SRL News and Notes “Wild West Shootout 127” Stockton 99 Speedway
Event: Saturday, September 2nd will mark the 33rd time the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series has competed at Stockton 99 Speedway (CA). Teams will compete for a $10,000 payday in the “JM Environmental Wild West Shootout Dog Eat Dog 127”. The event is a make-up date for the heat postponed July 16th round. It is Round #3 of the “Wild West Shootout” Series which pays $10,000 to the winner of each event. The Super Late Models will be joined by the Spears Pro Late Models presented by Sigma Performance Services in the “Labor Day 100 presented by Masellis Drilling”. The Pro Late Models will also be racing for a $10,000 payday. It will be series visit number seven to the historic ¼-mile oval and the only one in 2023, after the July race was lost to the heat.
SRL Championship: After Round #6 of the Spears SRL Southwest Tour at Colorado National Speedway (CO), Jacob Gomes leads the standings with 1055 points. John Moore continues to run second with 918 points. Dylan Zampa (855), Cale Kanke (808), and Nick Cooper (803) round out the top-five. Dan Holtz (776), Austin Herzog (768), Scott Sanchez (725), Andy Allen (640), and Jace Hansen (630) make up the top-10. The series is averaging 21.5 cars per event with 54 different drivers competing.
PLM Championship: Linny White leads the Pro Late Model standings with 900 points. Mike Beeler sits second in the standings with 692 points. His son Hans sits third with 688 points. Christian Bazen (670) and Nash Youngren (666) complete the top-five. Sean Woodside (641), Scott Youngren (624), Ryan Martin (610), Ethan Meyers (521), and Seth Wise (488) round out the top-10. The series is averaging 18 Pro Late Models per event with 44 different drivers competing. 19 Pro Late Models are entered as of Wednesday August 30.
History: 25 NASCAR Southwest Tour Series events have been held at the historic ¼-mile oval, with 17 different winners. Ken Boyd (2), Rick Carelli (2), Dan Press (2), Troy Beebe (2), Ron Hornaday Jr. (3), and Craig Raudman (2) were the only multi-time winners. Of the 32 Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series winners, there were 17 different drivers to take the checkered flag first. Multi-time winners included Ron Strmiska Jr. (3), Joey Zampa (2), Jason Fensler (2), Jim Pettit (2), Jacob Gomes (3), Derek Thorn (7), and Jeremy Doss (3). The NASCAR Southwest Tour Series conducted their second series race at the facility in 1986, with Ken Boyd the winner. The SRL made their first appearance in 2002 with Ron Strmiska Jr. grabbing the win.
2022 SLM: Jeremy Doss earned his third Stockton win in last year’s edition of the “Wild West Shootout” at Stockton. It was the first of three victories that season with the SRL. Doss earned the win in a 17-car field with Jeff Bischofberger, Dustin Ash, Blaine Rocha, and Jace Hansen the top-five. Hometown favorite and eventual 2022 champion Jacob Gomes finished sixth.
2022 PLM: There were two Spears Pro Late Model events held at Stockton in 2022. Sean Hingorani won in July, while the “Fall Brawl” sponsored by Masellis Drilling was won by Dylan Zampa in October. Zampa beat Tyler Reif, Sam Solari, Seth Wise, and Hans Beeler to the checkered in the rich event.
Special History: Stockton 99 Speedway is a track that will always have special meaning for John Moore. The 2015 Pacific Challenge Series champion has experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows at Stockton. Moore scored both of his Pacific Challenge Series victories at the facility, and his performances there in 2015 vaulted him to the series championship. But the track was also the site of the tragic loss of his son JD, in a practice accident in 2004. A win at Stockton means that you have defeated one of the toughest short tracks in the country, with a long history of great drivers and tough competition.
“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”, Moore recalled. “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.”
3X’s-A-Charm: 2019 series champion Cole Moore has been trying to get back on track with the SRL since mid-July, when the “Wild West Shootout Dog Eat Dog 127” was postponed. He travelled to Colorado National Speedway (CO) in August, looking to attempt his first start of the season once again. But a blown motor ended the weekend in Friday practice. This weekend the 2019 series champ will give it a third shot, hoping three times are a charm.
“I’m just excited to come and drive a Super Late Model and be in the mix with the boys”, Moore stated. “Jacob Gomes has been dominating, and I’d like to come give him a run for his money, and also bang doors with pops (father, John Moore). Short track racing on these ¼-mile tracks is a thrill.”
