Salute to LeRoy Van Conett up next for Sprint Car Challenge Tour at the Stockton Dirt Track on Saturday
Stockton, CA – Fresh off a double header last weekend the Sprint Car Challenge Tour presented by Elk Grove Ford and Abreu Vineyards will now visit the centrally located Stockton Dirt Track this Saturday July 7 for the third annual Salute to LeRoy Van Conett.
The event at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds venue marks the final race before an extended break for the Sprint Car Challenge Tour. After Saturday’s outing the tour will not have another show until the September 21 and 22 Nor-Cal Posse Shootout at the Placerville Speedway. The Stockton showdown will be a last chance for drivers to move up in the points before the final stretch towards the end of the season.
This Saturday night also honors retired Galt, CA racer LeRoy Van Conett, who was born in Stockton and would go on to become one of the very best to wheel a Sprint Car in California. Special event shirts will be available under the grandstands and LeRoy will be on hand during the night for autographs.
The driver simply known as the “Dragon from Galt” is the all-time leader in wins at the famed Calistoga Speedway half-mile, with an amazing 31 victories to his credit. He also captured the track title seven-times in his illustrious career.
Van Conett claimed 65 career wins with the Northern Auto Racing Club and eight series titles, both of which rank second to only Campbell’s Brent Kaeding. In 1976 he scored victory at the Gold Cup Race of Champions and in 1999 was bestowed one of the highest honors any driver can receive, by being inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Iowa.
Paradise, CA’s Kyle Hirst leads the field into the Stockton Dirt Track on the heels of his first Sprint Car Challenge Tour presented by Elk Grove Ford and Abreu Vineyards victory last weekend. The defending champion has been the hottest driver in California as of late and will look to bring home his first Stockton triumph on Saturday. San Jose’s Tim Kaeding ran a close second to Hirst last Sunday and ranks second in the standings. Kaeding continues to close in on his first win of the season and hopes to check it off on Saturday.
More drivers looking for good things at the Salute to LeRoy Van Conett will include last Saturday’s winner Justin Sanders of Aromas, Roseville’s Sean Becker, Willie Croft and Colby Copeland, Auburn’s Andy Forsberg, Clarksburg’s Justyn Cox, Penngrove’s Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Chase Johnson, Hollister’s Tony Gualda and Ryan Bernal, Hanford’s Mitchell Faccinto and DJ Netto, Cameron Park’s Shane Hopkins, Foresthill’s Jodie Robinson, Marysville’s Ryan Souza, Visalia’s Steven Tiner, Stockton’s Matt Peterson, Fresno’s Steven Kent and many more.
Adult tickets this Saturday July 7 at the Stockton Dirt Track will cost $20, kids 5-10 will be $10 and those four and under are free. All seating will be general admission. Online tickets are available at https://noceti-group.ticketleap.com/july-7-2018-sdt/dates/Jul-07-2018_at_0400PM
The pit gate is scheduled to open at 1pm with the front gate opening at 4pm. The drivers meeting is slated for 4:15 with cars on track at 4:30 for wheel packing. Hot laps, qualifying and racing will follow. The standard SCCT muffler rule will be in effect on Saturday.
The Stockton Dirt Track is a lightning fast 4/10-mile clay oval located on the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton, California. The physical address is 1658 S Airport Way, Stockton, CA 95206. For information on the speedway visit www.stocktondirttrack.com
The Sprint Car Challenge Tour is proudly sponsored by Elk Grove Ford, Abreu Vineyards, Hoosier Racing Tires, Bianchi Farms, Kyle Larson Racing, All Star Performance, A.R.T. Speed Equipment, Pit Stop USA, Auto Meter, ADCO Driveline & Exhaust, Bullard Construction, BR Motorsports, Chris Kenner Racing Specialties/ Security Race Products, CLT Logging, CRV Carbon Solutions, D&D Roofing, Driven2SaveLives, Finley Farms, Garner Heat Treat Inc., Garth Moore Insurance and Financial Services, Keizer Wheels, Kevin Sharrah Designs, King Racing Products, Light Up the World Beverages, Moto Wear, Metal Works, Naake Suspension, PT Shocks, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Quick Time Mortgage, Race Punk, R&R Racewear, Saldana Racing Products, Team Ford of Woodland, Walker Performance Filtration and Winters Performance.
The Sprint Car Challenge Tour is operated under the Russell Motorsports Inc. banner, which also manages the Placerville Speedway in Placerville, California. For sponsorship opportunities and inquiries, RMI can be reached at 530-344-7592 or office@sprintcarchallengetour.com
More information on the Sprint Car Challenge Tour presented by Elk Grove Ford and Abreu Vineyards can be found at our official website www.sprintcarchallengetour.com – Be sure to also like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sprintcarchallengetour and follow on Twitter https://twitter.com/360SCCT for the latest breaking news regarding SCCT.
Remaining Sprint Car Challenge Tour presented by Elk Grove Ford and Abreu Vineyards events in 2018: Saturday July 7: Stockton Dirt Track (Salute to LeRoy Van Conett) Friday September 21: Placerville Speedway (Nor-Cal Posse Shootout) Saturday September 22: Placerville Speedway (Nor-Cal Posse Shootout) Saturday October 13: Keller Auto Speedway Hanford, CA (33rd annual Cotton Classic with King of the West-NARC) Saturday November 3: Stockton Dirt Track (35th annual Tribute to Gary Patterson with King of the West-NARC)
Photo courtesy of Jason Tucker