Jacob Gomes Eyes Wild West Shootout Cash at Stockton 99 Speedway
Bakersfield, CA – Jacob Gomes finished fourth the last time the Spears Srl Southwest Tour Series visited The New Stockton 99 Speedway back in May of 2021. On August 14th, he will return looking to score a record winner’s share, for the historic facility, in the “JM Environmental Wild West Shootout – Touch Too Much 227 presented by 51 FIFTY LTM”. In addition to the winning driver having a shot at nearly $30,000, it will also be the most laps ever run in a championship event for the series. The 2015 SRL Series Champion is ready to return to his home track and make it a record setting effort.
“I’m beyond excited and can’t wait to have a chance at it”, Gomes exclaimed! “I know we’re gonna have a good car and I’m just gonna be ready to be there at the end.”
Gomes currently sit third in the championship standings, after leaving Stockton earlier in the season with the points lead. Gomes lost that lead when a flat tire with four laps remaining, knocked him from the lead to a disappointing 13th-place finish at ALL AMERICAN SPEEDWAY – ROSEVILLE CA. It was his only non-top-10 effort in his last 13 starts. Gomes will look to make up ground on Derek Thorn Racing and Buddy Shepherd and earn a career best payday in addition.
Stockton is a track at which Gomes has three SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series victories, with nine top-five finishes overall in 15 starts. The 2009 NASCAR Advanced Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series National Rookie-of-the Year will use his experience at the historic facility to good advantage, as he admits that luck plays a big part in running well at the ¼-mile oval. In 227 laps it will take both luck and patience to pull off the victory.
“It takes a lot of luck and a lot of patience, because things get rough quick”, Gomes stated. “You have just got to be at the right place, right at the right time, and be more defensive than anything.”
Gomes started the 2021 season strong, with four consecutive top-five’s. The flat tire at All American Speedway set him back, but he returned with a runner-up finish at Kern County Raceway Park. At Round #7 at Irwindale Speedway, Gomes led a race for the fourth time this season, tying him with Buddy Shepherd for second most this season. Unfortunately for Gomes, he had to pit early in the event, eventually recovering for an eighth-place finish.
Gomes will be making his series record 115th start. A victory at Stockton would be his eighth career win and 44th top-five result. It would be the Manteca, CA driver’s 73rd top-10 finish and fourth win at Stockton, his favorite short track.
I’m happy to be heading back to Stockton”, Gomes said. “It’s my favorite track and there is nothing like being home.”
Gomes is grateful for the support he receives to compete at each event and will be happy to have many of his home track fans in attendance Saturday night.
“I’d like to thank all of my supporters, who make this possible”, Gomes stated. “I’d like to thank Sunnyvalley Smoked Meats, Dell’Osso Farms, my mom and dad as well as Dennis and Julie Arbini. I’d also like to thank Studio 10 Wraps, Dave Reeves, with Reeves Complete Auto Center Inc., and David’s Racing Products.”
On August 14th , Gomes will join a hungry field of Super Late Model drivers looking to beat Derek Thorn to the finish line, to score the $2,750 bonus in the Motor City Throwdown Challenge. The winner will also receive $10,000 for the victory thanks to JM Environmental Inc. Another $1,000 will be paid out to the leader at the lap 127 break. A whopping $15,000 is available to a winner who qualifies in the top-eight and elects to start in the rear, in the third round of the Wild West Shootout, also thanks to JM Environmental. Those numbers add up to a monster $28,750 payday. It would be the second highest winner’s share in the series 21-year history, behind the 2021 All-Star Showdown.
For those unable to attend, the rich event can be viewed LIVE at www.SpearsRacing.TV and on a delayed basis on the Motorsports Leader 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”.
