KOSKI TAKES WESTCAR CHAMPIONSHIP AT ALTAMONT RACEWAY PARK

Source: Altamont Raceway Park Media Relations/
Date: 09/23/2008

TRACY, California — Altamont Raceway Park crowned its track champions for the Grand American Modifieds, American Limited Stock Cars, and Formula-4’s, and the Westcar Late Model Series crowned its 2008 champion, in Saturday’s exciting racing action at the fastest half-mile in the west.

Tracy’s Justin Philpott took home the race win in the Westcar Late Model Series, in a 100 lap feature that drew 25 Late Model cars from all over the West Coast.

Pleasanton veteran driver Brian Koski claimed the $4000 series championship for his ninth place finish.

The American Limited Stock Car 30 lap feature and 2008 championship went to Sammy Solari of Salida. Todd Lynch of Tracy finished second in the Grand American Modified feature but took home the championship honors.

An ultra-tight Formula-4 battle came down to the wire, with Richard Hull narrowly edging out Bob Wilson and Jake Morgenstern for the series crown.

The Westcar Series feature and points battle intertwined to create an evening full of story-lines.

Philpott, the fast-time qualifier, came from eighth on the grid to take the lead on lap 23. Philpott inherited the lead when Merced’s Carlos Vieira spun into turn one to draw the caution.

Vieira’s spin collected several top running drivers, including Modesto’s Kyle Gottula, Carson City, NV’s Bobby Hodges, and Richmond’s Andy Livengood. Livengood was done for the evening.

The crash proved crucial in how the Westcar standings would play out, with Gottula and Hodges on the charge through the pack, closing quickly on incoming points leader Chet Danburg of Carson City, NV.

Danburg, who entered the event leading Koski by 12 points, was to suffer his first DNF of the season in the most crucial race.

Coming off of turn two on lap 28, Danburg was nudged by Gottula, sending Danburg spinning towards Hodges. The two spun together hard into the inside wall at over 100 miles per hour, with Danburg’s car getting airborne.

Danburg walked away from the car under his own power but with his championship hopes evaporated.

On the restart, Philpott checked out on the field while Los Altos’ Mark Holeman navigated traffic.

By the time Holeman was in second, Philpott had accumulated a five second lead.

A caution on lap 57 set up a thrilling 43 lap duel between Holeman and Philpott, with never more than a car-length between them all the way to the finish.

Philpott hung on through heavy-traffic in the final 10 laps to take the stunning win. The top-five at the finish were: Philpott, Holeman, Gottula, Ione’s Greg Hock, and Mike Beeler of Modesto.

While Philpott celebrated his race win, Koski celebrated his championship. The final Westcar standings were a three-way tie between Koski, Hodges, and Danburg, with tie-breakers putting them in that order.

“I can’t thank my crew and family enough,” Philpott said, on his second win of the year. “I love racing and I love putting on a show for the fans.”

“It sure sounds great (to be the champion). It’s a long time coming,” Koski said. “I sure hate it for Chet. I would have rather had him racing cause he’s tough.”

The American Limited Stock Cars fielded one of its best fields of the season, but a familiar face ended up on top again.

Claiming his ninth win of the season in 11 starts, along with another fast-time effort, Solari put on a dominate performance to wrap up the championship.

Chico’s Thomas Vosburg led the opening two laps before his father Brian, from Stockton, took the lead.

Brian Vosburg brought Solari along with him, and the battle was on. Vosburg and Solari made contact a couple of times and battled hard. But by lap nine, Solari was in the lead for good.

Solari took the win over 2007 Late Model champion Ryan Philpott of Tracy. Division runner-up Richard Harper was third, with Thomas Vosburg and Livermore’s Joe Morgenstern the top-five.

2006 Grand American Modified track champion Ryan Mock made his first start of 2008 and made it count, earning the feature win.

Mock triumphed over Lynch, the 2008 champion. Lynch, in his first full points run at Altamont, took home the championship on the heels of four main event wins.

Rounding out the running order were Michael Ostrowski, and 2008 runner-up Todd Lewis of Riverbank.

Napa Dr. David Goodwill was victorious in the visiting NCMA Limited Sprint action. Goodwill has been a tear as of late at Altamont, after quickly assimilating to asphalt racing after a successful career on dirt.

Goodwill gained the lead on lap five and went on to a seven second win.

The top-five finishers were: Goodwill, Manteca’s Pat Ariaz and Jeff Burrows, David Burchett, and Denny Burrell.

The Formula-4 division runs twin features every week at Altamont, sharing time between the 1.1 mile road course, and the quarter-mile oval.

Opening up with a 15 lapper on the quarter-mile oval nearly cost Hull his run at the 2008 championship. Hull surrendered an eight point lead on Bob Wilson by finishing fifth with Wilson taking the win.

The full top-five were: Wilson, Jake Morgenstern, Travis Foster, Rodney Lopez, and Hull.

Hull, who had an apparent fuel pick-up problem, was now tied with Wilson heading into the road course finale. Morgenstern was also still in the hunt.

Hull came out swinging, moving up to third from his seventh starting spot on the first lap. Hull took the lead two laps later, and ended up winning the feature by a huge margin of nearly half a lap.

The top-fiver were: Hull, Morgenstern, Wilson, Dan Durbin, and Jason Edgecomb.

The championship went to Hull, redeeming himself after coming home second in 2007.

Altamont Raceway Park still has three thrilling racing programs left on its 2008 calendar, with this Saturday’s racing action featuring a full plate of high speed racing.

The Stockcar Racing League Southwest Tour returns for an unprecedented fourth appearance. These incredible cars can cover the Altamont half-mile in 17 seconds and are the fastest stockcars on the west coast.

Joining them will be the 140 mile per hour, 750 horsepower USAC Sprint Cars. Also on the program are the USAC Midgets, Future Champions Development Series youth Late Models, and the NCMA Limited Sprints, all on the half-mile.

Spectator Racing Series will compete on the quarter-mile oval.

Altamont Raceway Park is located just west of Tracy at the merger of Highways 205 and 580. An extensive remodeling project during the winter of 2005/06 has made the facility one of the most up-to-date on the West Coast.

For more information on this NASCAR- and USAC-sanctioned, multi-use facility, visit www.altamontracing.com

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