Reminder : * Next Race * Saturday, May 17th - Altamont Motorsports Park.

Announcements:  2008 Race Schedule has been updated.

  First Win For TJ Smith

NCMA Sprints, Chowchilla Speedway, Chowchilla, CA. April 25, 2008

TJ Smith, the youngster from Fresno, took home his first sprint win in the NCMA Select Series this evening at Chowchilla Speedway.  Smith did a little running in the series in 2007 and all who watched this high school senior knew it was coming! NCMA Sprints took the dirt for the first time this evening, and drivers were ready to tackle the freshly turned track.  New Promoter, Chuck Griffin has been spending some time working the track, and drivers were ready to try it out.  Hot laps found Ed Amador, 2007 Overall Champion (Dirt & Pavement) was hooked up so good he looked like a real contender except his axel broke and it left him out for the night. “I was really having fun out there,” he stated after his sprint was hauled off the track. Heats began with David Goodwill’s Lito Auto Body rocket winning the first and Cameron Beard having no oil pressure opting to scratch for the evening. The second heat was taken by Dan Gonderman in the Sam Davies machine. The Trophy Dash went very quickly.  Dynamite Dave Press took the checkered flag, with Smith right there.  Gonderman was third and Goodwill fourth. Good tight racing and lots of fun to watch. The main event was run a little differently which made for an interesting race.  Of the 30 lap main, fifteen laps were run. Rob Hammond and Kris Koontz brought the pack around to the green.  Five laps in and Press was leading, Bill Hopper second and Goodwill third. Gonderman and Smith were lurking.   The Gotelli Sponsored sprint piloted by Press was unbeatable, but Gonderman and Hopper were holding in second and third.  Smith was still lurking! By the fifteenth lap Press had it, Gonderman kept second but Smith the whiz kid grabbed third from Hopper, leaving Hopper fourth. The second fifteen took an inverted field putting Goodwill and Koontz on the front row.  Goodwill led the first lap but Smith in his Styles Motorsports #14 had the lead by the second go round.  Gonderman who started close to the back was nipping at Smith by the one-third mark.  Goodwill and Press were making it interesting behind them as they fought for third.  Goodwill prevailed and Press kept fourth. Hopper rounded out the top five, but kudos to Koontz having a great sixth place finish.  

NCMA Sprints will return to pavement for their next race scheduled for Saturday May 17 at Altamont Motorsports Park.  An afternoon start is scheduled and makes for a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

By Sharyn Bragg

Koster Makes a Comeback

 NCMA Sprints, Altamont Motorsports Park Tracy, CA April 19, 2008

Gary Koster made a decision last year to end the 2007 season early to care for his wife Jeanette as she faced some tough medical problems.   Jeanette is much better and the time off didn’t seem to dull Koster’s driving ability as he won the first main event at Altamont Motorsports Park today. Altamont has switched to daytime racing this season, and if this is the format for 2008, it seems it will work well for racers. Home before dark and being able to see everything will make for much safer racing. This early in the year, some driver-owners don’t have everything ready to go, so turnout for the event was light.  Two NCMA Sprints were lost in the first practice session.  Pat Ariaz, three-time NCMA Pavement Champion fielded his brand new wide bodied car and lost a wheel which in turn caused other problems.  Rob Hammond 2007 Dirt Champion and runner up for the Overall Championship lost his engine. Qualifying was pretty exciting as a couple of “mature” pilots were one-two.  Ed Amador, 2007 Pavement and Overall NCMA Champion set fast time, with Mr. Smooth, Gary Koster qualifying second.  In his Sophomore year on asphalt, David Goodwill was third. Burt Siverling of Concord, and Manteca’s Jeff Burrows brought the pack to the green flag. Siverling took the first lap and then Burrows had a run at it but before he knew it, Koster took the lead and kept it for the next eighteen laps to take home the trophy. There was lots of movement behind Koster as Burrows, Amador and Goodwill were running hard to catch Koster.  Amador finally took and kept the second spot with Goodwill claiming third.  Speaking with Burrows after the race, he commented on the wind velocity,” The wind was blowing right down the front stretch and it was really scary, I don’t remember it ever being that bad.” Kudo’s to Rookie David Burchett.  First time run, did very well, kept it on the track, and loaded it on the trailer in one piece. Way to go David, and crew. NCMA Sprints will begin their 2008 Select Series Dirt Program next Friday, April 25^th at Chowchilla Speedway.  This will be an interesting race with new track promoter, Chuck Griffin.  Griffin is noted for his great track setups and the dirt bunch is ready to try it.  See you there!         

By Sharyn Bragg

Third annual NCMA Sprints-Frank's One Stop Car Show coming right up. The first outing of the last three racing seasons has begun with a racer-fan gathering at Frank's One Stop on the corner of Yosemite and Airport Way, Manteca, CA.

 This will be held on Saturday, March 29.  Hours will be 10 am until 2 pm. You can see from the photos, everyone had a great time and the weather should be fine. Join us for a great 2008 season kickoff!

A Look Back At 2007

May 19,2007 at Altamont

David Goodwill,#3 and Dusty Renteria, 18h.  This was Goodwills's first season on pavement and he ended up fourth in the overall points.

Black and Black! Burt Siverling,#77, and David Goodwill,#3 laying it down on the asphalt of Altamont.

Burt Siverling,#77 and Denny Burrell,#88, Siverling has been in NCMA Sprints for as many years as there has been an organization.  Burrell has begun his first full season with the group.

Dusty Renteria,#18, Pat Ariaz,#XX, Jimmy Lavell,#02, and Michael Zarevich,#42 bring a heat along the back straight at Altamont Motorsports Park.

Ed Amador, #76, Michael Zarevich, #42, Gary Koster, #17K, and Jimmy Lavell,#02 in formation to start the Trophy Dash of the day.  Koster took the win on this one.

At the end of the day Jimmy Lavell had the trophy to take home for the main event.