09/06/2026
Points leader Solari claims Stockton Late Model victory at 99 Speedway
BY BILL POINDEXTER
FOR SALE: One Stockton Late Model hot rod, lightning-quick in a straight line, handles well, known for winning checkered flags at Stockton 99 Speedway.
“It’s probably a pretty good time to sell it, move on to something new,” Escalon’s Sammy Solari said in victory lane Saturday night after earning his fifth Stockton Late Model victory and seventh total this season at 99. “It’s a really good race car. I think it’s been the dominating car for the last four years. Have we had the results for four years? No, but we’ve had the dominating car.”
Interested buyers should know Solari needs the racer a little longer. He’ll run the black car twice more in Stockton Late Model races Sept. 26 (Kids Night) and Oct. 17 (championship night No. 1). Solari’s Pro Late Model, the white car, runs Sept. 12, Oct. 10 and Oct. 24 (championship night No. 2 and the season finale). The reigning track champion, Solari is the points leader in both divisions.
“The way we look at it right now, that’s $5,000 worth of tires to buy,” he said.
Solari qualified No. 1 at 14.615 seconds around the quarter-mile paved oval. He moved in front of Mason Beghtel of Morada on the second lap and drove out front the rest of the way to win the 40-lap feature by 1.551 seconds. Solari also posted the quickest lap of the all-green main event at 14.804.
“It’s nice, you just run your race and not have something else change the outcome,” Solari said. “All the lapped cars, they kinda helped tonight; it was good to be able to pass them.”
Third-place finisher Todd Corral of Modesto was nearly a lap behind Solari and Beghtel, and Stockton’s Greg Potts passed Ripon’s Tony Vincent on the 36th lap to finish fourth.
Legends of 99: This time, it was Zach Sansom’s turn to enjoy victory lane. He held off brother Wyatt Sansom to win the 30-lap main event by .384 of a second.
Zach, who won for the first time since opening night, took the lead from three-time winner Wyatt on the third lap and they ran 1-2 the rest of the way, though Zach had to hold him off on two restarts, including a green-white-checkered finish. Patrick Geiger of Clovis finished third.
The Linden brothers were the two quickest among 15 cars in each practice session, and each won his heat. They were also the quickest in the feature, with Zach Sansom setting fast time of the night for the class at 15.235 seconds.
“It shows all the hard work we put in,” said Zach Sansom, who won the Legends Semipro/Young Lions feature on March 21.
Stockton’s Erin Brandt won the trophy dash for his “first win ever,” he said.
Grand American Modified: Scott Winters of Tracy made it 4 for 4 this season by winning the 30-lap main event. He beat trophy dash winner Adam Coonfield of Modesto by 2.199 seconds with Calvin Hegje of Sacramento third.
“This team worked their tails off getting this car back together after a couple weeks ago; had a few gremlins,” said Winters, who took the lead for good on the sixth lap.
Fast Kars Solutions Mini Modified: Modesto’s Freddy Irvin started in the back by starting up front. Accepting a challenge, Irvin led the field to the green flag but a lap down – and still won his sixth main event of the season.
A caution flag on the sixth lap put Irvin in the back of the pack and he passed trophy dash winner Mike Brooks Jr. for the lead on the 13th of 20 laps, beating Brooks by .865 of a second. Tyler Ridley was third.
“Back of the pack challenge, start in front of everybody and just see what this car can do,” said Irvin, who drove Geiger’s car. “These cars are all about momentum, just tap the brake, set the car and just take off and just trust it. People are getting faster and faster.”
Stockton 99 Speedway is back in action Saturday, Sept. 12, with racing in the Pro Late Model, Pure Stock, NCMA Sprint and Fast Kar Solutions Mini Modified divisions. Ticket prices are $20 for ages 16-59 and $15 for juniors ages 11-15, seniors 60 and over and military with an ID. A family pass (two adults, two juniors) costs $55. A pit pass costs $50 for all ages. Kids 10 and under are admitted for free, and parking is free at Stockton 99. Gates open at 6 p.m. with racing at 7. Visit stockton99.com or call 209-466-9999.
Stockton 99 Speedway would to thank its sponsors: 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, Queirolo’s Heating and Air, Garton Tractor, Kleen Blast and Tracy Ford.
STOCKTON 99 SPEEDWAY
Results, Sept. 5
Stockton Late Model (40 laps): 1. Sammy Solari, 2. Mason Beghtel, 3. Todd Corral, 4. Greg Potts, 5. Tony Vincent, 6. Dylan Powell, 7. John Callas, 8. Danny DeVore, 9. Hayden Stepps.
Legends of 99 (30 laps): 1. Zach Sansom, 2. Wyatt Sansom, 3. Patrick Geiger, 4. Lawrence Massone, 5. Chase Lopez, 6. Tate Hegje, 7. Kyle Labrie, 8. Barrett Sugden, 9. Brooke Hegje, 10. Erin Brandt, 11. Andy Rumsey, 12. Freddy Irvin, 13. Lillie Cook, 14. Ethan Rumsey, 15. Justin Gantt.
Grand American Modified (30 laps): 1. Scott Winters, 2. Adam Coonfield, 3. Calvin Hegje, 4. Jordan Smith, 5. Rick Avila, 6. Aaron Coonfield.
Fast Kars Solutions Mini Modified: 1. Freddy Irvin, 2. Mike Brooks Jr., 3. Tyler Ridley, 4. Michael Morse, 5. Jack Large, 6. Marty Baker.
Photos by BILL POINDEXTER
Solari interview
Sammy Solari of Escalon comments on his Stockton Late Model victory in the main event Saturday night at Stockton 99 Speedway. It was the fifth win in the division and seventh overall this season for the points leader.
Sansom family
Zach Sansom (middle) poses with the checkered flag, flanked by brother Wyatt (left) and dad James after winning the Legends of 99 main event Saturday night at Stockton 99 Speedway.
