Strmiska Looks to Repeat Firecracker 125 Success at Stockton 99 Speedway

Ross Strmiska got off to a rough start at the inaugural “Spears Srl Southwest Tour Pro Late Model Series presented by Sigma Performance Services”, “Sunrise Ford All-Star Showdown 150” at Irwindale Speedway on February 6th. Ross qualified 21st of 38 Pro Late Models on hand, while finishing 23rd, after dropping out after only 44 of 150 laps on the inner 1/3-mile oval. With the currently stout 31-car pre-entry, for the “Asparagus Cup 125” at The New Stockton 99 Speedway, don’t expect a repeat performance from the Manteca, CA star, as he looks for the big $7,500 payday on March 13th.

Strmiska knows how to win big events at Stockton 99 Speedway, having taken home the checkered flag in the speedway’s historically most prestigious event. In 2018, Ross came home victorious in the “Firecracker 125 featuring the Ron Strmiska Memorial”. It was a meaningful victory for the third generation Strmiska driver, and the son of the “Manteca Missile, Ron Strmiska Jr. The traditional July 4th event has been a staple on the track’s schedule since 1973, with the exception of the 2007 and 2008 seasons, when the track was non-operational. It was certainly an emotional win for the driver from Manteca, with the moniker “The Legend Lives On”.

Strmiska is coming off a season in which he finished third in the championship standings of the televised Nut Up Pro Late Model Series at Madera Speedway. He competed in eight of the nine events, with five top-five and six top-10 finishes. The driver also has extensive experience in the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series participating in 55 events, scoring 16 top-fives and 37 top-10 finishes. He will now turn his attention to the Pro Late Model, and strive for another big victory at the historic ¼-mile oval, located just off I-99 in the Port City of Stockton.

Ross’ Ford Fusion is sponsored by Nut Up, Masellis Drilling, Mainline Equipment and Frontier Performance Lubricants.  Saturday’s race schedule will feature five Heat Races that will set the first 20 positions in the “Asparagus Cup 125”. The remaining positions will be filled by the top-four from the Last Chance Qualifying race. Heat positioning is determined based upon the reception date of the pre-entry form. Strmiska is scheduled to roll off third, in Heat Race #4, based upon that criteria. The top-four will go directly to the Feature Event