(1990)
(1990)
The track receives a surface coating of liquid tar and regains some of it's prior stickiness allowing Steve Johnson of Modesto and Boyd to share in four track records over the season, with Johnson bringing the standard down to a hot 13.103 on May fifth, a record that still stands as of this writing.
The track starts awarding points for heat and dash events this season to add to the competition level and fan appeal. Also of note is the addition of several new faces in the official ranks with Earl Summers in overall charge and assisted by Mike Stoller, Brent Wilson, Dave Irwin, Bob Gore, and Joe Panzorino. Charlene Stoller gets involved in the scoring, and Long time area race announcer John Trussler moves into the announcing booth.
At mid season, the Street Stock division has grown to the point where time trials become necessary with the first record being established by Tom Brown of Stockton at 16.848. Second generation driver Davey Reed of Riverbank comes back with four additional records on the season with the best being 16.441
On April fourteenth, Johnny Brazil officially sets the night's fast time bringing Ken Boyd's streak to an end with a nation wide Winston Racing Series record of 39 straight to add to his personal resume.
On May twenty-sixth, Steve Anderson picks up a dubious record by becoming the first Street Stock roll-over on the seventh lap of the feature.
Stockton Speedway fans have lots to crow about this season as it's very own Ernie Irvan wins his first Winston Cup event to put the track on the national map, while on the local level, Davey Reed becomes the first second-generation and first Street Stock driver to pull off a four-way competition sweep to equal the one set by his father Dan in 1973.
A side note to the track history is Chris Hunefeld, the grandson of Stockton's founder Billy Hunefeld, who begins a more active role in the mangement of the concessions along side his father Bob, who had in turn taken control after his father's death in 1970.
Boyd sets thirteen fast times, eight feature victories, twenty-one main top five finishes, and thirteen total wins to take his third straight title, with Harry Belletto and Steve Johnson running second and third. Brazil and Holmes also do well in the season numbers in 1990.
Reed has the numbers all to himself in Street Stock action with six fast trips, five dash wins, ten main wins, nineteen main top five finishes, and twenty-five total wins in all events to take the season crown ahead of Ken Gummus of Livermore, and Tom Brown. Greg Kamper and Ted Rouse also add good numbers to their personal records on the year.
Allen Elliott of Stockton is this year's semi main champion, with Jerry Hollenbeck of Stockton picking up the most improved award. Yet another Stockton driver, John Collier, takes the rookie of the year honors. 'Mr. Everything' Johnny Brazil earns the Sportsman of the year honors.
As the 1990 season comes to an end, so does the career of track manager Whitey Rich. After 35 years of steady guidance and innovative ideas that took the track to the top level in racing, it was time for the grandchildren.
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