Escalon driver Sammy Solari survived a crash to win the first Stockton Late Model race of the season Saturday night, March 28, at Stockton 99 Speedway.
The wreck didn’t occur in the 30-lap main event; it happened in the trophy dash. Escalon’s Solari, Jeana Ramos of Lodi and Mason Beghtel of Morada crashed in the front stretch and their cars stopped in a clump in the infield approaching turn 1.
Stockton’s Danny DeVore won the trophy for completing one lap. Ramos’ car was moved to the infield. Solari then drove back to the pits, followed by Beghtel. All three racers hit the quarter-mile paved oval later for test laps before the Stockton Late Model feature.
The damage was minimal on Solari’s machine, though he raced the main without the hood. Still, Solari recorded the quickest lap of the race at 14.664 seconds around Stockton 99’s quarter-mile paved oval, not far off the 14.611 he turned as the No. 2 qualifier.
“It was good,” said Solari, who also won the Tribute to Norman David Pro Late Model season opener on March 21. “We were lucky it didn’t tear up like a lot of suspension. It was all cosmetic. It tore up a little bit of suspension parts, but we were able to fix all that. Mike David’s here, and there’s no one better. He’s the best there is.”
Solari officially assumed the lead on lap 2 and led the rest of the way in an all-green flag race; in fact, all four main events were void of caution. He beat DeVore to the checkered flag by 1.934 seconds. Beghtel and DeVore engaged in a sporting dual for second for several laps before DeVore drove by on lap 28.
Greg Potts’ 14.605 lap nipped Solari for the No. 1 qualifying spot by six-thousandths of a second, but he wrecked in the first heat and didn’t start the main event.
Pure Stock: Lodi’s Brandon Jones said he struggled with his car all day, though a .397-second victory in the 20-lap main event suggests otherwise.
Jones established the lead over Barret Sugden of Stockton on lap 2 and led wire to wire. Sugden slipped inside Jones briefly in turn 2 on lap 14, but Jones held on and wasn’t challenged again.
“There’s some work to do. It’s a handful, let me tell you,” he said of his No. 31. “I’ve never had the time to work on this car. I put a lot of time and effort in my other one. I’m trying to do the same with this one so hopefully it will be as good as that one.”
NorCal Mini Stock: Reigning class champion Ethan Rumsey of Stockton started the season with a wire-to-wire victory in an all-green flag 20-lap feature, winning by 2.419 seconds over Manteca’s Joe Flowers.
Rumsey’s racer popped and banged all afternoon and even after the main event. Rumsey, who also won the trophy dash, mentioned the battery and alternator during his post-race interview before saying, “Your name could be on the car if you want to help out.”
Legends of Kearney Bowl: Driving an old Johnny Brazil car, CJ Stubbles of Grass Valley motored to the checkered flag after Adam Peter of Clovis got stuck in traffic.
“That’s probably not fair to Adam,” Stubbles said in victory lane. “I couldn’t catch him. I was behind him, but I couldn’t beat him.”
Stockton 99 returns Saturday, April 11, with action in the Pro Late Model, Legends of 99 and Fast Kar Solution Mini Modified divisions along with the season debut of NCMA Sprint Cars. Ticket prices are $20 for ages 16-59 and $15 for seniors $60 and up, juniors 11-15 and military with an ID. A family pass (two adults, two juniors) costs $55. Kids 10 and under are admitted for free. Parking is free at Stockton 99. Gates open at 5 p.m. with racing at 6 p.m.
Stockton 99 Speedway would like to thank its sponsors: Black Oak Casino, Tracy Ford, Queirolo’s Heating and Air, Raising Cane’s, O’Reilly Auto Parts, J. Milano, Dell’Osso Family Farm, Genova Bakery, Reeves Sand and Gravel, AllPro Powder Coatings, Herc Rentals, High Voltage Graphix, Hitch House, Hoosier Tire, L5 Farming, Stockton Fence, Garton Tractor and White Cap.
Stockton 99 Speedway
Results – March 28, 2026
Stockton Late Model: 1. Sammy Solari, 2. Danny DeVore, 3. Mason Beghtel, 4. Tony Vincent, 5. Dylan Powell, 6. Jeana Ramos, 7. Floyd Eaton.
NorCal Mini Stock (20 laps): 1. Ethan Rumsey, 2. Joe Flowers, 3. Natalie Harper, 4. Jordan Mast, 5. Josh Cross, 6. Jeramy Tucker Jr., 7. Leilani Sprenkel, 8. Steve Ford, 9. Rich Rowland, 10. Stephanie Ziebell, 11. Michael Ball.
Pure Stock (20 laps): 1. Brandon Jones, 2. Barret Sugden, 3. Sam Reynolds, 4. Jerry Crawford, 5. Curtis Finck.
