Big night for Strmiskas
SCOTT
LINESBURGH
Record Staff Writer
Published Saturday, Aug 19, 2006
STOCKTON
- Ron Strmiska Jr. is looking forward to an eventful day at Stockton 99
Speedway.
Strmiska will welcome his son, Ross Strmiska, into the NASCAR Western Late Model
ranks and hopes to take advantage of an excellent opportunity to move up in the
Hotwood
1,000
standings when racing resumes at the track 6 p.m. today.
"It could be a good day in a lot of ways," Ron Strmiska said. "It's a big race,
and it's going to be great to be on the track
with Ross."
Ross Strmiska, 20, has been racing his rookie season in the Legend division, and
has a victory. He will become the third generation of his family to drive a late
model at Stockton 99, joining his father and grandfather, former track champion
Ron Strmiska Sr.
"It
is exciting to be out here, especially since this is Stockton's last year," Ross
Strmiska said. "It will be nice to race with my Dad."
Ross said he just wants to get some experience, and his father hopes to take
advantage of an opportunity.
Pete
Anderson Jr. of Stockton is the Hotwood points leader with 677 points, and he's
followed by Guy Guibor of
Manteca (668) and Ron Strmiska (658). But the rules for the Hotwood series have
been altered since the beginning of the season, and each driver gets to count
his best 16 finishes toward the series.
Today's event will be the 17th race of the season, so drivers start throwing out
bad finishes.
A main event victory is worth 50 points. Anderson's worst finish is 12th place,
worth 28 points, and Guibor has a 13th place showing (26).
If
Anderson, #5, who has won two main events in a row, wins again, he can add a
maximum 22 points to his total. But for Ron Strmiska, this is the 16th race.
Every point he earns tonight goes to his overall total.
"I know where we are, but we're not going to think about it much," said Ron
Strmiska, 45. "We've run well to stay up with the others even though we were
down a race, and now we just want to run up front. It's a close race, and it
will stay close."
Guibor, #61, leads the WLM regular season standings. He has 822 points and is
followed by Ron Strmiska (804) and Anderson (792).
Contact reporter Scott Linesburgh at (209) 546-8281 or slinesbu@recordnet.com
The Stockton 99 Speedway is located just off Highway 99 at 4105 North Wilson Way. If you are traveling south on Highway 99 take the Wilson Way exit. If you are heading north on Highway 99 take the Cherokee Road exit, loop over the freeway, turn right onto Newton Road and then turn left on Wilson Way.
Stockton 99 Speedway Info/Race Line (209) 466-9999.
