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USAC Western Sprint Car results & story – Stockton, CA. July 8, 2006

 

Hunt ‘batting .500’ in USAC Western Sprint Cars after Stockton clean sweep – By Bobby Gerould – Stockton, CA. …Tony Hunt, the leader in the USAC Western Sprint Car point standings, dominated the action in USAC’s final visit to blazing Stockton 99 Speedway Saturday evening. (The track is shutting its gates for good at the end of the 2006 season.) Driving the Alan Kaiser Construction Eagle/Bailey #4, Hunt set quick-time, won his heat from the last row, and then walked away with the 50-lap feature event in front of a large crowd that dealt with a 101 degree high temperature.

 

“We are really focused on winning the championship”, stated Hunt in the winner’s circle following his third win in six 2006 USAC Western events. “The car was incredible all night. We have a lot of memories to take with us from this place. It’s a bummer that we won’t get to race here again after tonight.”

 

Hunt started eighth in the 16-car feature field that was paced to the green-flag by series rookie Bradley Galedrige, and Shauna Hogg. Hogg led the first lap on the paved quarter-mile track but was passed on lap three by Brian McClish. McClish, of Santa Rosa, CA, opened up a five car-length lead over Hogg by lap 12. Hogg was dealing with challenges from Mike Murgoitio, and Hunt at the time.

 

The caution flag flew on lap 13 for debris on the track. Greg Anderson driving the Ted Finkenbinder #3f retired from the race as did 2005 series champion, Kody Swanson. Both had mechanical issues with their respective machines.

 

Hogg surprised McClish on the restart by diving low in turn one to retake the race lead. One lap later Hunt moved into third with a low groove pass of Murgoitio in turn four. Hunt moved into second place on lap 20 driving off of turn four low to pass McClish. The winning move came on the next lap in same spot as Hunt shot underneath Hogg.

 

The racing behind Hunt was at times intense. Murgoitio and Nick Rescino Jr. exchanged aggressive moves and ultimately made contact while racing for fourth. Their contact sent Rescino Jr. into a slide along the front-chute that ended with his Bayshore Racing Engines #11 slapping the wall at the turn one entrance. Rescino’s car was too badly damaged for him to continue to race.   

 

When the green flag replaced the ‘caution’ Hunt opened up a full straightaway advantage but it was wiped out on lap 42 when Jim Kaiser suddenly came to a stop forcing another yellow-flag. Although Hunt’s lead shrunk, it didn’t matter. Once the race restarted he pulled away again and won comfortably. Hogg finished second followed by Murgoitio, McClish, and Glenn Hopper.

 

Tony Iacobitti was the ‘Hard Charger’ of the race advancing nine positions to a seventh place finish after starting 16th.

 

Ryan Baumgartner scored a popular win in heat two after the top-four cars spun in front of him with two laps remaining.

 

USAC WESTERN SPRINT CAR SERIES RACE RESULTS: July 8, 2006 – Stockton, California – Stockton 99 Raceway Park (Co-Sanctioned by CASA)

 

      QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Tony Hunt, 4, Kaiser-13.102; 2. Greg Anderson, 3F, Finkenbinder-13.173; 3. Nick Rescino Jr., 11, Rescino-13.200; 4. Kody Swanson, 75, KT-13.268; 5. Mike Murgoitio, 20, Hamilton-13.301; 6. Brian McClish, 04, McClish-13.328; 7. Shauna Hogg, 5, Hogg-13.528; 8. Bradley Galedrige, 21, Hamilton-13.566; 9. Joe Helberg, 4x, Helberg-13.663; 10. Ryan Baumgartner, 24x, Bumgartner-13.816; 11. Glenn Hopper, 8, Stanton-13.837; 12. Scott Clough, 5x, Clough-14.087; 13. Jim Kaiser, 94, Kaiser-14.328; 14. Marvin Mitchell, 68, Mitchell-14.700; 15. Allen Harney, X, Harney-15.492; 16. Tony Iacobitti, 71, Oval Chassis-NT.

 

      FIRST HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Hunt, 2. Kaiser, 3. Hogg, 4. Margeson, 5. Hopper, 6. Helberg, 7. Murgoitio, 8. Harney. 2:14.81

 

      SECOND HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Baumgartner, 2. Clough, 3. Anderson, 4. Iacobitti, 5. Swanson, 6. Galedrige, 7. McClish, 8. Mitchell. NT

 

      FEATURE: (50 laps) 1. Tony Hunt, 2. Shauna Hogg, 3. Mike Murgoitio, 4. Brian McClish, 5. Glenn Hopper, 6. Joe Helberg, 7. Tony Iacobitti, 8. Bradley Galedrige, 9. Ryan Baumgartner, 10. Jim Kaiser, 11. Allen Harney, 12. Scott Clough, 13. Nick Rescino Jr., 14. Greg Anderson, 15. Kody Swanson, 16. Marvin Mitchell. NT

                                                                                                                                                                                

 

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-3 Hogg, Laps 4-13 McClish, Laps 14-22 Hogg, Laps 23-50 Hunt.

 

NEW WESTERN SPRINT CAR STANDINGS: 1-Hunt-400; 2-Murgoitio-343; 3-B.Galedrige-326; 4-Swanson-292; 5-McClish-285; 6-Rescino-240; 7-Hogg-230; 8-Jeff Gardner-216; 9-Nick Green-193; 10-Matt DeMartini-189.

 

NEXT WESTERN SPRINT CAR RACE: July 22 – Salt Lake City, Utah – Rocky Mountain Raceways

 

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