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Jason Fensler Opens
SRL Season With First Career Win
Source: SRL Public
Relations/Eddie Alves - Date: April 7, 2005
Stockton, California - In his
first career SRL Wild West Shootout start, Wilton’s Jason
Fensler led the final 61 lap en route to the 100 lap SRL Wild
West Shootout race Sunday afternoon at Stockton 99 Speedway.
Crossing the finish-line right behind Fensler was Joey Zampa,
Troy Ermish, Eric Schmidt and Ken Boyd. Tracy Bolin finished
sixth, with rookie Angelo Queirolo seventh, Mark Smith eight,
rookie Rusty Buholz ninth as Jeff Anthony rounded out the top
ten.
The SRL drivers hit the track just after 10:00 AM for the
first of two practice sessions as rained threatened all day.
Thirty drivers attempted qualifying as Jeff Belletto and Jason
Fensler each ran a 14.035 second lap. Fensler was awarded
quick time as he qualified before Belletto. Fremont’s Troy
Ermish qualified third with a quick lap of 14.037 seconds just
two one thousandths off the pole. Harold Rieker Jr. qualified
fourth as he stopped the clock with a 14.048 second lap.
Napa’s Joey Zampa rounded out the top five with a 14.049
second lap. The top sixteen cars were locked in on time as
Aaron Days and Ray Lawson Jr. took provisions. Modesto’s Harry
Belletto crashed heading into turn three on this second lap of
qualifying and retired his car for the rest of the afternoon.
Eric Graham and Rusty Buholz transferred from the 25 lap
non-qualifiers. Greg Potts, Carl Pearce, Shannon Mansch, Wes
Banks, Charles Perreira, Jamie Dick, and Chad Pais failed to
transfer to the feature event. Rookie’s Brian Smith and Joey
Stearns retired their cars early Sunday afternoon and did not
compete in the 25 lap non-qualifiers race.
The eight car invert placed 2002 Series Champion Jeff Anthony
on the pole, along side Victory Circle Chassis and Parts
Rookie of the Year contender Jeremy Wood of Tracy. As the
green flag waved Wood and Anthony raced side by side with Wood
taking the lead for good just after the completion of lap one.
As the field begun to run single file Jeff Belletto spun
exiting turn two on lap nine, one lap later last years
champion and Jeff’s brother Steve Belletto also spun in turn
two. Lap 16 brought out the first yellow flag for debris on
the racing surface. As the race restarted on lap 18, Jeremy
Wood continued to lead Jeff Anthony, Joey Zampa, Jason Fensler
and Angelo Queirolo. Jason Fensler continued his charge to the
front as he took the third position away from Zampa on lap 28.
Jeff Anthony spun a lap later giving up his third position.
Wood continued to pace the field at lap 30 as Troy Ermish
passed Queirolo to break into the top five. Fensler raced his
was up to leader Wood as the two former legends drivers raced
side by side. Fensler took the lead for good away from Wood on
lap 38. Two laps later Wood’s car broke loose exiting turn two
and spun around untouched. Fensler continued to set a
blistering pace as Wood was forced down one lap. Roseville’s
Eric Schmidt moved into the top five from his 11th starting
position as Ken Boyd followed from this 10th starting
position. With 19 laps to go the red flag was thrown as Eric
Graham’s car came to a stop in turn three as flames were
visible as a result of an electrical fire.
As the field restarted six cars remained on the lead lap.
Aaron Days spun in turn four and settled for a 13th place
finish as Ray Lawson Jr. also spun and finished 15th. With two
laps to go Jeremy Wood spun and the hit wall exiting turn two
as his car came to a stop on the backstretch throwing out the
final caution of the day and setting up a green, white,
checkered finish. Fensler restarted the race with Joey Zampa
right behind him as the two drove into turn one. Fensler
exited turn two with a half of a car length lead and led the
final lap to win his first career SRL Victory.
“We just made sure we saved our tires and did not abuse the
car. Eric (Holmes), Ty (Joiner), Victory Circle, Brad Peters
motors, Joiner Motorsports, Paul Oil Co, and Beebe Racing
Enterprises made this all happen, if it was not for them I
wouldn’t have won tonight.” Fensler said.
After winning the first race at Stockton 99 Speedway in the
2004 season Joey Zampa crossed the finish line second behind
Fensler. “Our car was not as good as his, but to finish second
to that team says a lot about our team. Our car started going
away at the end and we were no where near as good as Jason (Fensler)
in lap traffic. This is a good way to start off the year, we
struggle sometimes in qualifying but we qualified well today
and raced well. All my guys worked hard over the winter to get
me where we are right now.” Zampa said.
The SRL Wild West Shootout heads to Madera Speedway on
Saturday, April 30th.
For more information visit the SRL Wild West Shootout’s
website at http://www.srllatemodels.com
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., 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. |
