The countdown continues on as only five events remain on the Stockton 99 Speedway 2006 schedule before the high-banked, quarter-mile oval closes its doors for good and fades into racing history.
This Saturday, August 12, marks the return of the always popular Kid’s Night program featuring the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series Havoline Western Late Models, American Limited Stocks, Pro-4 Trucks, Baby Grands and Young Guns, presented by Havoline/C.L. Bryant. In addition, following all of the great racing action, the front straightaway will be cleared for a metal bending, car grinding full out one-shot Giant Destruction Derby, presented by Power Trip Xtreme Energy Drink.
The battle for the 2006 track championship in the premier Havoline Western Late Model division continues to look as though it will go down to the final night of the season on September 16.
Five drivers headed into last Saturday’s special “HOTWOOD 1000” Series feature, presented by JM Environmental, as serious title contenders including defending track champion Pete Anderson Jr., of Stockton, who rebounded from his frustrating tenth place finish on July 29 to become the first three-time winner this season by surviving the crash filled event.
“It seems like all the cars are real close and every week one of them just seems to have a little bit more if they hit the set up just perfect. This is by far one of the most competitive seasons ever out here,” remarked Anderson last Saturday. “We have three or four past champions running every week and other guys, like the driver of the number15 (Mark Holeman) car, have won multiple championships in other stuff. I love it.”
The top three in the point standings remained relatively status quo as Stockton’s Ron Strmiska Jr. and Manteca’s Guy Guibor finished in second and third, respectively, but it was a devastating night for the hopes of Pete Hernandez, of Chicago, Illinois, and Eric Humphries of Chowchilla. Hernandez, who turned 29 years of age this Wednesday, was involved in an early race accident that sidelined him for the rest of the event while Humphries was forced to sit the race out as he continues to recover from a leg injury he suffered the previous week.
As a result, the latest Havoline Western Late Model season standings now show Guibor holding a slim 32-point edge (779-747) over Strmiska. Anderson lurks close behind them in third with 737 points, Hernandez holds down fourth with 704 and Humphries remains in fifth with 658.
The fight is even tighter in the HOTWOOD point standings. Guibor now holds a miniscule three-point edge (630-627) over Anderson while Strmiska (610), Humphries (594), Hernandez (572) and Holeman (548) are all jammed within just 82 points of the top spot.
Although Stockton’s Donny Darter is hotter than a five-dollar pistol, having won four of the last six races, Stockton’s Chad “the Iceman” Holman continues to set the pace in the always unpredictable American Limited Stock Car division by a relatively comfortable 819 to 740 point margin over Escalon’s Darrell Hughes.
After getting last weekend off, the Pro-4 Trucks will be ready to rumble as Lathrop’s Mark Henslee continues his season long battle with Ron Robeck of Milpitas. Henslee holds a 710 to 677 point lead over Robeck on the strength of his five victories this season.
To conclude the evening’s entertainment Stockton 99 Speedway will host it’s first and only full-fledged, one-shot Giant Destruction Derby right on the front straightaway. Following the night’s regular program, the track will be wet down, the entrants will be lined up and the carnage will begin. A purse of $500 plus a HUGE special trophy will go to the winner.
Do you have an old car sitting in your front yard? Make your neighbors happy and enter it in this Saturday’s Destruction Derby by contacting 99 Speedway officials Pat Patnaude at (209) 983-1689 or Earl Summers at (209) 957-6756 or email the office at speedway99office@earthlink.net.
Additional demolition derby information, rules and entry applications are also available on the official Stockton 99 Speedway website at www.stockton99speedway.com.
Come out and join in on all the thrills and fun this Saturday night, August 12, as the Stockton 99 Speedway - the “Little Bristol of the West” - continues with its season long celebration of 60 years of thunder and excitement.
This Saturday the pit gates will open for registration at 1:00 PM, practice will run from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, the grandstands open at 3:00 PM, qualifying begins at 4:00 PM, Kid’s Night festivities kick off at 5:30 PM, and the first green flag for racing will fly at approximately 6:20 PM.
Ticket prices this Saturday are only $20.00 for adults, $12.00 for seniors 65 years of age or older, $10.00 for juniors age 13-17, $5.00 for kids age 6-12 and kids 5 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. A family ticket is also available for the bargain price of $49.99. VISA and MasterCard are welcome at Gate 2.
The Stockton 99 Speedway is located just off Highway 99 at 4105 North Wilson Way. If you are traveling south on Highway 99 take the Wilson Way exit. If you are heading north on Highway 99 take the Cherokee Road exit, loop over the freeway, turn right onto Newton Road and then turn left on Wilson Way.
For the latest Stockton 99 Speedway racing information call the 99 Race Line at (209) 466-9999.
