STOCKTON FINALE SATURDAY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                    JULY 3, 2006

Contact: DICK JORDAN/MICHAEL HARKER                                                                                                       06-168

 

 

USAC CLOSES STOCKTON CHAPTER SATURDAY

BROWN WINS VENTURA MIDGET RACE

 

 

            USAC's storied history of racing at the Stockton (Calif.) 99 Speedway loses this Saturday when the USAC Western Sprint Cars and Midgets return to the 1/4-mile paved oval for the final time. The Speedway has announced it will case operation at the close of 2006.

 

            A total of 32 USAC races have been conducted at Stockton dating back to 1959 when Cliff Spalding won the inaugural 100-lap Midget contest. In the ensuing events three drivers have scored victories in both Midgets and Sprints there, namely Tony Hunt, Davey Hamilton and Michael Lewis.

 

            Hunt currently leads the Western Sprint Car standings, while Jerome Rodela, also a former Stockton Midget winner, leads the Western Midget points.

 

            Rodela, though, clings to only a one-point lead over Tyler Brown of Norco, Calif., who won Saturday night's 30-lap feature at Ventura (Calif.) Raceway. Brown passed Darrin Bolton on lap 13 and led the rest of the way to beat Josh Lakatos, Rodela, Randi Pankratz and Scott Pierovich.

 

            Hunt's lead over runner-up Mike Murgoitio in the Western Sprint standings stands at 39 points going into Saturday's racing program.

 

            Former Stockton USAC winners also include current NASCAR stars J.J. Yeley and Kasey Kahne.

 

 

USAC WESTERN SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS

 

      1.
     Tony Hunt
     326
      
     6.
     Jeff Gardner
     216
     
      2.
     Mike Murgoitio
     287
      
     7.
     Nick Rescino Jr.
     204
     
      3.
     Bradley Galedrige
     284
      
     8.
     Nick Green
     193
     
      4.
     Kody Swanson
     262
      
     9.
     Matt DeMartini
     189
     
      5.
     Brian McClish
     233
      
     10.
     Jimmy Pelk
     173
     

 

USAC WESTERN MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

 

      1.
     Jerome Rodela
     558
      
     6.
     Garrett Hansen
     339
     
      2.
     Tyler Brown
     557
      
     7.
     Randi Pankratz
     306
     
      3.
     Chase Barber
     450
      
     8.
     Matt Mitchell
     303
     
      4.
     Chris Rahe
     406
      
     9.
     Shannon McQueen
     292
     
      5.
     Greg Bragg
     396
      
     10.
     Scott Pierovich
     266