Doss Does it Again in Pro Late Model Action at Stockton 99 Speedway
Bakersfield, CA – Jeremy Doss continued his winning ways after facing one of the toughest SPEARS Pro Late Model Series presented by SIGMA Performances Services fields of the season. 21 Pro Late Models presented themselves for the “Sigma Performance Services 60 presented by General Tire” at Stockton 99 Speedway (CA). Doss started seventh and took the lead from Dylan Zampa on lap 28 to score his seventh win in eight events, extending his championship lead in preparation for October’s $15,000-to-win event at the historic Speedway.
Tyler Reif set quick time over the field, just edging his brother Tanner by 0.001 seconds, with a time of 14.299 seconds. Dylan Zampa drew the #1 card with Sammy Solari on the outside of row one. Trevor Huddleston lined up third followed by Jake Bollman, Tyler Reif, Tanner Reif, Doss and Cole Brown, as the top-eight all redrew for position.
The green flew and Zampa jumped to the lead over Solari in the outside groove. The field ran to lap nine, when Dylan Cappello pushed into the front stretch wall for the first yellow of the day. The restart found another of the favorites off the pace, as Trevor Huddleston didn’t come up to speed and pitted with electrical issues to bring out the caution. This allowed Doss to go from seventh to fifth. Upon the restart, Zampa re-established the lead, with Doss beginning to use the extreme low line in Turns 3 and 4.
A red for an accident involving Mike and Hans Beeler, along with Mike Regelman on lap 13, found Doss up to third for the ensuing restart. He made quick work of Sam Solari by the beginning of lap 14 and took up the chase of Dylan Zampa. Tyler Reif was also on the move, dispatching Solari for third. Cole Brown followed a few laps later to fourth. A spin by JoJo Stearns on lap 27 set the stage for a rerack and a shot at Zampa for the lead.
Doss got a great restart from the outside to lead lap 28, with Brown following to third. The final yellow flew on lap 35, when Hans Beeler and Henk Gaalswyk made contact, with Beeler around in Turn 2. Doss was then able to move out to a comfortable lead, with Cole Brown battling with Dylan Zampa for second, as Seth Wise jumped into the top-five behind Tyler Reif. When the checkered fell, Doss had win number seven of the season, with Zampa second, Brown third, Reif fourth and Seth Wise the final top-five position.
The win was especially special for the 2019 Kulwicki Driver Development Program champion, as the programs director, Tom Roberts was on hand to see Doss, Zampa and Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series competitor Kole Raz compete.
“It is always special to pic up a win in general, but when Tom Roberts is here, and I get to do the Kulwicki lap, it’s even more special”, Doss expressed. “We had a really good car this weekend, and we kinda just let the race come to us. It just seemed to work out.”
Doss took his time moving to the front, taking advantage of opportunities that presented themselves. He even took advantage of a racing line that usually finds competitors losing ground in the extreme bottom line.
“I was just saving my stuff. I know the normal characteristics of this place. It always seems to get rough. I was just trying to keep my car clean and do my job. We were able to roll the bottom down in (Turns) 3 and 4, which is normally something we couldn’t do, and we picked up a lot of spots there. Then on the restart with Dylan, we were able to pinch him off to where he couldn’t get off the corner and it seemed to work out. Once we were out in clean air, the car was on rails and really good.”
Doss was thankful for those who helped make his win possible.
“I’d like to thank Earnest Performance, Senneker Performance, PFC Brakes, Swift Springs, S&S Sports Enterprises, Horsepower Project, Apache Rental Group, Duke’s High Grade, the Kulwicki Driver Development Program, Pit Stop USA, Pacific Export and everyone who is on board with this program. I couldn’t do it without them.”
Zampa scored his third runner-up finish of the 2021 SPEARS Pro Late Model season. He led the first 27 laps, showing the teams strength. But the mid-race restart doomed his chance for the win.
“On restarts our car wouldn’t turn very well”, Zampa began. “It took three or four laps for it to come in. My spotter said he went before me, but I don’t know. I can’t really see it. I think it was a fair restart, his car was just a little bit better. I felt good to lead some laps finally, and know our car is pretty close to his car now. We will go back to the shop and work on it for Roseville.”
Zampa was also excited to have Tom Roberts at the event, observing this year’s crop of Kulwicki Driver Development championship prospects.
“I think it is cool that he comes to some of the races with all of the Kulwicki guys. It was really cool to finally meet him. Hopefully he can come out to some more, and maybe we can get him to come out to the $15,000-to-win Stockton race, cause I still like this track. We will just try to get it a little better next time.”
The next event for the SPEARS Pro Late Model Series will be at All American Speedway, in Roseville, CA on September 18th. They will then return to Stockton 99 Speedway for the penultimate event of the season, racing for $15,000 to win on October 2nd. The season will close at the 33rd Annual October Classic at Kern County Raceway (CA) on the 23rd.
Results:
1. Jeremy Doss, 2. Dylan Zampa*, 3. Cole Brown*, 4. Tyler Reif*, 5. Seth Wise*, 6. Logan Zampa*, 7. Jason Romero*, 8. Travis McCullough, 9. Sammy Solari, 10. Matt Ericson, 11. Mike Lovell, 12. Tanner Reif*, 13. JoJo Stearns*, 14. Ethan Nascimento, 15. Henk Gaalswyk Jr., 16. Hans Beeler, 17. Jake Bollman*, 18. Mike Beeler, 19. Mike Regelman, 20. Trevor Huddleston, 21. Dylan Cappello
* SIGMA Performance Services Young Gun
