The historic Stockton 99 Speedway is revving up to celebrate its 75th anniversary as it prepares to open the 2024 racing season this Saturday with a five-division program featuring the Stockton Late Models.
The historic high-banked, quarter-mile oval opened in 1947 and ran continuously until 2006 when it was closed for urban development. However, a downturn in the economy shelved those plans and the track sat dormant for two years before local driver and entrepreneur Tony Noceti stepped in and reopened the facility in 2009.
“We have had a lot of old timers calling and people who have not been out to the track in years that are really excited about the 75th anniversary season,” said Noceti. “We are going be blessed with perfect weather this weekend, so it should be a great opening night.”
The 2024 racing schedule includes 15 dates all headlined by either the Stockton Late Models, Pro Late Models, Spears Pro Late Models or the ZMAX Cars Tour West Pro Late Models. Track champions will be crowned in October for both the Pro Late Models and Stockton Late Models.
“We decided to split the late models into two separate classes to make it easier on the teams while giving us a chance to schedule more shows. We are expecting strong fields for both series,” explained Noceti. “Some of the drivers will be competing in both classes and we are planning to crown a grand champion for the overall winner.”
The Pure Stocks, B-4s, Grand American Modifieds and Legends of 99 will also be competing on a rotating basis throughout the season for division championships.
Some of the special race dates to circle on your racing calendar include the “Ron Strmiska Firecracker 90” on Tuesday, July 2; the annual “Night of Champions” honoring past 99 champions, with a special salute to track legend Harry Belletto and his family, on Saturday, August 10; the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series on Saturday, Sept. 21; and two “Championship Night’ events on Saturday, Oct. 12 and Saturday, Oct. 19.
“This is special anniversary and we are going to celebrate 75 years of racing, not just this weekend, but all season long,” added Noceti.
Noceti has also developed an equally ambitious schedule of special events for the 4/10-mile, clay oval Stockton Dirt Track, located at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds.
Among the highlights are the King of the West-NARC 410 Sprint Car Series on Saturday, April 27; Monster Truck Madness on Friday and Saturday, May 31 and June 1; West Coast Summer Nationals Tractor Pulls on Sat., June 15; the amazing World of Outlaws on Friday, Sept. 6; a second weekend of Monster Trucks on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4 and 5; and the with the 41st Annual Tribute to Gary Patterson, featuring the NARC King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series and Elk Grove Ford Vineyards 360 Sprints on Saturday, November 2.
For more info visit www.stocktondirttrack.com and www.stockton99.com.
Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
Billed as a 200-mph beach party, America’s version of the Monaco GP returns to the streets of Southern California for the 49th Annual Acura GP of Long Beach for the NTT IndyCar Series on April 19-21, the second of 17 events on the 2024 schedule.
Last year, Andretti Autosport’s Kyle Kirkwood beat out his teammate Romain Grosjean to capture his career first IndyCar pole and race win at Long Beach. \This weekend, 27 car-and-driver combinations will again be looking to navigate their way around the treacherous concrete lined, 11-turn, 1.968-mile temporary street circuit for what is considered the biggest event of the season outside of the Indy 500.
Josef Newgarden, the reigning Indy 500 champion, picked up the victory in the season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg in March by beating out 2023 Indy Car Series champion Pato O’Ward. O’Ward returned the favor by driving to a convincing win in the $1 Million Challenge at Thermal Club circuit on March 24, a non-points paying event.
In addition to the NTT IndyCar Series, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, GT America, Robby Gordon’s Stadium Super Trucks, the Super Drift Championship and historic Indy cars will all be competing throughout the weekend.
Sunday’s 85-lap race will be broadcast live on USA Network and the IndyCar Radio Network beginning at noon.
For more Long Beach GP information, visit www.gplb.com or call 888.827.7333.
