STOCKTON — The Annual Tri-Holiday Classic Event No. 2 at Stockton 99 Speedway featured some very exciting racing in all categories.

The Pure Stock, Grand American Modifieds , Super Stocks and Western Late Models were the featured classes run. The fans were also treated to an extraordinary 4th of July fireworks show prior to the Western Late Model Main event.

In the Pure Stock division, Guido Bindi Jr. of Stockton won both the Trophy Dash and Main Events, going wire to wire in both races, thus gaining one of those rare category “double-ups”. Tyler Guzman of Oakdale finished second in the Trophy Dash and third in the Main Event, as he struggled with an “ill-handling” race car. Darin Adler of Stockton finished second one second behind the leader.

The Super Stock division was dominated by Aaron Coonfield of Riverbank in his No. 25 RCI Performance/Les Schwab Tire of Riverbank/ALLPRO Pest Control Toyota from Riverbank. Coonfield qualified first and won the Trophy Dash, nearly uncontested.

Mike Graham and Brock Monroe looked to be strong, but faded fast, as their cars suffered handling woes on the hot slippery race track. Once he collected the Trophy Dash checkered flag, the question remained, could he double up by also winning the Main. That question was soon answered, as Coonfield went wire to wire for the win. 

“Racin’ Jason” Aguirre from Atwater took second, followed by Graham and Robbie Knittel from Lodi.

The Grand American Modified also competed in two Trophy Dash events and a 60-lap Main Event. Most of the category “heavy hitters” were competing, including Wes Miller from Turlock, Mike Regelman from Ripon, Scott Winters from Tracy and (current points leader) Jay Lindstroth. With all the strong cars in the field, it was Cody Thompson of Tracy who qualified on the pole. Jason Philpott of Sacramento won the Modifieds Dash, taking the checkered flag ahead of Cody Thompson. 

In the Star Dash, William Camara of Fremont took the win over Nick Lyons of Loomis and David Stricklin of Stockton. In the featured 60-lap GAM Main Event, Cody Thompson jumped out to an early lead over Jason Philpott and Jay Lindstoth , leading the first 18 laps. The race included several on track racing incidents that took out past event winners Winters and Keegan Walmer of Portland (engine expired). 

Thompson and Lindstroth, who took over the lead, would battle wheel to wheel until the checkered flag fell. Thompson nudged out Lindstroth by 0.674 seconds for the win. Regelman, who started fifth, finished third ahead of Philpott, Rich Lindgren of Rio Linda and Wes Miller of Turlock.

The Western Late Models featured a 150-lap Main Event with 20 cars competing for the checkered flag, cash and trophy. In the WLM Trophy Dash, Todd Corral of Modesto went wire-to-wire to claim the honors.

Matt Scott of Pine Grove was second, Nic Belletto of Modesto third and Jeff Belletto of Modesto fourth. In the Western Late Model 150-Lap Main Event, Jeff Belletto utilized the best strategy to save his tires, while working his way into the lead on lap 40. Once at the front, Jeff would never relinquish the lead, even through several caution flag laps, which would bunch of the field. Jeff continually utilized the outside lane on restarts to gain the required high speed sprint to the green flag that he would gain out of the high banked turn 4 to quickly move away from the pack.

His nephew, Nick, would take a more difficult path towards the top of the field.  After getting as close as fourth, he found himself shuffled towards the back of the field. He would then battle his way back towards the front, utilizing several of the yellow flag restarts to gain positions, as well as staying out of the incidents, themselves.

When the checkered flag fell on lap 150, Jeff Belletto in his Save Mart/Cunningham Farms INC/ESSCO Investments/Kruse-Lucas Body & Paint/Hot Wood Chevy went to the winner’s circle followed by Nick Belletto and Matt Scott.  This made it a Belletto family 1-2 finish.