John Moore Seeks a Shootout Victory at the Toughest Short Track in the West

Bakersfield, CA – John Moore and JM ENVIRONMENTAL, INC. have been sponsoring the “Wild West Shootout” events with the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series since 2019, at ALL AMERICAN SPEEDWAY – ROSEVILLE CA. Saturday July 15th will mark the 14th event run under that banner, as the SRL will visit The New Stockton 99 Speedway (CA) for the “JM Environmental Inc. Wild West Shootout – Gog Eat Dog 127” for Round #5 of the season on July 15. The historic Stockton 99 Speedway will host a the “Wild West Shootout” for the fourth year in-a-row, with $10,000 on the line for the winner. John Moore would love to garner his first series win and take it home himself.

The 2022 West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame inductee currently sits second in the championship standings for the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series, entering the halfway mark of the season. The 2015 Pacific Challenge Series Super Late Model champion has not finished worse than sixth in 2023, with a best of second at the “All-Star Showdown 200” at Irwindale Speedway. He is coming to his favorite track on the circuit, and the place he got his career started in Late Models. He has two wins in the Pacific Challenge Series at the historic ¼-mile, but is zero for seven in the Spears SRL Southwest Tour. He hopes to end that streak at one of the toughest short tracks in the country, where he first cut his teeth in a racecar.

“If you listen to NASCAR Radio, and you hear the legends of the sport answer the question, “what’s the most notorious short track you ever raced on”, 90% of the time the answer is Stockton 99 Speedway. It just happened to be the racetrack that I cut my teeth on, my first time in a race car, in my first race. There is lots of history for my family, but to this day, nothing gets me quite as excited as a Super Late Model door bangin’, double get down, throw down at “99”. The fans are passionate, and the racing is fierce.”

Moore continued about his history at the track, “I grew up racing against the Belletto’s, Strmiska’s, Byrd’s, Schaeffer’s, Solari, and Schmidt. We’re talking about the grass roots, most passionate, most rowdy racers and fans one can imagine. That was 23 years ago, and it feels like yesterday. The “Dog Eat Dog 127” is the one you don’t wanna miss. Cole Moore is coming out of retirement and coming off of a recent win. Father and son will be tearing the stickers off the doors, not to mention, the SRL regulars. They are all talented, skilled, and passionate, and the best drivers the sport has to offer. The fireworks show, and the sold out grandstands is what made me buy a Late Model. Saturday night, the only thing, in my opinion, that will be missing is a full moon. But we can’t have everything . With the Dog Eats Dog… Let’s get it on.”

Moore will be making his 57th appearance in the series, tying him with Craig Raudman for 16th place on the all-time list. But he will be seeking his first series victory. His average finish at Stockton is a ninth, but he has not finished outside the top-eight in his last four starts. In 32 SRL appearances, 17 different drivers have tasted victory and Moore would love to be number 18, even if he has to give the bumper to his mother or son.

“Let’s face it, winning an SRL race is a huge accomplishment”, Moore explained. “There’s a very low percentage of winners listed in that category. I would give the bumper to my mother to win one. Cole would give the bumper to his father to win one. When you win a Southwest Tour Super Late Model race, brought to you by the SRL anywhere, it’s huge. When you pull it off at “99”, it’s legendary!”

Round #6 of the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series will be the 33rd trip to the ¼-mile oval for the series. The “JM Environmental Inc. Wild West Shootout – Dog Eat Dog 127” will pay $10,000 to the winner, and $1,000 to start, for those on the Spears Frequent Flyer Program. It will be the only trip to Stockton for the series in 2023. They will be joined by the Spears Pro Late Models presented by Sigma Performance Services and the Spears Modified Series for the very first time. The NCMA Sprint Cars are also on the schedule. Admission Gates open at 5:00 PM with Racing at 6:00 PM.

Celebrating its twenty third season in 2023, 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”.

Story: K. Peters