2008 Local Tracks
     

Restart your engines

Stockton 99 Speedway to reopen in 2009 after two-year hiatus

By Scott Linesburgh

Record Staff Writer

August 26, 2008 6:00 AM

STOCKTON - Bill Jones, (left), can't wait to head back to his old corner of Stockton 99 Speedway.

Jones, who started watching races at the track almost 60 years ago, was thrilled to hear the quarter-mile

Ken Clapp, in the pits, on playday.

 oval will be reopened after a two-year hiatus. Carol and Tony Noceti of French Camp have signed a five-year lease with owners Bob Hunefeld and Ken Clapp to operate the track on Wilson Way, which is scheduled to reopen in March 2009.

"It's really nice to finally have it signed and sealed," Tony Noceti said. "Our goal is to plug everything back in and clean it up, and give it a face lift."

Jones, 67, attended his first race in 1949 and watched from his usual spot near the first turn when the track closed on Sept. 16, 2006 to make way for a housing development that never materialized.

"It's the greatest news I've had in past two years, and I'll tell you what, there's going to be a lot of other people excited that we are going to be racing next year," said Jones, who attended one race at Madera Speedway and one at Altamont Motorsports Park during Stockton 99's closure.

"When they took the track away from us, it was like taking air out of our lungs. It was a horrible thing. But this is a

Bob Hunefeld with longtime race fan John "Iceman" Summers in 2006.

 wonderful thing."

Michael Waters of Stockton was so happy, he offered to join the work crews which are clearing weeds and debris from the facility.

"If they need help cleaning up the place, they can call me," said Waters, 35. "I'm just happy to have something like this in town."

Chris Hunefeld and his daughter Allie at 99 in 1996.

The Nocetis have been swamped with well-wishers since word of the pending deal became public last week.

"The response from the community has been unbelievable," Carol Noceti said. "It's very heartwarming."

Original Promoter and Track founding partner, W. G. "Billy" Hunefeld. In 1950, Billy  was awarded the C.S.C.R.A. Annual Award for Outstanding Promotion.

The track opened in 1947 and was shut down after its owners sold the property to Legacy Development of the Bay Area. Chris Hunefeld, Bob Hunefeld's son, said his family is happy to get back into racing.

"It's a great way to maintain the property, and it's the best use of the land at this time," Chris Hunefeld said. "Tony has some great ideas and he's already getting things done."

Tony Noceti, (left), said the top priorities include filling in the holes and resurfacing the track. Noceti owns the lighting standards, bleachers and fencing from the speedway and has it stored in a warehouse in French Camp. The refurbishing project could cost about $1 million, Noceti said.

He also has to put together a racing program and plans to apply for a NASCAR sanction. Stockton 99 minority owner and longtime promoter Ken Clapp said he's impressed with the Nocetis' enthusiasm.

"I'm very pleased and wish Tony Noceti and his family all the luck in the world," Clapp said. "I had a 40-year run (as promoter) and had a lot of fun, and Tony will do great."

What remains to be seen are the number of race teams who will put Stockton 99 back on their schedules. Dave Fortney, the car owner for Stockton driver, #8 at Stockton in 2006, Joey Stearns, said he expects there to be great interest. Stearns is currently racing at Madera, where he is the NASCAR Western Late Model points leader.

"I couldn't be more jazzed by it," Fortney said. "We'll decide what makes the most sense for us next season, but we'll definitely run some of the races at Stockton."

Contact reporter Scott Linesburgh at (209) 546-8281 or slinesburgh@recordnet.com.