Teenager hopes to win again at Stockton 99 this weekend

Record Staff Writer

July 05, 2014 12:00 AM

STOCKTON - Danny Allen has a chance to win more big races before he begins his sophomore year in high school.

The Tri-Holiday Classic, which begins at 6 p.m. today at Stockton 99 Speedway, is one of the biggest events on the local motorsports calendar. MICHAEL McCOLLUM/The Record

Allen, a 14-year-old from the town of Lincoln, joined the NASCAR Western Late Model division this year and already has two wins at Stockton 99 Speedway, including the first leg of the Tri-Holiday Classic. He'll try to make it two-for-two in the series when he competes in the annual Fourth of July race today at the speedway. Racing begins at 6 p.m., and there will also be the traditional fireworks show.

"This is my first real race on Fourth of July weekend, and it should be fun," Allen said.

Allen is quite happy to spend the holiday in Stockton. He won the Memorial Day race on May 24 at Stockton 99, and also earned a victory in the Pacific Challenge Series event on June 7.

He is also scheduled to run in Stockton on Aug. 9 and Aug. 30.

"It's hard to explain," Allen said. "I've just found it here. It's a really fun track. The track has a lot of character to it."

He couldn't compete in a late model car until he turned 14, but Allen has been racing for a decade. He raced in Mini Cups, Legends and other divisions, having success as he went along.

"It's what he loves to do," said his father, Dan Allen. "He was successful, so we kept moving to the next level."

Blaine Rocha of Oakdale is another young rider making his Independence Day race debut at Stockton 99. The 16-year-old had a strong fifth place finish in the SRL Southwest Tour race in Madera on June 28 and drives for Ron Strmiska Jr. Who has won the holiday event as a driver and a crew chief.

"To me, this is always the biggest race of the year out here," Strmiska said. "To win one is a pretty big deal."

Contact reporter Scott Linesburgh at (209) 546-8281.

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