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Fensler Grabs Fourth
Victory of 2005
Source: SRL Public
Relations/Eddie Alves - Date: June 6, 2005
Anderson, California - The SRL
Wild West Shootout made their only visit to Shasta Raceway
Park in Anderson, California Saturday night for the "106.1X"
100 lap feature event. Wilton's Jason Fensler won his fourth
race of the 2005 season on the 3/8 mile track. Ken Boyd
finished second followed by Harold Rieker Jr., Troy Ermish,
and Joey Zampa.
Harold Rieker Jr. of Roseville was the fastest car in
qualifying as he earned fast time honors for the first time in
his SRL career. Rieker's fast lap of 15.939 seconds topped
Jason Fensler (15.961), Eric Schmidt, (15.962), Mark Smith,
(15.996) as Ken Boyd rounded out the top five at 16.000
seconds. Tracy's Mark Smith won the four lap trophy dash as
Fensler, Rieker Jr., and Schmidt followed.
Rieker Jr. drew a six which determined the invert for the 100
lap "106.1X" feature event. Troy Ermish sat on the pole with
Ken Boyd a long side as the green flag was displayed. Boyd
beat Ermish to the line to lead lap one by inches as Schmidt
ran third. Salida's Jeff Belletto retired on lap five due to
an electrical problem. Meanwhile Eric Schmidt passed Ermish to
take over second. Eric Graham made his second start of 2005
with the SRL and lost power after 8 laps. Mark Smith and Jason
Fensler who were running fourth and fifth respectively made
contact in the middle of turn three and four causing Smith to
spin on lap 12. Smith was able to resume as the race continued
caution free. Boyd had a comfortable lead as Schmidt started
to close the gap on lap 20 with Ermish, Fensler, and Rieker
Jr., closely behind.
The first and only caution flag was displayed on lap 26 as
Joey Zampa and Rusty Buholz ran out of race track heading into
turn three as Buholz slid across the infield and hit the tire
barrier. Zampa was placed in the rear of the field as Buholz
was finished for the evening with front end and suspension
damage. Boyd continued to lead Schmidt as Fensler passed
Ermish to take the third position over on the lap 28 restart.
Rieker Jr. rounded out the top five as they all ran nose to
tail until lap 46 when Fensler passed Schmidt to take second
spot. Defending Series Champion Steve Belletto retired on lap
53 with mechanical failure and would finish 14th. Boyd's lead
started shrinking on lap 60 as Fensler started closing in fast
for the top spot. Boyd held off Fensler for nine more laps as
Fensler beat Boyd to the line to lead lap 70. Rieker Jr., took
third away from Schmidt four laps later as Ermish took fourth
away from Schmidt on lap 82.
After starting 15th Napa's Joey Zampa charged into fifth on
lap 91 and Schmidt slipped back to sixth. Mike Mendenhall
followed Zampa to take sixth from Schmidt with six laps to go.
Jim Courage Jr. ran eight as 17 year old rookie Jeremy Wood
ran ninth with Tracy Bolin tenth and Mark Smith tenth.
Fensler held off Boyd in the late stages of the race to win
his fourth race of the 2005 season. "I didn't think we had the
best car tonight" Fensler said. "We were able to use some lap
traffic to get around Kenny (Boyd). I told my crew I wanted to
bring the car home in one piece. I give a lot of credit to
Kenny for racing me clean tonight. We were racing for points,
but the way it turned out we got the win to." Ken Boyd
finished right behind Fensler and Congratulated Fensler on his
victory. "We had a real fast car tonight, but after the
restart it tightened up on us a little bit." A smiling Harold
Rieker Jr. said "We had a fast car, set quick time, but we
couldn't catch up to Ken (Boyd) and Jason (Fensler). I think
this is the first race we've been able to finish here at
Shasta ever".
Rieker Jr. finished third for the second consecutive race and
jumped two spots into seventh in the Championship point
standings. Troy Ermish finished fourth as he earned his third
top five finish on the year. Joey Zampa rounded out the top
five from his 15th started position and had one of the fastest
cars on the track all night.
Santee's Mike Mendenhall finished sixth in his first ever
visit to Shasta Raceway Park. After running in the top three
for the majority of the race, Roseville's Eric Schmidt
finished seventh. Jim Courage Jr. finished eight after
qualifying seventh earlier in the day. Jeremy Wood earned
rookie of the race honors as he finished ninth and his third
top ten finish of the 2005 season. Wood now leads the Victory
Circle Chassis and Parts Rookie of the Year point standings
over Rusty Buholz by two points as they sit 11th and 12th in
the Championship standings. After spinning early in the race
Mark Smith rebounded to a tenth place finish and moves back
into the top five in the Championship point standings. Tracy
Bolin finished 11th, followed by Aaron Days, John Gaalswyk,
Steve Belletto, Rusty Buholz, Eric Graham, and Jeff Belletto.
Average race speed: 79.177 MPH
Best lap time: 16.104 Speed 83.830 (Eric Schmidt)
Margin of Victory: 1.082 seconds
The SRL Wild West Shootout heads to Altamont Raceway & Arena
on Saturday, June 18th.
Davey Hamilton’s SRL “Wild West Shootout” would like to thank
their 2005 Sponsors, which include: Afco, Apex Financial
Group, Bassett Racing Wheels, Brodix Inc., Casciaro Homes,
Dynatech, DPI, Eibach Springs, FRE, Five Star Stock Car
Bodies, Frank’s Radio Service, G. P. Fabrication, Hoosier Tire
West, Impact Racing, Fensler Racing Inc., Madera Auto Center,
Paul Oil Co., Perry Race Cars, Peterson Fluid Systems, Pit
Stop USA.Com, Sunoco, Total Seal Inc., U. S. Brake, and
Victory Circle Chassis and Parts. |
