Motor Sports: New surface wraps Stockton 99 facelift

By Kelly Jones
kjones@modbee.com

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Race fans were elated when the New Stockton 99 Speedway re-opened this spring. They'll be overjoyed with the repaved track.

First-year promoters Tony and Carol Noceti said it made more sense to give the quarter-mile oval a new coat rather than patch a few spots every week. So Tiger Construction of Stockton was tasked to install a new asphalt surface this week.

"I think there are going to be three grooves now, even in Turns 1 and 2 where you weren't able to get up the high side of that wall," Tony Noceti said. "You haven't been able to do that for years because the track washed out from under you."

The track was last repaved in 1997. Regular wear, and two years of weeds pushing through cracks while Stockton 99 was on hiatus, prompted the work sooner than the Nocetis had hoped.

Carol said the surface was becoming a safety issue.

"While the track has always had character, as the racers like to say, it had been on the rough side," Carol Noceti said. "We would have had to do it in another six to 12 weeks and we thought, 'Why put it off?' Everyone will benefit.' "

First on the track Saturday will be the Western Late Models, Grand American Modifieds, the ALSC/Street Stock division and Bombers. The Krazed Go-Karts, quads and motorcycles race Sunday afternoon. Saturday tickets are $15, with grandstands open at 3 p.m. Call 466-9999 or visit www.stockton99.com.

• INDY 500, at Indianapolis — Oriol Servia was the fastest of 10 drivers in Thursday's practice hoping to qualify for the Indianapolis 500. Servia's fast lap of 221.343 mph was seventh overall in the six-hour session.

• PITCREW CHALLENGE, at Charlotte, N.C. — Jeff Burton's wife was behind the wheel and a tire-changer joined the team only a day earlier. But they produced an error-free, record performance to give Richard Childress' team the NASCAR Pit Crew Challenge. The seven-member team changed four tires, put in gas and pushed the car — steered by the petite Kim Burton — 40 yards in an event-best 22.115 seconds to earn $70,000.

Bee news services contributed.