NASCAR National ROTY: Jacob Gomes was the NASCAR National Rookie-of-the-Year in 2009, competing at his hometrack, Stockton 99 Speedway, while also turning laps at Madera Speedway and All American Speedway. The two-time series champion will now return to his hometrack, where he has three Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series victories. He hasn’t won there since 2015, but he is excited to head to the track he calls home.
“I’m just really excited to be back there”, Gomes stated. “I always look forward to racing at a track I’ve been going to since I could ever remember. I always enjoyed racing there growing up, seeing people I grew up with at the track.”
Better By One: The last time Jeff Bischofberger visited Stockton 99 Speedway; he came away with a second-place finish behind teammate Jeremy Doss. He led twice for 51 laps before Doss secured the lead for the last time. Bischofberger will make his second start of the 2023 campaign this weekend, looking to repeat his victory from 2015, at the track the former Tracy, CA resident calls home.
“JD Motorsports with Mike and Jeremy Doss do a great job bringing fast cars to Stockton and my brother Allen spots really well at this track”, Bischofberger explained about his success at the historic facility. “I enjoy the track, as it is close to Tracy, my hometown. Having friends and family at the race always adds a little more motivation to get up on the wheel. Although it’s the only place I have junked a car, I really enjoy the door-to-door racing with a bit of friendly contact. I’m looking forward to being back behind the wheel and door-to-door with the guys in the SRL. With any luck, we will come out on top. I would love to be on the track more often, but at this juncture, family and work are first priority.”
Track Champ Returns: Eric Nascimento Jr. won the Stockton Late Model Track championship in 2020. He was a Rookie-of-the-Year competitor with the SRL in 2019. In 2023 he has concentrated his efforts with the ARCA Menards Pro Series West. But a tough start to his season in that series finds him ninth in the championship standings. But a recent turnaround finds him with three consecutive top-five efforts. He now has the opportunity to return to his home track with his Super Late Model, after finishing seventh in this event last year.
“I really enjoy the tight hard racing when it comes to Stockton 99 Speedway”, Nascimento beamed about the opportunity to compete back home. “You know when you show up, that you are going to have to work for every inch. I have a lot of laps at Stockton 99 Speedway, and I feel that we will have a great chance at a win, with lots of family and friends in Turn 1 cheering us on.”
Family Success: The Zampa family has always had a special place in their hearts for Stockton 99 Speedway. Father Joey was a two-time SRL winner at the facility. Logan Zampa has had his best Spears Pro Late Model finish at the ¼-mile. 2022 Kulwicki Driver Development Program champion Dylan Zampa grabbed a $15,000 win last year at the venerable speedway. Dylan will now come back seeking a $10,000 victory this weekend in Round #7 of the season in his Super Late Model.
“Stockton 99 Speedway has always been a fun track to me and my family”, Zampa explained. “My family has had great success at that track and winning last year’s $15K-to-win race in the Pro Late gives me a lot of confidence going into this race. I’m very excited to bring our brand new CRF Chassis to Stockton, and it is going to be a fun and good learning experience with the new car. I am really looking forward to seeing what we can do with the new red beast.”
Family Success Two: As mentioned, Logan Zampa scored his best Spears Pro Late Model finish at Stockton 99 Speedway, coming home second. The elder Zampa brother will now look to knock off Linny White this weekend, to the tune of $10,000 in the “Labor Day 100 presented by Masellis Drilling”. A win would match his $10,000 win in the “Short Track Shootout 100” at Madera Speedway in 2018. Stockton is a track where he has not finished outside the top-10 in five career Spears Pro Late Model starts.
“Stockton has been a track that my brother and I have always been fast at, and have run up front”, Logan began. “Short track racing is where true talent comes out, and it’s not just follow the leader kinda racing, that the SRL has seen all year with the Pro Late Models, and the half-mile tracks. I can’t wait to strap back in and go short track racing again. The SRL is a great series that I am glad to compete in. Stockton is a track that brings door banging and great short track racing.”
Schedule: Saturday, race day will find the teams of the Spears Pro Late Models and Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series on track for 45-minute practice sessions beginning at 1:00 PM. The Legends will have their Practice / Qualifying Session from 2:30 to 3:15 PM. The NCMA Sprint Cars will practice from 3:15 to 3:45 PM. Admission Gates open at 5:00 PM. Qualifying for the Pro Late Models and then Super Late Models will begin at 5:15 PM. Opening Ceremonies are scheduled for 6:00 PM with a B-Main for the Legends following, if required. Main Events for the NCMA Sprint Cars, Legends, Spears Pro Late Models and Spears Southwest Tour Series will follow.
Broadcast: For those unable to attend, catch all the action LIVE at www.SpearsRacing.TV. The event will also air on MAVTV at a time and date to be announced later.
