Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008

Done deal: Stockton 99 to reopen next year

Carol and Tony Noceti of Noceti Grupe Inc. signed a five-year lease Monday afternoon with Bob Hunefeld of Stockton, the majority owner of the property on which Stockton 99 Speedway sits, and they plan to reopen the racetrack in March 2009.

"We met, we signed it. It's completely done," Carol Noceti said, adding the early plan is to run four house divisions, including Late Model and Grand American Modified. They also plan to schedule an "old-school way of running heat races," and apply for membership with NASCAR. Tony Noceti is a French Camp native and longtime racer and racing enthusiast.

The track has been vacant since closing in September 2006 after 60 years, and has been a repeated target for vandalism and theft. Hunefeld and minority owner Ken Clapp planned to sell the land for development, but in the ensuing crash of the housing market, a contract with a developer expired March 31.

The Nocetis purchased the speedway's lights, bleachers, fencing and other items after 99 closed and now plan to begin moving them back into the facility. In the meantime, they've spent a considerable amount of time cleaning up the quarter-mile asphalt bullring that was home to smalltown racers and future Daytona 500 champions alike -- namely, Ernie Irvan.

"I'm very impressed with them so far," Hunefeld said. "I'm sorry our deal fell through; that's the way it goes. But I feel very fortunate someone wants to do it. They put on the shows."

Local racers are reacting with excitement over the news, and there is a buzz about who will return to Stockton 99.

One is Charlie Clawson of Modesto. The American Limited Stock Car track champion in 2005, he isn't racing this year. When the story broke last week, Clawson received a call from fellow driver Sheila Wall of Oakdale. A half-hour later, Clawson heard from Ken Ratcliff, a former driver, official and crewman. Clawson then talked to Tony Schmitz of Oakdale, another racer.

"He's interested in coming back to race," Clawson said of Schmitz. "Kenny has a Western Late Model car, and he's excited to get it running.

"Things haven't been the same as Stockton, anywhere you go. Of all the tracks I raced at, I like Stockton the best. There's more than one groove, so there's a lot of side-by-side racing, and that's where the excitement is."

Mike David of Modesto has gone on to bigger races and tracks, having won the NASCAR Grand National West title last year. He cut his teeth at Stockton 99, winning SRL main events, a Tri-Track Challenge title and more.

"It's pretty exciting," said David, who's fourth in Camping World Series West points, 131 behind leader Eric Holmes of Escalon. "We don't need to lose tracks. We need as many tracks as we can get."

David has heard a few racers have been to the track to help the Nocetis with the clean-up effort. He believes 99 again will draw cars on race day, too.

"I think it will be the place to go," David said. "I hope the fans will follow. The more cars you get, the better racing you get."

Bee sports editor Bill Poindexter can be reached at bpoindexter@modbee.com or 238-4588.