STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA (September 3, 2016) - Eagle, ID's Travis Milburn was the sixth and final leader of a thrilling race at Stockton 99 Speedway on Saturday night, leading the last 18 laps for a $2500 victory. The Tri-Holiday Series race was the tenth round of the Pacific Challenge Series presented by PenneyLawyers.com and gave Milburn his first 2016 to win to go with a June victory at Roseville last year as well. Milburn fended off March Madera winner Jacob Gomes in a very exciting finish that thrilled a strong crowd at the 68 year old historic quarter-mile facility.
Jeremy Doss' seventh place finish was enough to give him the Tri-Holiday Series championship by two points over Gomes as well.
Jeff Bischofberger won the American Racer Tire Dash for $500 to win but was overhauled by Valley Springs' Tracy Bolin at the start with Bolin taking the lead. Manteca's Ross Strmiska followed through to take second as well.
Bischofberger tangled with Granite Bay's Cole Moore for the first caution of the race on lap five when Bischofberger spun. Both drivers had to go to the rear for the ensuing restart. Strmiska used the restart to snatch away the lead from Bolin on lap six.
Sunoco Fuels Fast Time Jason Romero of Cameron Park worked his way around Bolin for second on lap 13 and set his sights on the leader. Romero and Strmiska ran side-by-side on several occasions before the pair approached lapped traffic. Romero tried one more move to the inside of Strmiska, resulting in contact into turn four that sent Romero spinning. Romero was then hit hard by Bolin as well. The incident ended both Romero and Bolin's evenings and forced Strmiska to the rear of the field.
Points leader Jeremy Doss assumed the lead position but did not lead it for a complete lap as Modesto's Mike Beeler shot up the inside to be the third different leader on lap 23. Doss fought back on lap 35 and took the lead on lap 37. Milburn spun on lap 40 for a caution while things were heating up between Gomes and Matt Scott within the top-five.
Beeler and Doss traded the lead on lap 44, before Doss took over again and brought Scott and Gomes with him on the following laps. The trio of young drivers then anchored the field for much of the closing laps while Cole Moore and Milburn continued to regain positions navigating through the field.
A big crash on lap 71 brought the race to a red flag halt when Kyle Gottula slammed into the back of Strmiska in turn four. Both drivers were out of the race with Gottula disqualified from points and purse for his involvement.
Matt Scott made a bold move inside Doss into turn one that forced both drivers up the hill and out of the top-five but it was nullified by a caution for debris off of Adam Coonfield's car. On the second attempt, Doss managed to drive away from Scott with Gomes taking over second as well. the caution came out again on lap 75 when Beeler and Cole Moore got together.
Gomes seized the lead from Doss on lap 75 and two laps later JR Courage and John Moore had a melee. Beeler spun again on lap 81 for the race's final caution period.
Milburn took his shot at Gomes from the outside on the restart and took over the lead at lap 82. Gomes remained within striking distance all the way to the finish. On the white flag lap, Gomes tagged Milburn in turn three and dove to the inside to the give the fans a close finish. Milburn ripped across the stripe with the win by just a nose ahead of Gomes, Scott, Cole Moore, and John Moore.
Doss slipped backwards after losing the lead to eventually finish seventh, while Courage and Wendt went across the finish line against the wall in a large crash to punctuate the race.
Jacob Gomes won the Penney Racing Supply Hard Charger driving from 11th starting position to finish second. A strong purse of $2500 to win and $500 to start was presented by Reeves Sand and Gravel and Sunny Valley Smoked Meats.
The Pacific Challenge Series championship continues with its 11th and penultimate round on September 24th at Roseville's All American Speedway. For more information on the Pacific Challenge Series, visit them online at www.PacificChallengeSeries.com or on Facebook and YouTube.
The Pacific Challenge Series is presented by: Penney Racing Supply, Penney & Associates, American Racer Tires, Maita Chevrolet, Compact-It, Northwest Compactors, Naake Suspension, Sunoco Fuels, Five Star Bodies, BrakeOMeter, Lefthander Chassis, ARP Bodies, Joes Racing Products, Bassett Wheels, Frank's Radio, WrapStar Pro, and Blakesley Sports Media. All PCS Super Late Models race ABC Bodies or Muscle Car bodies on American Racer Tires with Sunoco Racing Fuel.
2016 Pacific Challenge Series Schedule
(Subject To Change)
March 19 Madera Speedway (Madera, CA) *Televised on MAVTV, presented by Loanmart* - Winner: Jacob Gomes
April 16 All American Speedway (Roseville, CA) Winner: Jason Romero
May 8 Ukiah Speedway (Ukiah, CA) Winner: Jeremy Doss
May 28 Stockton 99 Speedway (Stockton, CA) *Round #1 of Tri-Holiday Series* Winner: Eric Schmidt
June 4 Shasta Speedway (Anderson, CA) Winner: Tracy Bolin
June 25 All American Speedway (Roseville, CA) *w/ North State Modified Series* Winner: Jason Romero
July 2 Stockton 99 Speedway (Stockton, CA) *Round #2 of Tri-Holiday Series* Winner: Mike Beeler
July 16 Ukiah Speedway (Ukiah, CA) Winner: Mike Beeler
August 13 Madera Speedway (Madera, CA) *Televised on MAVTV, presented by Loanmart* Winner: Jeremy Doss
September 3 Stockton 99 Speedway (Stockton, CA) *Round #3 of Tri-Holiday Series* Winner: Travis Milburn
September 24 All American Speedway (Roseville, CA) *w/ North State Modified Series*
October 1 Ukiah Speedway (Ukiah, CA) *2016 Championship Race*
October 15 All American Speedway (Roseville, CA) *w/ K&N West, Non-Points*
Pacific Challenge Series Round 10: Stockton 99 Speedway Results
Finish Car Driver Hometown Sponsors
1 18 Travis Milburn Eagle, ID Cooks Collision
2 16 Jacob Gomes Manteca, CA Sunny Valley Smoked Meats
3 35 Matt Scott Pine Grove, CA Kamps Propane
4 20m Cole Moore Granite Bay, CA JM Racing
5 27 John Moore Granite Bay, CA JM Environmental
6 66 Jeff Bischofberger Tracy, CA Rent to Own Visalia
7 75 Jeremy Doss Upperlake, CA I-5 Tire Factory
8 6 Mike Beeler Modesto, CA Beeler Industries
9 37 JR Courage Manteca, CA The Chicken Barn
10 1 Matthew Wendt Lodi, CA Cali Style Customs
11 70 Mike Hite Elk Grove, CA Storage for Less
12 2 Adam Coonfield Modesto, CA All Pro Pest Control
13 55 Danny Malfatti Hayward, CA Malfatti Motorsports
14 90 Ross Strmiska Manteca, CA Mainline Equipment
15 8 Jason Romero Cameron Park, CA Folsom Lake Asphalt
16 11j Tracy Bolin Valley Springs, CA Bolin Builders
DQ 53 Kyle Gottula Modesto, CA
Sunoco Fuels Fast Time: #8 Jason Romero 13.395
American Racer Dash ($500): #66 Jeff Bischofberger
Penney Racing Supply Hard Charger: #16 Jacob Gomes 11th to 2nd
Lap leaders: #11J Tracy Bolin 1-5, #90 Ross Strmiska 6-22, #6 Mike Beeler 23-36, #75 Jeremy Doss 37-43, #6 Mike Beeler 44, #75 Jeremy Doss 45-74, #16 Jacob Gomes 75-81, #18 Travis Milburn 82-100
