Schatz, K. Swindell enter Stockton Twin 100's. Sunday races honor memory of Fred Gerhardt, and DuWayne Starr - By Bobby Gerould - Stockton, CA. September 7, 2005. …World of Outlaws superstar Donny Schatz of Fargo, North Dakota confirmed his entry into the DuWayne Starr Classic 100 at Stockton 99 Speedway. The USAC Western Sprint Car event is part of a huge day and evening of racing Sunday, September 11, 2005. Also on the card are the USAC Western Midgets, and USAC Ford Focus Midgets. Schatz, 28, fresh off of victories at Calistoga (CA.), and Elma (WA.), is widely considered one of the world's best racers. His resume includes wins at the Historical Big One at Eldora Speedway, the Gold Cup in Chico, and the Williams Grove National Open. He will compete at Stockton in a non-winged pavement sprint car owned by Ted Finkenbinder.
Schatz will face fierce competition from 2005 Stockton 99 feature winners, Brian McClish of Santa Rosa, and Tim Barber from San Francisco as well as 2004 series champion Tony Hunt of Lincoln, CA. Jason McCord from Anderson Indiana, Mike Murgoitio from Meridian Idaho, and points leader Kody Swanson of Kingsburg, CA are also expected to race for the win on the quarter-mile paved oval. Anthony Simone, Michael Trimble, Brad Bumgarner, Brian Geiszler, Jessica Helberg, Cody Veenstra, Shauna Hogg and Chris Peterson are all entered as well.
The midget field is competing in the Fred Gerhardt Classic 100. Headlining that event is Robby Flock of Murieta, CA. The veteran driver owns 50 career USAC Western Midget feature wins. He will be challenged by, among others, Kevin Swindell. The third generation racer from Germantown, TN will make his debut at Stockton 99 Speedway aboard the Western Speed midget. The 16 year-old son of Sammy and Amy Swindell brings a background rich in winning to the Golden State. He owns two WKA karting National championships, and earlier this year became the youngest driver in the history of the World of Outlaws sprint car series to score a top ten finish in a feature event. He was just fifteen years old when he finished 6th at Paramatta Speedway during his first trip to Australia.
USAC Western Midget aces Ryan Kaplan and Tyler Brown join Jerome Rodela, Hunt, Scott Pierovich, Stephen Graves, Shannon McQueen, and Bradley Galedrige as high-ranked combatants in the midget class. Prior Stockton 99 winner Brian Olson from Puyallup Washington is expected to contend in his potent #71.
The feature events are scheduled to start Sunday at 5 PM, preceded by time trials, and practice throughout the afternoon. Stockton 99 Speedway is located just off the Wilson Way exit of Highway 99 in Stockton CA.
