STOCKTON — Two weeks ago Guy Guibor, of Manteca posted in first victory at Stockton’s 99 Speedway in almost 11 years, but he only had to wait until his next start in Saturday’s Late Model feature to pick up his second win of the season
Guibor, the 2006 Late Model champion at the 99, had not been behind the wheel of a race car for several years until he recently worked out a deal with Ron Strmiska Jr. to drive the familiar pink #90 the family has been running since the 1970s.
After taking the checkered flag in his very first start at the Memorial Day leg of the Tri-Holiday Classic two weeks ago, Guibor was back at it in Saturday’s 30-lap Late Model feature.
With another huge car count on hand, track officials elected to start all 23 cars in the feature rather than thinning the herd with a B-main.
Starting in the fourth row Guibor patiently began working his way to the front. He was aided in his effort when front row starts Seth Holman, of Salida, and Tim Spurgeon, of Danville, spun out while battling for the lead.
Following a lap 7 yellow-caution Guibor found himself starting in the front row alongside of young gun Ty Carlson, of Stockton. Carlson is known for his strong restarts, but he was no match for Guibor who powered to the lead from the inside lane.
Guibor was virtually untouchable over the final laps, easily surviving a couple of late race restarts.
“It is so hard to win out here so to get two in a row is amazing,” said Guibor. “We were a little lucky in the beginning to avoid the wrecks and the Stmiska’s gave me a great car. It is bad fast right now.”
Ron Strmiska Jr. concurred with Guibor about the car, but said there was another factor in winning.
“We do have a great car right now and we have a driver that makes it even better,” Strmiska said.
Carlson finished in second to close ground on Lodi’s Arron Shankel in the season point standings, who settled for 11th in a borrowed car after his car suffered a failure in practice and Robby Knittel, of Lodi, rounded out the top three.
The Bomber division also produced a great turnout as 21 cars took the green flag to start their 25-lap feature.
However, it was season points leader Ben Lewis II, of Stockton, who was clearly the class of the large field.
Lewis started from the fourth row and just six laps into the race he roared past Valley Spring’s Justin Scantlen to take the lead. He would never look back, easily cruising to the victory despite losing his advantage on several occasions due to caution flags.
“I am just going out there and having fun and doing what I normally do,” said the relaxed Lewis, who now has four wins this season.
Defending Bomber champion John Medina, of Galt, finished in second and Stockton’s Roy Luft came home third.
In other classes, Stockton’s Andrew Rumsey beat Manteca’s Justin McGehee in the 20-lap B-4s main and Linden’s Joey Stearns captured the checkers in the Mini Cup feature.
Racing returns to the 99 Speedway on Saturday, July 1, with leg #2 of the Tri-Holiday Classic featuring the Pacific Challenge Series Late Models in the Ron Strmiska Memorial 125, the Stockton Late Models, Bombers and Grand American Modifieds.
There are also several upcoming events at the Stockton Dirt Track, located at the San Joaquin Fairgrounds, including the West Coast Nationals Tractor Pulls on Friday, June 16th and the West Coast Sports Mod Tour along with the Bombers and B-4s on Saturday, June 17th. On Sunday, July 3, the 360 Sprint Cars and Hunt Magnetos Wingless Tour will be racing in a show that will also have a fireworks extravaganza.
