STOCKTON, Calif. – D.J. Netto won the season opener for the NARC-King of the West 410 Series at the Stockton Dirt Track on Saturday night.
The 30-lap feature served as the Salute to LeRoy Van Conett and was held in front of a limited but very respectable crowd of NorCal sprint car fans.
Netto in the Netto AG No. 88n held off a late race charge by runner up Rico Abreu. Front row starter Dominic Scelzi finished third ahead of Shane Golobic and a closing Austin McCarl.
Netto and Scelzi brought the 23-car starting field down for the start with Netto quickly jumping to the lead. Scelzi developed a small wing issue going into the third turn when the front bolts holding the wing to the chassis loosened, making things interesting for his car’s handling. The wing would eventually fold completely over, however, it did remain on the car for the whole race.
The folded wing would hamper Scelzi’s threat to Netto allowing him only to get close to the leader once on lap eight but towards the end of the race, it would cost him the runner up spot.
The race’s first caution came out on lap 13 when Mark Barroso would stop on the track in turn four. He would pit in the work area and return to the race for the restart. Bad luck for Mitchell Faccinto when the cars came to the green as he would lose the third position to Abreu.
Another caution would wave when Kyle Hirst had a flat left front tire and spun cross ways in the third turn. The four-time series champion would be towed to the pits, ending his race.
The double-file restart allowed Abreu to pass Scelzi going into the first turn to take over second. McCarl shows his strength and takes over fifth after starting ninth.
Netto rolled on to claim the $3,000 triumph with Abreu second.
The dwarf car feature was won by Tommy Velasquez over Shawn Jones and Ben Wiesz.
The Finish:
D.J. Netto, Rico Abreu, Dominic Scelzi, Shane Golobic, Austin McCarl, Mitchel Faccinto, Bud Kaeding, Tim Kaeding, Geoff Ensign, Sean Becker, Justin Sanders, Blake Carrick, Billy Anton, Willie Croft, Sean Watts, Mitchell Moles, Tim Estenson, Kenny Allen, Mark Barroso, Kyle Offill, Kyle Hirst, Tanner Carrick, Joel Myers Jr.