(1970)
More of today's heroes showed up as rookie contenders this season in the form of Barry Mitchell of Stockton, who won his first heat in Early Model action on April 17th. The following week, April twenty-fourth, a driver by the name of Harry Belletto picks up his first heat win, and on the same night, third season driver Dan Reed picks off his first of 90 career feature victories. Just shortly after that, on Jane twelfth a semi win is recorded by future superstar, Ron Strmiska.
The only track speed record in all three division this session came in the Modified ranks as Brazil lowered the mark to 14.29 on May 15th. Two weeks later he notched a four-way competition sweep, and capped off a super season by winning this years 200 lap Modified marathon. The Manteca 'hot shoe' controlled every stat by season's end with sixteen fast times, and a record setting twelve dash Wins, including another record of four straight. He ran off eleven feature victories, seventeen main trip five runs, and twenty-nine total wins to capture his third career Stockton championship. Henry Brown, Fred Hunt, Joe Rushton, and Harold Weaver spent the season chasing Brazil and settling for second place in weekly stories and results.
The stats in Early Model competition clearly showed a super year for close action as Ted Fritz, Dan Reed, and Tony Myer shared equal billing, followed closely by Stockton drivers, Dean Hendricks and Larry Angel. Reed proved the best of the season in winning his first career Stockton championship.
After five seasons and 300 total drivers, the Limited Sportsmen division had fallen from a 1966 high count of 88 drivers to only five for the current season, to be led by Ricky Wood of Stockton with eight fast times, and four dash wins. The last recorded results showed on July tenth., and Olen Davis of Turlock was credited with fast time. There was no dash or main event run, and the division officially died a quiet death. No division champion was named in the Limited's final season.
Tragedy marred the end of the 1970 racing season during the running of the final ever U.S. Open Championship-Golden State 100 event for Super Modifieds at the old Sacramento State Fairground mile track. On lap two of the first ten lap heat, Ernie PursselI of Nevada City swerved into the outside wall guard rail going into turn one and flipped back to the middle of the track on his top to be hit broadside by Bob Thomas of Walnut Creek. As the cars raced around to the yellow, a driver by the name of Wally Reiff ran from the infield to aid Prussell and was; in turn hit by Paul Turner of Garden Grove as he went into a slide trying to avoid the wreckage past the flagstand. Purssell was pronounced dead at the scene and Reiff died at the hospital.
The race was continued and on the thirty-fifth lap of the main, Jimmy Gordon of Sacramento locked wheals with Bob Gilbert of Santa Ana as they went into turn three Gordon's racer cartwheeled and was hit by Ron Rea of Sepulveda as it laid on it's top. The impact ripped out the fuel tank and flames spread access the track. Officials moved quickly to put out the fire, but Gordon was pronounced dead at the hospital,
Promoter J. C. Agajanian told the California Racing Association members on hand that he was ending the race at that point. The three deaths were the only ones in twenty-two years of racing at the track.
