STOCKTON — The grandstands were packed to capacity on Friday night at Stockton 99 Speedway for the annual Ron Strmiska Firecracker 90 for Pro Late Models and post-event fireworks, but the fans didn’t have to wait to the conclusion of the race for the pyrotechnics to start.

The action-packed race produced numerous yellow/cautions and several red-flag stoppages, which resulted in a constant shuffling of the running order. In all, there were six lead changes among four different drivers, including Madera’s Shelden Cooper, who led the first 25 laps and four times in total. But, most importantly, Cooper led the last lap, crossing the finish line first in a checkered/yellow, ending the race after just 81 of a scheduled 90 laps.

Before the green flag fell, a pre-race ceremony was held to honor the late Ron Strmiska. Nicknamed the “Manteca Missile,” Strmiska’s racing career at the 99 Speedway spanned over 30 years and was highlighted by back-to-back track championships in 1978 and 1979.

This year, the track also honored Tracy’s David Philpott, the 1992 and 1993 track champion, and his father, John Philpott, both of whom passed away earlier this year. John also drove at the 99 and later mentored and built the race cars used by David and his grandsons Justin and Ryan. This coming October both David and his dad John will be inducted into the NASCAR West Coast Hall of Fame in a ceremony to be held in Las Vegas.

A stellar field of 19 cars jammed the pits, which was pared down to a 16-car main after Kyle Gottula and Garland Tyler, both of Modesto, transferred to the 90-lap feature by finishing 1-2 in the five-car B main.

After leading the opening portion of the race, Cooper ceded the top spot on lap 26 to Kyle Keller of Las Vegas, who would hold onto it for ten laps before Cooper took it back. Cooper would withstand several challenges before succumbing to Oakdale’s Blaine Rocha, driver of the Strmiska family No. 90, who steadily worked his way through the field from his fourth-row starting position, on lap 55.

Rocha’s turn at the top would last until lap 71, where he was spun after Escalon’s Sam Solari tagged him in his attempt to take the lead. Solari, who started in the race from the third row before falling to the back of the field after getting caught up in a wreck on lap 22, once again found himself at the back of the pack for the restart, but this time by invitation from track officials, for his transgression against Rocha.

“I knew it was gonna be a crazy race. We got to the front, and Sammy was faster. I gave him the line, but he cleaned me out,” explained Rocha after the race. “There was a lot of chaos, but it was a fun night. I just wish we could have got the No. 90 to victory lane.”

Cooper was back on top when the race went green, but not for long as Ripon’s Michael Sandoval slid under him a couple of laps later. Sandoval began to slowly pull away before another caution on lap 79 erased his advantage.

Stockton’s JoJo Stearns, the 2022 track champion driving a car with the No. 50 paint scheme on the driver’s door and the No. 90 on the passenger door in tribute to Strmiska and David Philpott, attempted to get under Sandoval on the restart, but they touched, causing Sandoval to hit hard into the Turn 3 wall. Stearns was swallowed up by Cooper on the ensuing restart before the race was once again brought to a halt on the next lap due to another caution.

“I like the Stearnses; they’re a hell of a family,” said Cooper, who also won a Pro Late Model race at Stockton 99 in May 2025. "I told JoJo over there, 'I'm not going to touch you; let’s just finish this thing out.'"

However, with the midnight curfew for the fireworks show looming only a few minutes off, track promoter Tony Noceti made the tough decision to call the race at that point, giving Cooper the win.

“I was just trying to conserve tires because that’s where we’ve fallen off at the end of the race,” Stearns said. “We fired off good on that last restart with 10 to go, and there was a miscommunication on a restart that should have been called back, and it pretty much cost us the race.”

Like something out of the movie Apocalypse Now, it was a surreal scene in the aftermath of the chaotic finish. As the track lighting was immediately doused to start the fireworks, disgruntled fans were booing the result, several drivers and crewmen were shouting their displeasure at track officials, Cooper was doing a victory lap, and people in the infield were scurrying for safety as a shower of sparks rained down in the red glare of the fireworks that were bursting in air just above them. Like something out of the movie Apocalypse Now, it was a surreal scene in the aftermath of the chaotic finish. As the track lighting was immediately doused to start the fireworks, disgruntled fans were booing the result, several drivers and crewmen were shouting their displeasure at track officials, Cooper was doing a victory lap, and people in the infield were scurrying for safety as a shower of sparks rained down in the red glare of the fireworks that were bursting in air just above them.

“Tony (Noceti) put on a hell of a show, $5,000 to win,” Cooper said after the race. “We led a lot of laps, stayed near the front, and we kind of rode it out. To race in front of these packed stands and win is pretty badass.”

Points leader and reigning track champion Sammy Solari somehow managed to work his way back through the bedlam to salvage third, just in front of Justin Philpott and Modesto’s Hans Beeler.

“I knew we were fast and I just needed to survive, but it was hard to survive the way they were turning cars and driving tonight,” lamented Solari in the pits following the race. “We battled back three times. We still had a good points night.”

Stearns topped qualifying at 14.388 seconds around Stockton 99’s quarter-mile paved oval, and 10 cars qualified within two-tenths of a second of each other. Cooper turned the quickest lap of the race at 14.73.

Legends of 99: Jeremy Doss of Upper Lake and Wyatt Sansom of Linden took turns leading the entertaining 30-lap main event with Doss squeaking out the victory in the 22-car field by .384 of a second. Zach Sansom of Linden was third, .579 of a second behind Doss.

Doss, Wyatt Sansom and Zach Sansom ran 1-2-3 before Wyatt Sansom shot by Doss coming out of Turn 2 on lap 20. Doss responded by taking the low groove with Wyatt Sansom going high in Turns 3 and 4, giving Doss the edge at the start/finish line as the yellow flag waved on lap 22 with Zach Sansom hot on their tails.

Doss again used the low groove to pass Wyatt Sansom for good on lap 24. Sansom went low on back-to-back laps in an attempt to return the favor, but Doss hung on for the victory.

“The Sansom brothers have really stepped up their game here. I knew they were going to be tough because they have been good here all season,” said Doss. “The car still needs a little work, but I'm just happy to come out of here with a win.”

Stockton’s Andy Rumsey won the trophy dash.

Fast Kar Solutions Mini Modified: Freddy Irvin of Modesto took the lead over trophy dash winner Patrick Geiger of Clovis early in the 20-lap main event, and they finished 1-2 with Irvin winning by 1.218 seconds. Chase Barnes was third.

“This is amazing. It’s like Stockton used to be back in the day,” said Irvin, who turned the quickest lap of the race by one-fifth of a second and has won all three main events this season. “It’s amazing to see all the fans.”

Irvin is a proponent of the Mini Modified class and always thanks Stockton 99 Promoter Tony Noceti for providing opportunities to race. Chris Wardle drove the No. 15 car, which is a rental.

“Fifteen is a rental, so if anybody up there wants to drive, it’s the most reasonable way,” Irvin said.

Next Up: Stockton 99 returns to action Saturday, July 18, with Fan Appreciation Night with ticket prices $10 for ages 11 and up. Kids 10 and under get in free. Racing action will feature the Stockton Late Model, Fast Kar Solutions Mini Modified and Pure Stock divisions plus the Legends of Kearney Bowl. Parking is free. Gates open at 6 p.m. with racing at 7. Visit stockton99.com.

— Bill Poindexter contributed to this report