Stockton 99 Speedway, once known as the "fastest quarter-mile in the west," is making a comeback.
Longtime NASCAR promoter Ken Clapp and partner Bob Hunefeld shut the speedway in 2006 after 60 years of racing to make way for redevelopment. The parcel was part of a large subdivision slated for the Highway 99 corridor. But their contract with the developer expired March 31 with the track still standing.
This week, Carol and Tony Noceti of Noceti Grupe Inc. signed a five-year lease with Hunefeld, the property's majority owner. The Nocetis hope to have the track reopened in March.
"We met, we signed it. It's completely done," Carol Noceti told the Modesto Bee. The couple plans to host Late Model and Grand American Modified series and will apply for NASCAR membership to renew Stockton 99's late-model weekly series.
The Nocetis already have a lot of what they need to reopen the track. They purchased the original speedway's lights, bleachers, fencing and other items when the facility closed.
In June, Clapp had predicted a resurgence for his familiar track, which had been the West Coast's oldest NASCAR facility. "It's still all there," he said. "We've had a lot of inquiries. With the way the housing market is right now, it makes sense."
Clapp, a former NASCAR vice president, now works with Auto Club Speedway in Fontana as a consultant. Formerly known as California Speedway, the track hosts NASCAR's Sprint Cup series this weekend, but will be moving this race to Oct. 11 next season.
"It will be part of the Chase; that's all good stuff," Clapp said this week. "We've fought the weather down there every Labor Day."
Speedway officials hope the temperature doesn't hit triple digits this weekend. "We have a lot of seats in a tough economy in a tough market," Clapp said. "We still get bigger crowds than any baseball or football game (in the area) this month. It's the biggest event in L.A."
But there's room for lots more in a facility that can hold more than 100,000. About 70,000 are expected.
Calistoga records at risk
Calistoga Speedway on the Napa County Fairgrounds this weekend hosts the two-day Louie Vermeil Classic, a doubleheader featuring the United States Auto Club Sprint Cars and Western Midgets. Track officials said it's the first time wingless sprint cars will compete at Calistoga since 1985 and the first midget racing at the half-mile dirt track since 1996.
Some long-standing track records are expected to fall. NASCAR star Tony Stewart holds Calistoga's midget mark (21.031 seconds), set in 1994. Brent Kaeding, who set the wingless sprint-car standard (20.212) in 1985, will be competing this weekend and could lower his own mark.
As part of the track festivities, former NFL coach Dick Vermeil hosts a wine tasting and vintage sprint car show at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Hot-rod countdown
The National Hot Rod Association's Countdown to the Championship wraps up this week in Indianapolis with the top 10 in each division still eligible for titles.
In Funny Cars, former Sacramentan Robert Hight clinched his playoff spot. The American River College alumnus ranks third behind Tim Wilkerson and Tony Pedregon.
In Pro Stock Motorcycles, Rocklin's Matt Guidera also clinched a postseason slot before the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, but could move up from seventh place with a strong showing. After winning in Sonoma, Guidera had back-to-back rough weekends in Brainerd, Minn., and Reading, Pa., to drop him two spots from fifth in the standings behind No. 1 Matt Smith.
Call The Bee's Debbie Arrington, (916) 326-5514.
