STOCKTON — Fresh off a doubleheader last weekend, the Sprint Car Challenge Tour presented by Elk Grove Ford and Abreu Vineyards will now visit the centrally located Stockton Dirt Track this Saturday for the third annual Salute to LeRoy Van Conett. 

The event at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds venue marks the final race before an extended break for the Sprint Car Challenge Tour. After Saturday’s outing the tour will not have another show until the Sept. 21 and 22 Nor-Cal Posse Shootout at the Placerville Speedway. 

The Stockton showdown will be a last chance for drivers to move up in the points before the final stretch towards the end of the season. 

This Saturday night also honors retired Galt racer LeRoy Van Conett, who was born in Stockton and would go on to become one of the very best to wheel a Sprint Car in California. Special event shirts will be available under the grandstands and LeRoy will be on hand during the night for autographs. 

The driver simply known as the “Dragon from Galt” is the all-time leader in wins at the famed Calistoga Speedway half-mile, with an amazing 31 victories to his credit. He also captured the track title seven-times in his illustrious career. 

Van Conett claimed 65 career wins with the Northern Auto Racing Club and eight series titles, both of which rank second to only Campbell’s Brent Kaeding. In 1976 he scored victory at the Gold Cup Race of Champions and in 1999 was bestowed one of the highest honors any driver can receive, by being inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Iowa. 

Paradise’s Kyle Hirst leads the field into the Stockton Dirt Track on the heels of his first Sprint Car Challenge Tour victory last weekend. The defending champion has been the hottest driver in California as of late and will look to bring home his first Stockton triumph on Saturday. 

San Jose’s Tim Kaeding ran a close second to Hirst last Sunday and ranks second in the standings. Kaeding continues to close in on his first win of the season and hopes to check it off on Saturday. 

More drivers looking for good things at the Salute to LeRoy Van Conett will include last Saturday’s winner Justin Sanders of Aromas, Roseville’s Sean Becker, Willie Croft and Colby Copeland, Auburn’s Andy Forsberg, Clarksburg’s Justyn Cox, Penngrove’s Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Chase Johnson, Hollister’s Tony Gualda and Ryan Bernal, Hanford’s Mitchell Faccinto and DJ Netto, Minden, Nevada’s Tanner Thorson, Cameron Park’s Shane Hopkins, Foresthill’s Jodie Robinson, Marysville’s Ryan Souza, Visalia’s Steven Tiner, Stockton’s Matt Peterson, Fresno’s Steven Kent and many more. 

Adult tickets will cost $20, kids 5-10 will be $10 and those 4-under are free. All seating will be general admission. Online tickets are available at noceti-group.ticketleap.com.

The pit gate is scheduled to open at 1 p.m. with the front gate opening at 4 p.m. The drivers meeting is slated for 4:15 with cars on track at 4:30 for wheel packing. Hot laps, qualifying and racing will follow. The standard SCCT muffler rule will be in effect on Saturday. 

For information on Stockton Dirt Track, visit www.stocktondirttrack.com.