SATURDAY NIGHT’S ALL-RIGHT FOR NASCAR RACING AT STOCKTON’S 99 SPEEDWAY

Source: Stockton 99 Speedway Public Relations
Date: 04/16/2006

The popular open-wheel Grand American Modifieds (GAM) made their 2006 season debut in a scheduled 50-lap feature. Unfortunately, a cold, oily track, combined with a winter’s worth of driver adrenaline buildup, brought out five yellow and two red flags which forced officials to shorten the GAM main to 25 laps.

Pole sitter Jay Linstroth of Citrus Heights looked unbeatable in the early stages of the 18 car GAM feature, at least until he got caught behind a back marker on lap 10 and was turned around by the second place car of Ripon’s Mike Regelman. Regelman’s lead was short lived, however, as he blew his engine just five laps later handing the lead to an appreciative Chris Mays of Stockton.

“It is real frustrating. I really came out here with high expectations to try and win the championship in the track’s last season,” said Linstroth shaking his head. “It’s not the way we wanted to start, but that is just the breaks of racing I guess.”

Mays held the lead for the remainder of the race to pick up his first career win at the speedway, Tony Noceti of French Camp finished second and Dixon’s Jerry Dubach took third. Linstroth was able to claw his way back to sixth place finish despite cutting a tire on lap 18.

“Patience was the number one thing I had going for me tonight. It is something that my family always tells me to be,” said Mays, age 23. “Stockton is the toughest, hardest track I have ever driven at. There are so many good experienced drivers out there. I am really proud of this.”

Not to be outdone, the Havoline Western Late Models sent the speedway’s flagman reaching for the Advil after bringing out the yellow caution flag on nine different occasions in their 50-lap feature.

Salida’s Sam Solari got around front row starters Guy Guibor of Manteca and Pete Hernandez of Chicago, Illinois, in the early stages of the race, then held on the rest of the way to take his first ever win in a Late Model.

It wasn’t easy for Solari though. He battled hard all the way to the end with Hernandez, former track champion Dave Byrd of Pacific Grove and Peyton Sellers, the 2005 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series National Champion out of South Boston (Va.) Speedway, the eventual second, third and fourth place finishers, respectively.

Defending track champion Pete Anderson Jr. of Stockton was also involved in the fray at the front through much of the race until he spun on lap 39. Anderson would recover to finish seventh out of 21 starters.

“I am excited. It was rough out there, but my Modified experience paid off tonight,” said Solari who is making the move from a Grand American Modified to a Late Model this season. “I’ve got a great crew and Eric Holmes on the radio talking to me. He is like a professional coach; he’s the best. Eric is constantly giving me advice and he keeps me calmed down out there.”

“I was yelling at him on every lap,” laughed Holmes.

The American Limited Stocks are noted for their rock’em, sock’em style of racing and they did not disappoint any of the crowd of 1,677 on hand Saturday night.

Stockton’s Donny Darter survived the battle royal style race to take the checkered flag, but he failed the post race technical inspection and the win was awarded to the 2005 defending ALS champion Charlie Clawson of Modesto.

The Pro 4 Truck race was relatively tame in comparison to the other divisions as defending Pro 4 champion Mark Henslee of French Camp picked up his first win of the 2006 season. Ron Robeck of Milpitas and Bryan Hitchcock of Manteca rounded out the top three.

Rio Linda’s Johnathan Hale won the Baby Grand race and Manteca’s Jacob Gomes picked up the win in the Young Guns feature as both classes made their season debut at the speedway.

The Western Late Models and Grand American Modifieds will get next weekend off as the 99 Speedway will host the Gerhardt 100 for the Midgets featuring the USAC/BCRA Midgets. The American Limited Stocks and Pro 4 Trucks, presented by Havoline/C.L. Bryant, will also be on the program along with the USAC/CASA Sprint Cars.

The Stockton 99 Speedway is located just off Highway 99 at 4105 North Wilson Way. If you are traveling south on Highway 99 take the Wilson Way exit. If you are heading north on Highway 99 take the Cherokee Road exit, loop over the freeway, turn right onto Newton Road and then turn left on Wilson Way.

Stockton 99 Speedway Info/Race Line (209) 466-9999.

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