SRL News, Notes and Cash from Stockton 99 Speedway
Event: The “JM Environmental Inc. Wild West Shootout – Touch Too Much 227 presented by 51 FIFTY LTM.” will take place on August 14th at the historic Stockton 99 Speedway’s ¼-mile oval. It will be Round #8 of the 10-race SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series season. The SIGMA Performance Services 60 presented by General Tire” will be Round #8 of 11 for the SPEARS Pro Late Model Series.
Big Money: The unique event will feature a winner’s share of $10,000 thanks to the Winner’s Bonus from former PCS Champion John Moore and JM Environmental Inc. It will also feature 227 laps of racing on the historic ¼-mile oval, the most laps for any championship race in series history. In addition, $1,000 will be paid at the lap 127 break for four tires and adjustments, compliments of JM Environmental Inc. Throw in the $2,750 “Motor City Throwdown Challenge”, offered to stop Derek Thorn’s winning streak, and the event begins to take on even greater significance. John Moore made the event even more interesting by tossing in an extra $15,000 for the “To the Back Challenge”. It includes any driver who qualifies in the top-eight, starts in the back, and wins. All told, one team could walk off with $28,750 if they meet all four criteria.
Champions: Four former SRL Champions are entered for this event, representing eight championships. Current championship leader and five-time series champion Derek Thorn leads the list. 2006 SRL Champion Eric Schmidt will make his first start of the season this weekend. 2015 champion Jacob Gomes currently sits third in the 2021 standings after nearly winning at All American Speedway in June. 2019 champ Cole Moore will make his fifth attempt of the season. His best finish was seventh at Kern County Raceway Park.
Championship Standings: Derek Thorn leads one-time series winner Buddy Shepherd by 43 points after his sixth victory in seven events. Seven-time series winner Jacob Gomes is another 46 points back in third. Kulwicki Driver Development Program finalist Kole Raz sits fourth. 2009 SRL Champion M.K. Kanke’s son, Cale Kanke is fifth, following a career best fourth at Irwindale Speedway. They are separated by only nine points. Blaine Rocha, Brandon Farrington, Carlos Vieira, Tracy Bolin and Dean Thompson round out the top-10.
Rookie Chase: Buddy Shepherd has scored five of the seven Rookie-of-the-Race Awards in 2021 and leads the rookie standings. Kole Raz sites second followed by Sigma Performance Services teammate Brandon Farrington. Dylan Garner is fourth followed by Corey Neveau.
Frequent Stop: This will be the 31st appearance at Stockton 99 Speedway for the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series, second behind only Madera Speedway with 43. Stockton hosted its first SRL event in 2002, the second year for the series. 2001 Series Champion Nathan Tucker won that first event.
NASCAR Champion: 2007 ARCA Menards Pro Series West Champion Mike David will make his third series start this weekend. David last participated in the SRL in 2011 at Stockton 99 Speedway. He finished 18th in the event after starting on the pole. His other start was also at Stockton. He finished fourth in that effort. He won ARCA Menards Pro Series West events in 2004 and 2006 twice. He will be in the car normally piloted by Tim Spurgeon.
Previous Winners: Jacob Gomes (3x), Jeff Bischofberger (1x) and Derek Thorn (6x) are previous winners in the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series at Stockton 99 Speedway. Cole Moore, John Moore, Jeff Bischofberger, and Eric Schmidt (3x) have Pacific Challenge Series wins at Stockton.
Previous Visit: The SRL last visited Stockton 99 Speedway on May 1st. Derek Thorn was the winner followed by Blaine Rocha, Buddy Shepherd, Jacob Gomes, Jeff Bischofberger, Zach Telford, Ross Strmiska, Dean Thompson, Cale Kanke and Kole Raz.
Runner-up: Blaine Rocha finished second the last time the series visited Stockton. He finished second in the series last event at Irwindale Speedway. He is also coming off a victory at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in a 29-car Pro Late Model field last weekend. Rocha will be looking for series victory #3 after wins at the Bullring at LVMS and Kern County Raceway Park. He will team up with the legendary Strmiska family, with Ross behind the wheel of the famous #90.
Bubba: Bubba Nascimento will make his first SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series start of the year on Saturday. Nascimento was the 2020 Late Model Track Champion at Stockton and finished fourth in the SRL Rookie-of-the-Year points in 2019, 12th overall. Bubba has two starts in the ACRA Menards Pro Series West division in 2021 with a best finish of fourth. Nascimento’s best SRL finish was a 10th in 2018, at Madera Speedway.
Moore Success: John Moore will be looking for his first series victory this weekend. He has five SRL starts at Stockton, with his first coming in 2003. He finished 13th. Moore missed the first Stockton event in May due to a conflict but will look to improve upon his sixth and then seventh-place efforts his last two Stockton starts.
Schedule: The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series will be joined by the Spears Pro Late Models presented by Sigma Performance Services. The Legends of the Pacific, B4 Cylinders, and Jr. B4 Cylinders will also be on the card. Qualifying will begin for the Legends at 4:30 pm (PST). The Pro Late Models and Super Late Models will follow at 5:15 pm (PST). Opening Ceremonies and the Feature Events will follow.
Coverage: For those unable to attend the event in person, all the action can be seen LIVE at www.SpearsRacing.TVor on a delayed basis on MAVTV.
Celebrating its twenty-first season in 2021, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series is a regional stock car series competing on paved ovals in the southwestern portion of the U.S. “The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series…Where the Champions Race”.
Super Late Model Pre-Entry:
05 Eric Schmidt, Roseville, CA – Sierra Speed and Technology
7 Michael Sandoval, Ripon, CA – Sandoval Farms
11B Tracy Bolin, Valley Springs, CA – David’s Racing Products, Accurate Auto Glass
16 Jacob Gomes, Manteca, CA – Sunnyvalley Smoked Meats, Dell’Osso Family Farms
20 Cole Moore, Granite Bay, CA – JM Environmental Inc., Berco Redwood
21N Bubba Nascimento, Lathrop, CA – Nascimento Motorsports, All Star Moving and Delivery
21R Kole Raz, Lake Oswego, OR – Sigma Performance Services, Wells Johnson*
22A Andy Allen, Garden Grove, CA – RJ Allen, Inc.
22S Buddy Shepherd, Bakersfield, CA – Martin Auto Color, Schaefer’s Racing Oil*
24 Scott Sanchez, Bakersfield, CA – Salted Metals, Gibson Crane
25F Brandon Farrington, Tucson, AZ – Sigma Performance Services, Wells Johnson Co.*
27 John Moore, Granite Bay, CA – JM Environmental Inc., Berco Redwood
33 Cale Kanke, Frazier Park, CA – Allie Bakes, Movember
43 Derek Thorn, Bakersfield, CA – Santa Maria Brewery, H&M Motorsports
51T Dean Thompson, Anaheim Hills – Thompson Pipeline, Racecar Factory
51V Carlos Vieira, Livingston, CA – 51 FIFTY, Allied Packaging
57 Zach Telford, Middleton, ID – Hixco Supply, All Pro Coatings*
66 Jeff Bischofberger, Tracy, CA – JRC Real Estate Investments, FOGLINE Industries
86 Mike David, Salida, CA – David’s Racing Products
90 Ross Strmiska, Stockton, CA – Nut Up, Masellis Drilling
98 Blaine Rocha, Oakdale, CA – MASROC Farms, Masellis Drilling
*Rookie-of-the-Year Competitor
