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NCMA Sprints
Altamont Motorsports Park
Tracy, CA
June 16, 2007
Koster is #1 Dad of the Race
By Sharyn Bragg
Woodland’s Racing Granddad was top Dad for this Father’s Day Weekend race at Altamont Motorsports Park. In fact he almost made the evening a clean sweep!
Brentwood’s Jimmy Lavell had high hopes to make it a “three peat” this evening as he nailed down fast time. Two heats were held with pavement rookie David Goodwill from Napa taking first and Morgan Hill’s racing rocket, Rob Hammond taking second. Koster, in his Ramos Oil #17k was number one with Lavell’s Harvest Park Bowl #02 coming in second in the second heat.
The Dash, which is always made up of the four fastest sprints of the evening, had Koster take the win. Lavell made if from the last spot to the second spot. Ed Amador gave son Steve Amador no gifts this evening as he came in third and left the younger Amador in fourth.
The Main Event started off with Goodwill holding the pole and Hammond starting beside him. Don Hicks gave himself an early Father’s Day gift and brought out a borrowed race car for his first run in two seasons to fill the third starting spot. Denny Burrell, in his first race since a nasty flip at Rattlesnake Raceway in Fallon, Nevada started fourth and S. Amador started the top five. Hammond jumped out to take the lead and held on for twenty six laps of the thirty lap event. Just a few laps in Lavell had traveled from the last row to third behind Goodwill, Koster made it from sixth to fourth, and E. Amador was holding fifth. A red flag was thrown as Siverling had a leaking valve cover gasket which created a fire. He got stopped safely and racing resumed. Hammond maintained the lead but Lavell had gotten past Goodwill for second, Koster made it to third in another round with E. Amador in fourth. Goodwill held down fifth. A couple more rounds and Koster zipped past Lavell. Koster watched Hammond like a dog on a fox hunt and jumped past him to take the lead with three remaining laps, winning the Mauri Financial Services Race. Hammond had his best pavement finish since running with the NCMA Sprints coming home in second. Lavell finished a hard fought third. E. Amador took fourth and Goodwill had a great fifth place finish rounding out the top five. Coming through the pits at the end of the race, Koster gave Hammond a big thumbs up and Hammond gave him a playful response,” Next time, Old Man, next time.”
The NCMA Pavement points lead changed from E. Amador to Koster this evening. E. Amador is still holding a close second, Lavell, Burrows, Hammond, S. Amador, Zarevich, Goodwill, P. Ariaz, Burrell, Siverling, Rentoria, Hicks complete the rest of the field.
Race Summary:
Heat I: Goodwill, Hammond, Hicks, Siverling, Burrows.
Heat II: Koster, Lavell, Burrell, E. Amador, S. Amador.
Dash: Koster, Lavell, E. Amador, S. Amador.
Main: Koster, Hammond, Lavell, E. Amador, Goodwill, Burrell, S. Amador, Hicks, Siverling.
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