The countdown to the end continues for Stockton 99 Speedway at a rapid pace. Only two dates remain on the 2006 schedule before the fabled facility locks its gates for the final time and fades into racing folklore, but before that sad day occurs there is still plenty of unfinished business to attend to.
Championship month resumes this Saturday night, September 9th, in Stockton with another fine NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series program that includes the Havoline Western Late Models, Grand American Modifieds, Pro-4 Trucks and the American Limited Stock Cars, by Bryant Petroleum.
Last Saturday Roseville’s Shannon Mansch clinched the West Car Late Model Series championship, the first of five titles to be decided this month, with a strong second place showing behind race winner Eric Schmidt of Roseville. This Saturday Jay Linstroth, of Citrus Heights, will be looking to do the same in the season finale for the popular open-wheeled Grand American Modified division.
Linstroth currently holds a solid lead of 510 to 446 points over defending division champion Jason Philpot, of Sacramento, but with “double points” on the line this Saturday his 64-point cushion is far from insurmountable. Several other drivers, including Galt’s Jason Kerby (416), Ripon’s Mike Regelman (410) and Modesto’s Mike Beeler (408), also remain in the hunt.
A large field of up to 25 cars is expected for Saturday’s Grand American Modified finale, which will be the last open-wheel race that will ever be run at the 99 Speedway.
“There will be a lot of guys just racing to win this week that aren’t involved in the championship so I need to be real cautious of them,” said a concerned Linstroth. “Luckily, I have some cushion in the points to work with. I am going to warn everyone before the race to just tap me once and I’ll move right out of your way.”
Linstroth has been racing at the 99 Speedway for the last six years and though he has come close to winning the championship more than once, various factors have kept him from obtaining that elusive goal. One year he totaled a brand new car in the first race of the season and in another he was leading the series going into the last race and broke.
“I am somewhat nervous this week because with my luck anything can go wrong with the car, like having a bolt break or something,” said Linstroth, age 38. “I am just going to go out there and do my thing like I have been doing all year and hopefully all my bad luck is in the past.”
With the impending closure of the speedway, Linstroth knows this is his last chance at the championship he so desperately wants.
“Winning this title would be the greatest thing of all. Leaving here with the last championship ever at this historic track would mean everything to me,” said Linstroth poignantly. “I am really sad that this will be the last time I will be racing at Stockton. It is just starting to hit me that this will be the last time I ever drive this track.”
The Pro-4 Trucks will also end their 2006 season on Saturday with a “double points” feature race. Although Lathrop’s Mark Henslee has already clinched the division championship there is still plenty at stake with just 90 points separating the second thru fifth positions in the season standings.
The fierce three-driver battle for the Havoline Western Late Model track championship at Stockton also resumes this Saturday with a 50-lap feature.
Stockton’s Ron Strmiska Jr. missed a golden opportunity to pick up precious points on leader Guy Guibor, of Manteca, when he blew his engine less than five laps from the conclusion of the race last weekend costing him a strong third place finish. As a result Guibor now holds a 31-point (919-888) edge over Strmiska and defending champion Pete Anderson Jr. remains just behind Strmiska by one point at 887.
Strmiska’s misfortune also cost him the lead in the special HOTWOOD 1000 Series, by J.M. Environmental, which awards points based on each driver’s 16 best finishes. Anderson has taken over the lead in the HOTWOOD competition, but only by a slim nine-point margin over Strmiska while Guibor remains in third just 11 points back of Anderson.
Mark Holeman, the 21-year-old college student from Los Altos, continues to march up the HOTWOOD standings. After winning last Saturday’s feature Holeman jumped from sixth to fourth overall, just 75 points out of the lead and is looking to narrow that gap even further this week. Since Holeman has only competed in 15 races thus far this season, unlike the three drivers ahead of him, he will not have to drop his lowest finish until the final race on September 16th.
With the imminent closure of the track, several non regular drivers are expected to make one last attempt to try their luck on the high-banked, quarter mile oval over the final two weeks including Ross Strmiska, son of Ron Strmiska Jr. and grandson of former two-time track champion Ron Strmiska Sr., Escalon’s Steve Holmes, the father of NASCAR West Series and Southwest Series driver Eric Holmes, West car Series regular Chris Monez of Turlock and former track champion Dave Byrd, of Pacific Grove, who leads in the Western Late Model division points at Altamont Motorsports Park. .
The American Limited Stock Cars will complete the card this Saturday. Chad “the Iceman” Holman, of Stockton, will be looking to protect his 66-point lead in the season standings over Escalon’s Darrell Hughes.
Time is running short so come out to the beloved quarter-mile track known as the “Little Bristol of the West” and enjoy the final few weeks of 60 years of thunder and excitement at the Stockton 99 Speedway.
This Saturday the pit gates will open for registration at 1:00 PM, practice will run from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM, the grandstands open at 3:00 PM, qualifying begins at 4:30 PM and the first green flag for racing will fly at approximately 6:10 PM.
Ticket prices this Saturday are only $15.00 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 $39.99. VISA and MasterCard are welcome at Gate 2.
There is still time for former drivers and others that have made significant contributions to the 99 Speedway to attend the final event on Saturday, September 16th as guests of the track. For additional information about this very special gathering of track legends please contact track officials Pat Patnaude at (209) 983-1689, Jack Houston (209) 477-1231 or Earl Summers at (209) 957-6756 no later than Monday, September 11th.
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 Stockton 99 Speedway information call the 99 Race Line at (209) 466-9999 or go to www.stockton99speedway.com on the web.
