Stockton

Billy Vukovich at Stockton 99 Speedway in 1947.

Stockton 99 Speedway, Early Race. Note the goal posts in the infield, St. Mary's High School played football there!!

Fab 15 things we'll miss about Stockton 99

Compiled by Scott Linesburgh; Photos by Victor J. Blue
The Record
Published Sunday, Sep 10, 2006

The sounds of engines roaring, tires screeching and fans cheering have filled the skies on otherwise peaceful Saturday nights on Wilson Way for six decades. Stockton 99 Speedway has long been considered one of the toughest little tracks in the country, and in a week it will be gone. But before a lifetime of racing history is replaced by houses, fans will get one more chance to see why the quarter-mile oval has fascinated and confounded drivers. They can stop the engines, but the memories of 60 years of racing will remain.

1. Fans in Turn 1

The fans in the rickety wooden bleachers perched in the first turn of the track have a reputation of being a surly lot and reside in Stockton 99's equivalent of the infamous Black Hole at Raiders games. No face paint, but plenty of attitude. The old days of pelting the car of an unpopular driver with debris are long gone, but they are as vocal as ever.

 

 2. Marks on the wall

The marks on the lower wall around the base of the track tell the tale of races won and lost, and crashes that could have been avoided.

 

3. Turns, turns, turns

Sixty years ago, the partners at Stockton 99 couldn't agree on the angle of the turns. So they compromised by making one side higher than the other, and drivers have been muttering about the surface ever since.

4. The pits

It's where races are often won and lost and tempers have sometimes flared. Any disagreement between drivers is often discussed away from the track, but mostly the pits are a busy place where crew members scurry about getting the car ready for the race. Someone hand us a wrench and a few spark plugs. We want to join in on the fun.

5. Announcer's booth

The highest point of the track, the booth can be seen from Wilson Way and tells those driving by that, yes, there is a race track here. The booth has seen better days, and a trip up the stairs can be as challenging as a 50-lap race, but it has an old-school charm.

6. Heritage

Stockton 99 regulars have always been proud that they frequent the little track with the big reputation. The facility became the first NASCAR-sanctioned track west of the Mississippi River in 1954, long before stock-car racing was a national phenomenon. In auto racing circles, it's a landmark.

7. Harry Belletto

The dean of the drivers, "Hard Drivin' Harry" showed up at Stockton 99 in 1969 and has been a fan favorite and reliable leadfoot ever since. His accomplishments include three track titles, a record 89 main event wins and two sons who have become successful drivers. He's now 63 and a grandfather, but he's still out there fulfilling his need for speed and linking generations of drivers together.

8. A family affair

The Bellettos are far from the only family who believe a fun Saturday night is taking a spin around the tracks. Well-known race families such as the Shafers, Philpotts and Strmiskas have watched their children and grandchildren grow up at Stockton 99 and make their way into the sport. And then there are the Hunefelds, the first family of Stockton racing. Billy Hunefeld founded the track, and his son Bob and grandson Chris have kept it going steadily for 60 years.

9. Rubbin' is racin'

Old-time drivers often describe the tiny quarter-mile oval as "a bull ring," and with 20 cars spinning circles in close quarters, it's tough to avoid the horns. It's almost guaranteed that someone is going to spin out and someone is going to be ticked off. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

10. The barbecue pit

The Royce family's barbecue area sits on top of the hill, and the aroma of the tri-tip sandwiches and cheeseburgers spreads over the crowd. Hmm, it's enough to make you hungry, isn't it? Let's grab the napkins and the barbecue sauce and sit down for a feast.

11. Sponsors

It's money, not gas, that truly fuels auto racing, so we have to sit patiently while the announcer tells us that the Dodge Dart driven by Randy Racer is sponsored by Buck's Garage, Mike's Delicatessen, Franny's Beauty Salon and the Shady Rest Retirement Home

12. Helmets and driving suits

You may not be able to see their faces, but the drivers still get to display their individuality. The helmet and driving suit can tell you a lot about the driver. We'll assume the helmet of Stockton driver Richard Simbalenko means he loves to fire up the engine.

13. Decals and paint

Nothing beats a shiny paint job, especially when it's covered with decals. The problem is that at Stockton 99, the paint jobs rarely stays shiny for long.


14. The starter

The most colorful person at the track is starter Mark Vincelet, who is perched in the tower near the starting line with a rainbow of flags at his disposal. Green means go, red means stop, yellow means something went wrong, and if you are the first driver to see the black-and-white checkered one, you just won.

15. The winners

Grabbing the trophy and thanking every sponsor and every friend you've known since kindergarten is a part of racing. Now, smile for the camera and hold that trophy high.