(1985)
The 85 season saw yet another first as Patty Clement moved up to late model competition to become the first 'full season' female driver in the track's 50 year history, driving a Ford prepared by his husband Dave.
The track welcomed back Ron Strmiska this year and he showed he was a-ok by setting a track speed record along with Norman David, and Troy Beebe, The best was set by second-season standout Beebe at 13.801 on September 14th.
The back chute was the best seat in the house this year with Boyd landing on his top on the sixth lap of the September seventh feature event. Boyd's car ended up looking like a cheap import hatchback, but he was still able to make a top five finish. A few week's later, Bob Brown of Stockton gave the 'free loaders' on the back fence a thrill as he climbed the wall and tore out several of the large billboards giving the wall hangers a lifetime supply of toothpicks.
On May fourth of this year, Johnny Brazil showed up with a Super Modified and delighted the fans on hand with an all time Stockton speed record of 12.011. Brazil felt the car had more to offer and returned on June first to bring the crowd to it's feet as the clock stopped at 11.899 not only to lower the Stockton all time standard, but to produce what many believe was a world's closed course certified quarter mile time.
Beebe grabbed ten fast times on the season and twenty main top five runs, but the twenty-six feature events were shared by a record eleven drivers. Strmiska was the hot hand in overall wins with eleven. Beebe took the championship over David and Boyd, with Belletto, Tony Pasada, and Reed also finishing well in the final race stats.
The hobby action featured Larry Shafer of Stockton in yet another Mike Shafer built and maintained car that laid the competition low. Shafer ripped off sixteen fast times, sixteen feature victories, a division all time mark, eight features in a row for another all time record, twenty-one main top five finishes, and twenty-three total overall wins. Frank Macken of Stockton was the only driver with a foot in the door, tying Shafer with seven dash wins. Shafer took the season title, with other top runners including Don Cook, Rip Van Winkle, and Macken, all of Stockton, and Modesto's Carl Pearce.
Jerry Hollenbeck of Stockton took the semi main title, with Frog Trent grabbing the most improved award. 'Big Al' Gard took the rookie of the year honors to follow his previous season hobby title. Long time race and driver sponsor George Mason of Modesto was awarded the Sportsman award at the post-season banquet.
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