Beginning it's 58th season, the Stockton "99" Speedway has announced that the season opening "Havoline Cavalcade of Motor Racing" will include the first appearance of the National United States Auto Club (USAC) midget division in more than three decades. The Sunday afternoon, March 30 midget portion of the program will be co-sanctioned by the Bay Cities Racing Association (BCRA), and will include the Western States USAC division. It will be the richest midget race of all time in Northern California. The three-pronged midget cavalcade is expected to draw more than 40 cars and drivers, including most of the nation's top NATIONAL MIDGET drivers.

Heading the National field will be Indianapolis 500 veteran J.J. Yeley of Phoenix, who placed second in both the USAC National midget and sprint car divisions while winning the Silver Crown championship in 2002. From Ilinois will be the Fike brothers, Aaron and A. J., both former Rookie of the Year titlists. Aaron won an IRL Infinity Pro race last season. Ohio's Teddy Beach, last year's national Rookie of the Year, has entered as has Yeley's teammate Bobby East. 2002's co-Rookie of the Year Ron Gregory from Indiana is set to compete along with Florida's Dave Steele and nationally acclaimed Jay Drake of Val Verde, California. Numerous other national campaigners are expected to enter before the entry deadline.

From the West Coast both the BCRA and Western States USAC champions will be competing. BCRA's six-time champion Floyd Alvis of San Carlos and USAC's Robby Flock of Temecula will begin defending their respective titles. USAC veteran Wally Pankratz of Orange will be among the west coast representatives. Other expected entries from BCRA include Rob Russell of Fremont, Cliff Servetti of San Francisco, John Sarale of Stockton, Manteca's Jim Silva, Thomas Meseraull of San Jose and Tim Joyce of San Carlos, as well as former Wisconsin champion Greg Nelson of Citrus Heights. USAC contenders are expected to include Alex Harris of Simi Valley, Matthew Rossi of Glendale, AZ, Bobby Boone of Palmdale and Josh Wise of Riverside. Also Van Knill from Tucson AZ. who finished 5th in points last year, Won the "Rookie of the Year" and "Hard Charger of the Year" awards from USAC.

The full slate of racing in the Havoline Oil sponsored event will include the SRL "Tour Style" Late Model Stock Car "Wild West Shootout 100", as well as the valley's popular NASCAR Western Late Models and Pure Stocks.

Grandstands open at 11 a.m. when practice begins. Qualifying is set for 12-noon with racing at 2:30 on the fast quarter-mile high-banked paved oval.

How to get there: From the North or South on Interstate 5, take the Downtown Freeway (which goes over the top of the city) to Highway 99. Go North on #99 to Cherokee. From Cherokee take the overpass over the freeway to the first right, which is Newton. Turn right on Newton for one mile to Wilson. Left at stop light. Track is one block on the right. Coming from the North on #99, take the Wilson off ramp. Track is approximately one mile on right. (There is no Wilson off ramp when coming from the South - use instructions above).

The track phone number is: (209) 466-9999, website: stockton99speedway.com.

"FIKE CLAIMS NATIONAL MIDGET DRIVER OF THE YEAR HONORS WITH 11th PLACE VEGAS FINISH"

LAS VEGAS, NV - 12/1 - Aaron Fike has emerged as the 2002 National Midget Driver of the Year Champion, Saturday Night at the BullRing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where he finished eleventh in the USAC National/Western Midget feature, won by Tony Stewart.

Fike, 19, of Galesburg, IL won seven midget features nationwide, and the 2002 Badger Midget Series Title this season. Fike topped 537 drivers who scored points at 220 events nationwide.

Mike Hess, and defending champion Tracy Hines entered the Las Vegas event trailing Fike by four, and 33 points, but both drivers retired early from the event with mechanical problems. USAC National Midget Champion Dave Darland who finished second at Las Vegas, passed Hines to finish in third place. Bobby East, J.J. Yeley, Davey Ray, A.J. Fike, Dave Steele, and Aaron Fiscus round out the top ten drivers. James Chesson captured the Design 500 Racewear National Midget Rookie of the Year Honors.

In the Manfuacturers Championship for the second straight year Gaerte engines won the engine maufacturers title while Beast was the top chassis builder. Fike, and the top ten along with the special award winners will recieved their honors on Saturday Night January 11 prior to the start of the O'Reilly Chili Bowl National in Tulsa, OK, for ticket information go to: www.chilibowl.com.

FINAL TOP TWENTY FIVE

PTS RACES/WINS

1. Aaron Fike 1433 45/7

2. Mike Hess 1429 40/4

3. Dave Darland 1411 29/3

4. Tracy Hines 1400 39/8

5. Bobby East 1279 46/6

6. J.J. Yeley 1099 27/4

7. Davey Ray 915 29/0

8. A.J. Fike 882 36/1

9. Dave Steele 792 16/5

10. Aaron Fiscus 770 22/0

11. Aaron Pierce 756 37/7

12. Scott Hatton 721 17/1

13. Teddy Beach 710 36/5

14. Critter Malone 702 21/2

15. Chad DeSelle 19/1

16. Dan Boorse 652 17/4

Steve Paden 652 26/0

18. Brandon Waelti 640 20/1

19. Jason Leffler 566 14/2

20. Ron Gregory 557 31/2

21. Brian Gerster 518 18/1

22. James Chesson 513 15/0

23. Steve Thinnes 493 19/5

24. Ryan Durst 471 27/0

25. David Gough 470 19/5

DESIGN 500 RACEWEAR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

1. James Chesson 513

2. Ryan Durst 471

3. Tom Hessert 291

NATIONAL MIDGET MANUFACTURERS CHAMPIONSHIP

Chassis

1. Beast 689

2. Stealth 540

3. Hawk 188

Engine

1. Gaerte 393

2. Esslinger 349

3. Pink 235