The first roar of racing engines will be heard at Stockton 99 Speedway for the 2002 season this coming Saturday, March 23rd, as the speedway opens it's gates for practice and NASCAR registration. Drivers in all divisions intending to compete for NASCAR Regional, and track level championship titles will be on hand to test new cars and check improvements to old ones made over the winter months.
Of highest interest will be the first look at the cars set to compete in the new NASCAR HOTWOOD Western Late Model division presented by DODGE. The division will be the track's premier headliner attraction throughout the 2002 season, vying for NASCAR Regional and local track honors.
The division will feature cars that are in effect a "Limited Late Model." This form of racecar outlaws many expense items formerly used on the fast and sleek Monte Carlos and Luminas. The move to this style of racing is intended to lower costs for competitors and increase car counts to in turn benefit local fans.
Former headliners set to run the new division include Mark Welch of Orangevale, a past NASCAR Regional winner and 99 Speedway champion, Dave Byrd of San Jose, another past Stockton champ, and Jeff Belletto of Modesto, brother and son to past Stockton champions Steve and Harry Belletto. Jeff would like very much to be the first "third family" champion at the storied 56-year old quarter mile oval.
NASCAR Southwest Tour and Winston West driver Mike David of Modesto will share driving duties with the current single lap track record holder, Steve Johnson of Modesto, in one of the new Western Late Models. They in turn will face stiff competition from the likes of Eddie Laws of Citrus Heights, Steve Daniels of Orangevale, Dave Davis of Turlock, and Wes Miller of Delhi among others. Fans will also delight in the return to Stockton action of Kevin Gottula of Modesto, one of the most popular drivers of the mid 80?s and early 90?s. A total of 36 drivers have requested car numbers for the coming season.
Practice will also be held for the Speedway?s regular Grand American and Pure Stock divisions, plus any and all of the supplementary divisions that will appear on a limited basis throughout the year such as the Legends of the Pacific, USAC & BCRA Midgets, Ultrawheel Super Trucks, Pro Four Trucks, and Baby Grands.
The registration gates will open at 11:00 a.m. with on-track practice from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. with the drivers and fans on hand getting their first view of the new Lighting and pit improvements currently underway for the new year.
Many of the same cars will be on hand the following day, Sunday, March 24th for a car show to be held in front of the Stockton 99 Speedway NASCAR Souvenir shop located in the Lincoln Center South shopping center at 6315 Pacific Boulevard in the port city of Stockton.
A second practice day is set for Saturday, March 30th, with opening day action for the 2002 season set to start with a two-day show on April 6th & 7th.
