STOCKTON 99 SPEEDWAY

Official on mend after accident

By Scott Linesburgh

Record Staff Writer

April 11, 2009 6:00 AM

STOCKTON - Adam Douglas is feeling better after a scary incident last Saturday at Stockton 99 Speedway.

But he won't be filling his normal post as a track official when racing resumes at 6 p.m. today with a 99-lap main event for NASCAR Western Late Models, along with competition in the Street Stockon, Bombers and Basically-4-Cylinders divisions.

Douglas was hit by a car during a caution period in the NASCAR Western Late Model main event. The 29-year-old Manteca resident received eight staples in his head and injured his knee.

TODAY'S RACES

NASCAR Weekly Racing Series

Green flag: 6 p.m., Stockton 99 Speedway

Racing divisions: NASCAR Western Late Models, Street Stock, Bombers and Basically-4-Cylinders

Information: (209) 466-9999, stockton99.com

"The CAT scan came back negative and there are no broken bones, so it's not too bad," Douglas said.

The incident occurred when a crash on lap 21 caused the caution flag to come out. Douglas was on the track at turn No. 1 when he was bumped by the car of Jeff Ford. He landed hard on the asphalt.

"I don't honestly remember anything about it," Douglas said.

Douglas, the son-in-law of track promoters Tony and Carol Noceti, works as a fork lift and tractor mechanic. He said he hopes to return soon.

"It was really scary when it happened," Tony Noceti said. "I knew his head hit, but thankfully it wasn't so bad."

The first four WLM features since the track's return from a two-season hiatus have each had different winners. Ross Strmiska of Manteca and Vito Ranuio of Stockton won last week's 50-lap WLM features, and Justin Philpott of Tracy and Tim Spurgeon of Danville have also won.

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