STOCKTON, California -- For 58 years Stockton 99 Speedway has delivered unique motorsports events to area race fans and this Saturday, April 26, the NASCAR Elite Division, Featherlite Southwest Series returns for the 20th time since 1986 in the running of the Budweiser "125" presented by Havoline.
Stockton 99 Speedway was a mainstay in the series' early years running two events per season from 1986 to 1993. The series made single visits to the quarter-mile oval from 1994 to 1996 but then was absent from the track's schedule until 2002 when local hero Ron Strmiska Jr. stole the show as the Featherlite Southwest Series returned to one of the West's oldest continually operated racing facilities.
Stockton 99 Speedway is a track that can reach out and bite you if a driver makes the smallest of mistakes. Track experience and good corner speed will mean the difference in qualifying when more than thirty-five drivers of the Featherlite Southwest Series attempt to qualify for one of 22 starting positions in Saturday's 125-lap race and vie for their share of $44,871 in posted awards in race four of the 14-race championship series.
The tight confines of Stockton 99 Speedway's quarter-mile would leave the casual observer thinking that passing would be at a premium, but just ask Ron Strmiska Jr. of nearby Manteca, Calif., winner of last year's event, and you'll find out just how much side-by-side racing is in store at Stockton.
"Stockton is an action track," said Strmiska. "The track is so different at each end that it creates a lot of passing opportunities. You can have your car set up to get through turns one and two, but then you give up something three and four. So somebody is always getting passed."
Strmiska goes on to add that qualifying will be tough, especially for the local guys. "I have been going to Stockton for 30 years," Strmiska said. "I started out as a crew chief for my dad, then later started driving, and all the experience in the world will not mean a thing if you don't qualify. I know I can race well, but it is qualifying that is going to make the difference."
Last year Strmiska may have stunned the series regulars, and those drivers are anxious to write a little bit of history themselves. One driver who has raced a lot of laps at Stockton, and enjoys his second year on the Featherlite Southwest Series, is Steve Belletto from Modesto, Calif. Belletto, a two-time track champion at Stockton and son of Stockton 99 Speedway icon Harry Belletto, would like nothing more then to win his first series race in front of his hometown fans.
"Winning at Stockton would be pretty special," Belletto said. "I have had success here in the Late Models over the years, and to win a Featherlite Southwest Series race at Stockton in front of the great fans we have here would be big in my career."
Craig Raudman of Bakersfield, Calif. missed last season's event but has won at Stockton back in 1996 and likes racing on the tight and tricky ovals. "Stockton is a blast to drive," Raudman said. "There is a line around that place and if you're on it, then you are going to be fast. The entry into turn three is the most important. If you get a good run on a guy into three, then you'll make the pass out of turn four."
"The local guys like Strmiska will be hard to beat," Raudman said. "They have a lot of laps around that place and that will make it tough for the rest of us."
Defending Featherlite Southwest Series champion Eddy McKean from Jerome, Idaho likes his chances at Stockton. "We continue to learn new things about our car," McKean said. "We went to Stockton last year with the wrong set up and just chased it all day. We are ready this year. You have to have your best stuff at each race, and I am bringing the best."
Other notable drivers that have experience at Stockton include Jim Pettit II of Prunedale, Calif. who won last year's Bud Pole Award and has tallied several wins in Late Model competition over the years. Escalon, California's Eric Holmes who sits fourth in the series standings has had success on the historic oval, and local legend Dave Byrd of Hollister, Calif. is a driver that everyone never counts out.
The Budweiser "125" presented by Havoline is set to take the green flag at 8:30 pm PST this Saturday with the Ron Strmiska Jr. looking to see if lightning indeed strikes twice.
- The race within the race ... Frank Deiny Jr. tops the Victory Circle Chassis Rookie-of-the-Year leader board after three events. JR Patton, Thomas Martin, Kevin Vernon, and Danny Burson round out the top-five Rookies.
