TRI-VALLEY’S KOSKI TAKES FIRST LATE MODEL VICTORY


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Oct 7, 2008

ALTAMONT MOTORSPORTS PARK

Source: Altamont Motorsports Park Public Relations
Date: 06/07/2004

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The Tri Valley area certainly had it’s share of winners this evening as Brian Koski won his very first AC Delco Late Model race. This dedicated racer has made every single race at Altamont Motorsports Park since it reopened in the mid 90”s. He’s been right up there many times only to have mechanical failure or get caught up in some kind of racing incident. This time it was all his. Verg Beaty of Ceres started number one with San Ramon’s Koski behind him. Half way through Koski’s Groth Bros. Chevy powered past Beaty to take the lead and the win. Koski is supported by his longtime employer Groth Bros. Chevrolet of Livermore. It was a Tri-Valley attack with Harry Napier from Livermore enjoying his first victory as car owner. Only two cautions were waved tonight. Last seasons Rookie of the Year, Anthony Swann from Newark and Modesto’s Rudy Marquez did a dance with Marquez ending up with a hard driver’s side smack in the wall and Swann in the grass trying to keep from having a fire. The Safety Crew did their job and got Marquez off the track and Swann back on track where he was able to fire the engine without flames and finish the race. In the last few laps, Don Campbell from Campbell was running a solid third and was given a little help from Pleasanton’s Jason Gilbert. Campbell still managed to make it back from the rear to finish seventh, in only a few laps. Campbell also qualified for his first Trophy Dash ever and won it! Manteca’s David Hulsey who was second quick time, and won his heat finished third. Todd Bammer was fourth and double duty, Glen Cook rounded out the top five.

BAMMER BRO DOES DOUBLE TAKE

Chris Bammer took home the trophy at Altamont Motorsports Park tonight and took home the trophy! Pleasanton’s Bammer won both of the 50 lap main events. Chris is younger brother of ACDelco Late Model pilot Todd. Terry DeCarlo Jr. from Martinez looked like he had the first 50 lapper in his pocket as Manteca’s Jerod Popejoy and Carl Edberg of Redwood City stayed within range. Mean while Bammer was working his Moeller Bros. Chevy from an inverted sixth place start up through the ranks, picking off positions and was behind DeCarlo fifteen laps from the finish. They were caught up in traffic and DeCarlo moved up just enough for Bammer to stick his nose in and grab the lead on the last turn of lap 49. The crowd was wild!! DeCarlo held second. Popejoy was third. Series points’ leader, Matt Erickson from Tracy was fourth and Edberg finished fifth. The lineup for the second 50 laps was the same as the finish of their first race. Bammer who was top qualifier this evening was never challenged, but the race went on behind him as DeCarlo and Popejoy went at it and Popejoy took second, with DeCarlo falling in behind. Pleasanton’s Rick Avila came from eleventh to take fourth and Rookie Mark Squadrito rounded out the top five. Erickson had a tough night as he dropped two cylinders during the second race and just held on to finish. Altamont Motorsports Park inaugurated the 100 lap Super Stock Event by running double 50 lap mains. This allowed an extended pit stop to keep the maximum amount of racers in the race. There is another coming on July 17th. Double the excitement!

Spec Motor Modifieds started off their heat race this evening with a big bang as Mark Schrader from Martinez and Fremont’s Glen Cook both having hard times. Schrader ended up torn to shreds during the heat, and Cook didn’t make it through the Trophy Dash. However this was Mike Bledsoe’s night as he started on the pole and took it to his first win. Cook still managed to finish second with a car furnished by Charles Seals, who insisted that Cook race the main. Tracy’s Jim Thompson sailed into third. George Connor from Antioch managed fourth after having a spin out at the beginning and Dino Fry, Jr. finished fifth.

Altamont’s Pro Trucks had a tough time at the OK Corral too. They were just getting underway and three of the top points’ leaders had a real shred fest in turn four. Ken Wright, Nick Williams and Mike Clarke were involved. Williams and Clarke got the worst of it. When racing finally got underway, Greg Leonard from Daly City took the win by a twenty-truck length lead in his Pete Hennessy owned pro truck. Lafayette’s Todd Miller who hasn’t competed for a season or so came in second. Wright from Castro Valley made it back to third and Tracy’s Williams was fourth. Unfortunately, Mike Clarke lost his driveline on the track several laps after the melee and did not finish.

“Rocket” Ray Bunn started in the front with his bright yellow Mini Super Truck and stayed right there for his first win of the season. Redwood City’s Tom Moss who is leading the points run, cruised into second, letting Bunn know he was there, but not able to get around him. Ron Pestana from Pleasanton was third. Tracy’s David Burchett was fourth and Ron Mardock rounded it out. Dominic Lopez brought out a new paint scheme and number, only to get it messed up in the first heat. He still managed to make the main event. These Mini Super Trucks are the true Saturday Night racers.

The ACDelco Late Models will run a One Hundred Lap Event. The Groth Bros Chevrolet Baby Grands along with two divisions of Open Wheel thunder, CASA sprint cars and Spec Motor Modifieds all converge on the “Fastest Half Mile in the West”. The Mini Super Trucks and Mini Cup Jr. Stars will race on the Quick Quarter for some of the best Saturday night racing from the ocean to the foothills. Join us next Saturday Night for all the racing action you can stand at Altamont Motorsports Park. ####