Forum: Northern California Sprint Car (go)
Moderators: StuDeedooo

Check out this link to some pics showing the track now and the people who bought it.

They are the same couple that have been promoting the "Big Dog" series of races at Altamont this year.

Never really liked the track but any track making a comeback these days is a good thing!

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=SR&Dato=20080820&Kategori=A_SPORTS&Lopenr=820002&Ref=PH

Now if they'd just get rid of that asphalt!

Kinda hard to keep the current track surface there anyway...when the weeds have taken over in that two-year span!

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080821/A_NEWS/808210332/-1/A_SPORTS - the full text of the article

I was at that last event at Stockton 99 back in 06...it was a great night of short track racing...as far as the paved stuff is concerned, I've liked it a lot more than I do All-American up in Roseville and even if I didn't, seeing ANY racetrack return from the dead is always a good thing, Northern California has lost too many over the years (Baylands, San Jose the obvious examples).

- Chris

RADROBINLB

yes I have a lot of memories at the 99. I quit going when the promoter ran the open wheel (smaller block than the san jose supers) modifieds out of there. It would be cheaper for the new owner to put dirt in there (I think). We were at Roseville for the USAC Western States sprinters for their opener. With track improvements the track at Roseville was very racy. In years past the track was considered a freight train, but no more. I hope Stockton returns.

"Ralphie, Senor, muchas gracias por una mas cerveza"  -
Scott Daloisio @ the PAS

I'd love to see open-wheel at Stockton 99...didn't NASCAR move most of its stuff to Altamont anyway, in the wake of the 2006 closure? Not that they wouldn't come back...but that would be a really awesome change of pace - sprints, supers and midgets...

Did USAC ever run sprint events there?

- Chris

Years ago, in the days of the Northern Auto Racing Club (NARC), the Stockton promoter ran a few sprint car shows. I remember being at one race won by Sacramento's Billy Anderson. A few years before the track closed USAC Western States ran a sprint and midget double header with Kasey Kane in the field. After the promoter's dispute with the old open wheel modifieds (the drivers wanted more money) they were replaced with the tin tops of NASCAR. The track was closely aligned with NASCAR and Scott's Valley promoter Bob Barkhimer and the old San Jose Speedway. Sadly open wheel racing never returned to the track on a weekly basis. Neither did I until the lure of Kasey Kane and the USAC open wheel double header brought me back for the one race.

"Ralphie, Senor, muchas gracias por una mas cerveza"  -
Scott Daloisio @ the PAS

Would love to see the sprint cars return to Stockton as well. How about the NCMA "spec" sprints? I have seen them at Altamont and each time I thought they put on a great show. Maybe their purse requirements would be less than the other sprints which would allow a win for the promoter and the fans. Just a thought.

The reopening has now been confirmed, for March 2009:

http://www.modbee.com/sports/story/406782.html

- Chris

I took in one of the Altamont USAC Sprint Car/Midget shows in June this year and I was stunned at the lack of attendance. Only two or three rows of the bleachers had any butts in them. Most of the people I talked to were family or friends of the race teams. The racing was outstanding but after seeing how empty that place was I just wonder if asphalt racing is still the way to go at 99. If they covered that surface with some good old black gumbo they'd have my but in a seat.

Oh well... looks like the decision was made. I do wish them well!

I wonder if the issues at getting a crowd at Altamont have to do with their inability to run night races now (if I'm not mistaken) due to getting on Alameda County's nerves - something that will not be a factor at 99.

Altamont's owners have also had serious issues with their other project, their attempt to recreate Riverside International Raceway on the Castle AFB site in Merced County, which appears to be stillborn at present.

- Chris

Was there last year for a USAC western states sprint and midget show, it was a day show, windy and cold, only about two or three hundred fans in the stands..

Altamont is well known for its wind and cold temps.

"Ralphie, Senor, muchas gracias por una mas cerveza"  -
Scott Daloisio @ the PAS

I'd be willing to bet that the LENGTH of the shows under former management contributed to the lack of crowd. I know that's what stopped me from going there for the USAC shows. The times I went, the racing was outstanding, but, the shows dragged out waaaaaay too long (too much downtime). Even so, I hated to see the track close and I'm glad to see it back up and running. Lets hope the new owner does something to improve the fan's experience.

I think the lack of crowd being referred to there in that post is the USAC shows at Altamont and not at Stockton...

though on the Stockton 99 closing night in '06, the friend who went with me (I think he was at the time an employee of a Grand-Am team) asked around and heard that the packed stands that greeted the track's farewell were an anomaly and not indicative of the usual crowds that had been showing up there for the last decade or so. So there were attendance issues at the quarter-mile for sure.

Technically, the ownership hasn't changed, just now they're leasing it to a new promoter (who was doing stuff at Altamont recently).

- Chris

does this mean we will see Mark Welch again the best IMCA mod driver ever.

Scheduled to re-open in March of '09.

Here is a link to a Channel 10 news report.

http://www.news10.net/video/default.aspx?maven_playerId=articleplayer&maven_referralPlaylistId=playlist&maven_referralObject=833217497

I actually drove by Stockton 99 on the way to Ocean Speedway on Saturday night...place still needs a bit of work (the press box shell was the only thing I could see off of Wilson Way). Still, I look at how much of that oval's left, and then look at an overhead view of, say, what was once Cajon Speedway down south...and realize how lucky we are that this is even happening at all.

In '09 I'm hoping I can find a weekend off my usual Civil War/Placerville spectating to make it back to that little bullring that's coming back to life next spring...

- Chris

I am also somewhat happy with the news that 99 will be reopening. But let's face it Stockton has been a stock car track since they booted the open wheel modifieds several years ago. I know because I was a regular there until the modifieds were shown the door. But, if I was Tommy Hunt with USAC/Western States I would talk to the new promoter and schedule some USAC sprinters in there three or maybe more times next year. I don't know who it was earlier in this thread but the USAC sprinters and midgets put on one great show on the asphalt. I was at the opener in Roseville and it was a great show. I watched the fans following the stock car main event (the sprinters were the last main event on the race card) and hardly anyone left after the tin top main event. There are open wheel fans for sure in the Sacramento area and I think there are still some fans of sprint cars in Stockton. Have at it USAC.

"Ralphie, Senor, muchas gracias por una mas cerveza"  -
Scott Daloisio @ the PAS

I agree - I'd absolutely love to see sprinters and midgets hitting up Stockton 99 - since they already go to Madera and Roseville and Altamont. Never ever a bad thing to see them take on more venues. Still, you're right, it's primarily a stock car track, which makes it hard for me to want to take away time from sprint car spectating to watch it, particularly when Placerville is closer...

Now, I'd go if they did at least one schoolbus figure 8 next year.

- Chris