Steven Blakesley / Westcar Late Model Series

Eric Schmidt of Roseville, CA claimed the Altamont Motorsports Park victory Saturday night, in the Westcar

Late Model Series debut at the Tracy, CA half-mile.

Schmidt took the lead after a collision with Scott Shade of Redwood City, CA on lap 45 coming off turn two. Shade slammed the turn two wall, while Schmidt assumed the lead position. The incident came as Schmidt tried to pass Shade in heavy lapped-traffic.
 

“I was in the dirt trying not hit him,” Schmidt said. “It’s unfortunate but it’s a racing deal. I race people how I want to be raced and I didn’t want that to happen.”

Shade lead the opening 45 laps of competition as the Westcar Series field set a furious pace on the half-mile oval.

Gary Shafer Jr. of Stockton, CA attempted to take the lead from Shade at the start of the race but had to pull off with a left-front flat tire.

Second-place running Andy Livengood of Richmond, CA was shuffled to the high-side on lap 19. Livengood fell back to 11^th in six laps. Heading into turn one, Livengood collided with Michael Wendt of Lodi, CA, sending Livengood for a hard-ride into the wall.

2005 Westcar Series Champion Byron Gonzales had to take a provisional starting position after struggling to qualify in the 36 car turnout. Starting 22^nd, Gonzales moved forward in a hurry, making it to the tenth position by lap 25.

On the restart, Gary Glenn of Orangevale looked inside of Shade, but in the process was passed by Schmidt.

Schmidt followed Shade through heavy-lapped traffic for the next 20 laps. Heading into turn one, Schmidt attempted a cross-over move into the corner while Shade tried to get around a lapped car.

Coming off of turn two, they collided, with Shade slamming the back-straightaway wall hard and Schmidt assuming the lead.
 

“We were going through traffic and I was trying to be careful,” Shade said. “He just got into me. I was not expecting that at all.”

The Westcar field tore through the final 47 laps without a caution. Gonzales moved up to fifth place on lap 54 as he passed Rich Lawlor of Sparks, NV.

Shannon Mansch of Roseville, CA passed Gary Glenn of Orangevale on lap 73 to take over the second position. By then, however, Schmidt had stretched his lead out to nearly a full straight-away.

Schmidt took home the dominating victory, followed by Mansch, Glenn, Troy Shirk of Oakley, CA, and Gonzales. The race was completed in just 48 minutes and had only four cautions.

“It’s great,” Schmidt said. “I’ve never won here before and the car was good all weekend.”

Schmidt was returning to Westcar competition after a frustrating debut at Stockton in which he was eliminated early.

“It’s just racing,” Schmidt said. “You have to take the good and the bad and keep rolling. Tonight was great; I was pushing the car when I needed to and this Harold Long built engine was really fast.”

Gonzales, Shirk, and Glenn now make up a three-way tie atop the points standings.

“It felt good to be able to move forward like that,” Gonzales said. “We focused on race set-up and that’s why we had to use the provisional.”

In the 30 lap qualifying race, 14 cars jockeyed for two starting positions in the field. Richie Crowell of Cottonwood, CA and Travis Combs of Sacramento collided on the front-straight to spark a crash that eliminated Chris Hinkle of Lodi.

Brian Koski of Pleasanton was involved in two separate incidents but still made a strong effort finishing fourth. Crowell and Zane Lovelace Jr. took the transfer positions.
 

Surprisingly, both Chet Danburg of Carson City, NV and Christina Davis of Santa Rosa, CA missed making the field. Danburg was seventh in 2005 points while Davis was 11^th.

Kyle Cattanach of Redding, CA was a DNS for the feature event after ignition problems. Cattanach took a major hit in his championship effort as a result.

