Steven Blakesley / Westcar Late Model Series
Shannon Mansch of Roseville, CA took her first career Late Model
title, coming home second Saturday at Stockton 99 Speedway to claim
the Westcar Late Model Series championship.
Mansch persevered from starting ninth due to a 10-car
inverted field, as well as a first lap crash , to challenge eventual
race winner Eric Schmidt of
Roseville, CA.
Her championship sets her as the only female to ever win a touring
late model series title in motor racing history and paid $4000.
“Being the first female to do it is awesome,” Mansch said.
“I was determined to win this and I knew we had to be consistent.”
On the opening lap of competition, Bobby Hodges
and Paul Hansen tangled, with Mansch narrowly avoiding disaster.
Mansch suffered minor damage to the door of her car.
Gary Glenn of
Orangevale, CA, who entered the event just eight points back from
Mansch, suffered damage to the rear-end of his car that affected the
handling.
“I knew on the wreck at the start, I was done,”
Glenn said. “I was just trying to finish high. It was one of those
deals.”
Schmidt moved past Bobby Butler of
Sacramento on lap 17 to take the lead position.
Mansch battled forward through the field,
passing Glenn for fourth on lap 44 after a great battle, as Glenn
clinged to his hopes.
“I told my spotter ‘Don’t tell me where she is
until the end of the race’ so I didn’t even know it was her behind
me,” Glenn said. “After the incident I was a sitting duck.”
Mansch began her charge at Schmidt on lap 54
when she took second place from
Butler.
Glenn saw his chances completely fizzle on lap
66 when he made contact with
Butler
into turn one, sending
Butler
spinning. Glenn was sent to the rear of the field for the incident.
Mansch exchanged blows with Schmidt throughout the final 34
laps of the race in a great duel between the top drivers in the SRL
and Westcar series.
“I wasn’t as good on the short runs and
Shannon really ran
well,” Schmidt said.
"I know what this means to me since the track is closing at the end
of the season. It means a lot to me to win, too."
Mansch came home with the
championship and Glenn finished 10th and second in the
points chase to conclude the
2006 season for Westcar.
“I wanted the race to be here
with the track going away,” Mansch said. “I don’t consider myself a
woman, I consider myself a driver.”
Glenn wasn’t disappointed with second in the championship.
“I can’t complain about anything,” Glenn said. “Shannon’s
a great driver and next year we’ll go out and try harder.”
Chris Monez of
Turlock won the
Scott Performance Wires Fast Time Award. Glenn won
the Competition Carburetion Dash For Cash.
Main – 100
Laps
1. 05
Eric Schmidt ATT/Yellowpages.com Chevy Roseville, CA $1450
2. 61
Shannon Mansch Big Dawg Transport Chevy Roseville, CA $750
3. 44
Brock Monroe Roy Reeves Sand & Gravel Escalon, CA $625
4. 11 Chris Monez Ayers Racing Dodge
Turlock, CA $600
5. 16 Andrew Livengood West Construction Chevy
Richmond, CA $450
6. 25
Randy Reeves Scenic Autocare & Towing Chevy Modesto, CA $425
7. 3x
Chet Danburg RE/Max Darrell & Patti Page Chevy Carson City, NV $400
8. 98
Byron Gonzales La Placita Mexican Food Chevy Carmichael, CA $475
9. 89
Bobby Hodges Nevada Automotive Test Center Chevy Carson City, NV
$350
10. 50
Gary Glenn G. Glenn Plastering Chevy Orangevale, CA $425
11. 1x
Troy
Shirk JME/Microsoft/XBOX Chevy Oakley, CA $300
12. 9
Craig Swim Swim’s Auto Repair & Towing Dodge Orangevale, CA $290
13. 88c Michael Clarke Saki’s Spin A Yarn Chevy
Pleasanton, CA
$280
14. 56
Bobby Ray Butler Auto Brake & Muffler Pontiac Sacramento, CA $270
15. 2
Michael Wendt Wendt & Sons Construction Chevy Lodi, CA $260
16. 51
Brian Koski Groth Bros. Chevrolet Chevy San Ramon, CA $250
17. 18 Eddie Laws
Lincoln Auto Body
Chevy Lincoln, CA $240
18. 11x
Tim Bost Pontiac Paradise, CA $230
19. 3x
Dan Cherry Parker’s Hot Dogs Chevy Sacramento, CA $220
20. 20
Paul Hansen West Construction Chevy Richmond, CA $210
21. 55 Zane Lovelace Sidelifter.com Chevy
Roseville, CA $210
Scott Wires Fast Time Award - $ 100.00
– Chris Monez
Competition Carburetion Dash For Cash -
1st place - $ 100.00 – Gary Glenn
Jim Courage Pools Hard Charger Award - $
100.00 – Byron Gonzales
California Door Most Laps Led Award - $
100.00 – Eric Schmidt
John L. Sullivan Highest Finishing Crate
Motor Award - $ 100.00 – Eric Schmidt |