- How many cars? More than 35 cars have pre-entered the Budweiser "125" with several hometown heroes from the Stockton area. Drivers include Ron Strmiska Jr., Dave Byrd, and Rick Ruzbarsky. Series regulars Steve Belletto, Eric Holmes, and Jim Pettit II are also familiar names at Stockton.
- Auggie Vidovich Jr. missed last year's event at Stockton due to mechanical failure while leading the non-qualifiers race. He heads to Stockton as the 2003 points leader.
- Darrell LaMoure of Phoenix, Ariz. welcomes NAPA Auto Parts and Yerf-Dog Fun Karts as sponsors to his team in 2003. LaMoure continues to bring awareness regarding missing children to fans through his Racing for the Missing program. At each series race this season LaMoure and Yerf-Dog will raffle a Yerf-Dog Fun Kart at the race. Proceeds will be spilt between the Racing for the Missing program and the track's selected charity.
- The Daily Double: Three drivers are set to due double duty on Saturday, April 26. Currently ROTY point leader Frank Deiny Jr., 2001 FSWS ROTY Brandon Whitt, David Gilliland will all attempt to compete in the NASCAR Grand National Division, Winston West Series at California Speedway in Fontana, Calif. then fly to Stockton in time to qualify for the Budweiser "125" for the Featherlite Southwest Series.
- Driver to keep your eye on: Dan Holtz has two straight top five finishes including a win this season. Holtz vaulted into 5th place in the point standings after a runner-up finish at Cajon Speedway April 5. Holtz is in his second year on the Featherlite Southwest Series.
- Hoosier Racing Tire is the official tire of the NASCAR Elite Division in 2003 and will award 32 tires to eligible car owners at each series event. Hoosier will also award two tires to the highest eligible Rookie-of-the-Year candidate's car owner.
- Featherlite Southwest Series contingency sponsors include: Anheuser-Busch, Auto Meter Products, Edelbrock Intake Manifolds, Featherlite Trailers, Five Star, Flowmaster, G-Force, Goody's Headache Powder, Holley Carburetors, Hoosier Tires, JR Pistons, Mac Tools, Mobil 1 Oil, Moroso, MSD, Penske Shocks, Powerade, Quarter Master, Quick Car, Raybestos Brakes, "76" Race Gas, Victory Circle Chassis, and Wix Air Filters.
- Steve Belletto of Modesto, Calif. moved into the NASCAR Top-10 for the first time this season after a career best 3rd place finish at Cajon Speedway April 5. Belletto sits 9th in the overall point standings.
- "Stockton can be a dream day or a nightmare." - Jim Pettit II (No. 03 Hall Kinion Ford).
- Ken Boyd (86, 91), Dan Press (88, 89), and Troy Beebe (89, 90) each have two wins at Stockton 99 Speedway in Featherlite Southwest Series competition. But Ron Hornaday Jr. leads all drivers, current or past, with three trips to victory lane on the tight and tricky quarter mile (92, 93, 93).
- What
- Budweiser "125" presented by Havoline. Race 4 of 14 for the NASCAR Elite Division, Featherlite Southwest Series.
- Where
- Stockton 99 Speedway, Stockton, CA.
- When
- 8:30 p.m. PT, Saturday, April 26.
- Track layout
- 1/4-mile banked paved oval.
- Race length
- 125 laps, 31.25 miles.
- Posted awards
- $44,871
- 2002 winner
- Ron Strmiska Jr.
- 2002 pole winner
- Jim Pettit II
- Qualifying Record
- Steve Johnson, Chevrolet, 13.232 seconds, 68.017 mph, May 19, 1990.
- Pre-race schedule (all times local)
- 10:00 am Haulers Enter, 11:00 am Registration and Inspection begin, 12:30 pm Mandatory Driver's & Crew Chief's Meeting, 1:00 pm Mandatory Rookie Driver's Meeting, 1:30 pm Qualifying Draw, 2-4:00 pm Practice, 5:15 pm Time Trials, 7:00 pm 25-lap Qualifying Race, 8:30 pm Budweiser "125" presented by Havoline
- Ticket information
- Tickets are available at the track. Cash, Visa, or Mastercard are accepted.