Eric Schmidt of Roseville, CA set a new track record with an 18.840 and won the $100 Scott Performance Wires Fast Time. Gary Shafer Jr. of Stockton, CA won the $100 Competition Carburetion Dash for Cash

Finish for Eagle Fitness of Reno/Carson 100
1. 05 Eric Schmidt Roseville, CA ATT.com Chevy $1250
2. 61 Shannon Mansch Roseville, CA Performance Electrical Chevy $750
3. 50 Gary Glenn Orangevale, CA G.Glenn Plastering Chevy $625
4. 1x Troy Shirk Oakley, CA Microsoft XBOX Chevy $500

5. 98 Byron Gonzales Carmichael, CA La Placita Mexican Food Chevy $450
6. 35 Rich Lawlor Sparks, NV Allen’s Tire Ford $425
7. 96 Mike Lehman Rio Linda, CA Horigan Express Chevy $400

8. 17 C.J. Bawden Carson City, NV Landmark Communities Chevy $375
9. 56 Bobby Butler Sacramento, CA Auto Brake & Muffler Pontiac $350

10. 71 Melissa Davis Santa Rosa, CA Carl’s Ready Mix Chevy $325

11. 11 Chris Monez Turlock, CA Ayers Racing Dodge $300

12. 44 Paul Gunthmiller Manteca, CA Roy Reeves Sand & Gravel $290

13. 80 John Callas Navato, CA Marin Auto Transmissions Chevy $280

14. 55 Zane Lovelace Jr. Roseville, CA Sidelifter.com Chevy $270

15. 25 Randy Reeves Modesto, CA Scenic Autocare & Towing Chevy $260
16. 9 Craig Swim Orangevale, CA Swim’s Auto Repair & Towing Dodge $250
17. 88 Michael Clarke Pleasanton, CA Saki’s Spin A Yarn Chevy $240
18. 15 Scott Chappell Lodi, CA Cardoza Transport Chevy $230
19. 5 Scott Shade Redwood City, CA David’s Racing Products Chevy $220
20. 32 Richie Crowell Cottonwood, CA Colorcraft Pontiac $210

21. 2 Michael Wendt Lodi, CA Wendt & Sons Construction Chevy $210

22. 16 Andy Livengood Richmond, CA West Construction Chevy $210

23. 3 Gary Shafer Jr. Stockton, CA Stockcar Fabrication Chevy $210

DNS: z2 Kyle Cattanach Redding, CA

Cautions: 4
Time of race: 48 minutes

Lap leaders: Start Scott Shade, 1 Gary Shafer Jr., 1-45 Scott Shade, 45-100 Eric Schmidt.

Awards:

Scott Wires Fast Time Award - $ 100.00 – Eric Schmidt

Competition Carburetion Dash For Cash - 1st place - $ 100.00 – Gary Shafer Jr.

Jim Courage Pools Hard Charger Award - $ 100.00 – Byron Gonzales

California Door Most Laps Led Award - $ 100.00 – Eric Schmidt

30 lap Qualifying Race:
1. 32 Richie Crowell Cottonwood, CA Colorcraft Pontiac Transfer
2. 55 Zane Lovelace Jr. Roseville, CA Sidelifter.com Chevy Transfer

3. 11 Christina Davis Santa Rosa, CA Carl’s Ready Mix Chevy $195

4. 51 Brian Koski Pleasanton, CA Groth Bros Chevrolet Chevy $180

5. 23 Tony Flores Ripon, CA Gypsum Drywall Chevy $170

6. 8 Katie Crome Reno, NV Dydacomp.com Chevy $160

7. 3x Chet Danburg Carson City, NV Re/Max Chevy $150

8. 49 Jay Bradley Reno, NV Carquest Chevy $140
9. 10 Craig Scroggins Waterford, CA Western Seal Chevy $130

10. 12 Travis Combs Sacramento, CA Bell Chevy $120
11. 43 Chris Hinkle Lodi, CA Paragon Pools Chevy $110

12. 02 Sal Lopez Sacramento, CA Chevy $100
13. 25x Ryan Mosher Cuppertino, CA Chevy $90
14. 34 Ted Montague IV Freemont, CA Harris Auto Pontiac $80