By DANICA NOCETI
Stockton 99 Speedway
STOCKTON — The engines will be roaring and fireworks will light up the sky with vibrant colors, as racing comes to life this Saturday night at the historic Stockton 99 Speedway with the annual Ron Strmiska Firecracker 125.
Always one of the biggest races of the season, the long-standing tradition pays tribute to Ron Strmiska Sr. the “Manteca Missile”, who passed away in 2014 at the age of 73.
In 1969 Ron Sr. started the family legacy of grassroots racing, capturing over 30 great years of memories, wins, and championships. Strmiska won back-to-back Stockton 99 Speedway championships (1978-79) in the Late Model Division and he would continue to compete regularly until 2000, when he finally retired from the driver’s seat for good at the age of 60 after running in the Stockton 99 season opener.
Despite hanging up his racing helmet, Ron Sr. continued to add to his family’s racing legacy by building and preparing cars for his son Ron Jr. and grandsons Robert, Richard, and Ross who proudly followed in his driving shoes, racing locally, and even traveling throughout the United States taking on the best of the best.
Over the years, Ron Jr., Ross Strmiska, and Guy Guibor, of Manteca, have piloted their famous No. 90 pink and black missile to countless wins at the Stockton 99 Speedway and other tracks on the west coast. As his grandfather shined down his grandson, Ross seized the victory in the covenanted Firecracker 125 in 2018.
“This means everything to me and my family. I know how big this race is from when I was a kid and grandpa was running it,” Ross said with emotion as he celebrated with his father Ron Jr. and the rest of his team in victory lane that year. “This is a dream come true. I think the only thing bigger would be winning the Daytona 500, or something like that.”
The long Strmiska family tradition at the 99 Speedway will continue this Saturday when grandson Robert Strmiska will be making the expedition from his hometown Lexington, North Carolina to proudly represent the Strmiska Team in this year’s Ron Strmiska Firecracker 125.
From a wee age, Robert spent many long nights in the Strmiska garage, wrenching on race cars alongside his grandfather and father. The experience and knowledge he gained prepared him for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in 2010 when he was hired by Richard Childress Racing.
Robert has worked in a variety of positions in the organization, which has celebrated more than 50 years of racing and earned more than 200 victories and 16 championships, including six in the NASCAR Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt.
One of those positions includes working as the car chief for two-time NASCAR champion Austin Dillion, where together they won the Dayton 500, Coke 600, a Craftsmen Truck Series, and Xfinity Championship.
Following in the Strmiska footsteps, it comes as no surprise that in 2016 Robert split his time working on the Richard Childress Racing road crew and building himself a Mini Stock race car. Proving to be as adept on the track as he is off it, Robert took home the 2022 Carolina Mini Stock Championship and became the first ever California-born racer to win at the famous Madhouse Bowman Gray Stadium.
This Saturday, the stands will be filled with friends, family, and tears of joy when Robert Strmiska takes on the unforgiving quarter-mile, high-banked track and Stockton’s local hotshots, such as defending track Champion JoJo Steans, Larry Tankersley, Danny Devore, Sam Solari, Rodney Tripp, Ty Carlson and many more.
The Ron Strmiska Firecracker 125 will feature Late Models, Street Stocks, B4s, Jr. B4s, and a huge fireworks show. The pit gates open at 1 p.m., general admission gates at 4 p.m., and cars are set to take the track for an exciting night of racing at 6 p.m.
Special event pricing is as follows: $25 for adults (16-59), $20 for juniors ages 11-15, seniors 60-over and military with I.D., lids 10 and under free and free parking.
For an additional $10, you can upgrade your general admission ticket to sit in VIP, the best seat in the house that offers the finest view of the track in a shaded area. The facility includes full concessions and vendors serving delicious treats throughout the event.
Stockton 99 Speedway is located at 4105 North Wilson Way in Stockton.
Additional race information and season point standings can be obtained at 209.466.9999 or www.Stockton99.com.
