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Strmiska family preps car for Firecracker 90 at Speedway
7-2 Strmiska
The legendary racing Strmiska family of Manteca will have a familiar No. 90 car in black and pink prepped for Robert Strmiska to race in the July 3 Ron Strmiska Firecracker 90 at Stockton 99 Speedway. Photo Contributed

A Strmiska will be in the field for the Ron Strmiska Firecracker 90 Late Model main event on Thursday night, July 3 at Stockton 99 Speedway.

Robert Strmiska, grandson of the late two-time track champion Ron Strmiska, for whom the annual holiday race is named, and son of Ron Strmiska Jr., will be behind the wheel of the familiar No. 90 that three generations of family members from Manteca drove to so many checkered flags over the 76-year history of the famed quarter-mile paved oval.

“To keep my dad’s name on it and keep this thing going, I feel like it’s the biggest race of the year,” Ron Strmiska Jr. said Sunday morning. “It’s just an honor for our family to be a part of it.”

Strmiska Jr. said his son’s appearance wouldn’t have worked out were the race held Friday, July 4. Robert Strmiska is a longtime team member with Richard Childress Racing and is car chief for Jesse Love’s NASCAR Xfinity Series racer, which will be in The Loop 110 Chicago Street race over the holiday weekend.

But with the Firecracker 90 on Thursday, Strmiska Jr. said RCR “gave (Robert) the OK.” Robert is scheduled to fly in Wednesday, race Thursday, then fly out to Chicago at 6 a.m. Friday.

“Not much hangout time,” Strmiska Jr. said.

Robert, who raced in the Firecracker two years ago, will drive the car the family built in 2018, which Ross Strmiska, Ron Strmiska Jr.’s youngest son, piloted to a Firecracker victory that year.

Strmiska Jr. said the team has been prepping the car “a lot” in the last month and was scheduled to “shake it down” Sunday at Stockton 99, with Ross at the wheel. As equally recognizable as the car number, Strmiska Jr. said the racer will include some familiar pink in the paint scheme.

In addition to his role with RCR, Robert Strmiska has enjoyed a successful racing career in the southeast – when he can find time. Now in his 10th year racing a Mini Stock, his driver résumé notes he claimed the 2020 and 2022 Carolina Mini Stock Challenge Tour Championship in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Strmiska has recorded 36 victories in roughly 90 races throughout 17 states, including Bowman Gray Stadium in North Carolina, New Smyrna Speedway in Florida, Myrtle Beach Speedway in South Carolina and Cordele Motor Speedway in Georgia.

Strmiska noted his biggest wins were topping a 40-car field on opening night at North Wilkesboro, besting another 40-car field at Freedom Factory in Florida, capturing the very last race at Myrtle Beach and winning on the first night when North Wilkesboro reopened.

Also on the program July 3 in Stockton are the Pure Stock, NorCal Mini Stock, Legends of 99 and Fast Kar Solutions Mini Modified divisions, in addition to a spectacular fireworks display.

Tickets are $25 for adults ages 16-59, $20 for juniors 11-15, seniors 60 and up and military with an ID. Kids 10 and under are free, as is parking. Purchase tickets at eventbrite.com. Gates open at 5 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m.

For information, visit stockton99.com.

Stockton 99 Speedway sponsors include: Black Oak Casino Resort, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Shamblin Softwash and Pressure Washing, Hoosier Racing Tire, Community West Bank, Raising Cane’s, Bass Pro Shops, J. Milano Co. Hardware, Franks, N&S Tractor, Masellis Drilling, Sunoco Race Fuels, Lovotti Air, Garton Tractor, Kleen Blast and Tracy Ford.