive racers. About a third through, Akers and Rookie “Grandpa” George Conner brought out the yellow with a kiss and smash on the front straight. Akers kept going and Conner went off. The flamboyant Jared Popejoy had a flat and headed for the pits. The next caution came out as Scot Winkler of Livermore, and C. J. Lamar tangled out of turn four, and Popejoy got it back on the track. He then lost his hood, spun out and was “asked” to depart the track! Start of lap thirty had Chris Bammer and Erickson mixing it up, so the checkered yellow was thrown. Noah Salazar took the win, with special wishes to his dad Andy, who had to leave the track with a medial problem earlier in the day. Avila was second, Akers in third, Rookie Terry DeCarlo was fourth, and the division point’s leader, Carnahan finished fifth.

Larry Bohringer gave us a three peat tonight as he took his heat, trophy dash, and won the main. Bohringer, who hails from Tracy, managed to grab the lead from Dublin’s Jeff Brissey after he held the pole for the first 15 laps. A pile up coming out of turn one marred the start. Modesto’s Debbie Whitworth and Ron Pestana from Pleasanton tangled up and it took a couple of tow hooks to get them apart. The restart had Jeff Brissey of Dublin starting in front with Pleasanton’s Debbie Park on the outside. Ray Bunn of San Jose and Tom Moss from Redwood City second row, and Ripon’s Ken Bunch rounded it out. Division point’s leader David Burchett of Tracy had his work cut out for him. Inversion had him start in twelfth, and he finished second. Must be the combination of his driving skills and the “Don Hicks” engine as he cruised that Mini Super Truck right through to second. Rudy Marquez, last season’s series champion had a nice third, Brissey came in fourth, and Moss finished fifth.

Next Saturday the AC Delco Late Model battle heats up on “The Fastest Half Mile in the West”, as the young guns try to take the “Silver Fox”. Altamont will be hosting truck power as the Late Model Pro Trucks return along with the Mini Super Trucks. Super Stocks, Baby Grands, and the spectator driven Corporate American Modifieds bring you another great evening of racing.

See Also .:

• Altamont Motorsports Park Track Page

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