STOCKTON — Two weeks after collecting his first Late Model checkered flag, Hans Beeler can lay claim to his first winning streak.

The Salida racer outdueled Pro Late Model points leader Sammy Solari of Escalon in the 30-lap main event Saturday night at Stockton 99 Speedway for his second win in a row.

“I have so many people who have helped me in my life … and to be able to come out here and do this and put two in a row on the board for my first two, it’s really special,” Beeler said as family and friends converged for congratulatory hugs and pictures. “You couldn’t ask to do it any better way.”

Solari topped qualifying at 14.535 seconds around Stockton 99’s quarter-mile paved oval and was quickest in both practice sessions. Beeler was fifth in each session. Even so, Beeler believed he had the better car in the main event, and the numbers showed it with Beeler recording the quick lap at 14.731 to Solari’s 14.858.

Beeler led the first 18 laps with Henk Gaalswyk of Ripon running second until spinning coming out of turn 2. On the second restart attempt, Solari roared past Beeler and into the lead, setting up a door-to-door duel between the two over the next six laps that saw Beeler tapping Solari’s bumper heading into the turns and the reigning track champion inching ahead in the straights.

Beeler finally established the inside position and passed Solari for good on lap 26. Beeler finished .537 of a second in front of Solari at the checkered flag with dad Mike Beeler of Modesto third.

Beeler said he was really mad – not the word he used – when Solari passed him for the lead on the restart.

“I didn’t think I was going to be able to get him back there for a second, but I never gave up, and as soon as I rolled up onto him in 1 and 2 and it stuck there and he was looking tight, I thought I had something for him in the next corner in 3 and 4, and I was able to turn down and make that stick, and I knew I had something for him,” Beeler said. “I just had to give it to him.”

Beeler acknowledged Solari’s far more experience racing for the lead, saying, “When you’ve done a lot of racing but you haven’t done a ton of racing up front, it kind of goes through your head that is it gonna be any different when it’s up there vs. running for fourth, fifth? But when I was next to Sammy, I was thinking he’s got so much more experience in this spot than me but I knew I had him. As soon as I was able to get up next to him, I knew I had him. Little bit of ramrod into his left rear bumper, and I just nailed him. The car was a little bit better off, which really helped being able to get under Sam.”

Legends of 99: Wyatt and Zach Sansom of Linden had the two quickest cars in the division – in both practice sessions and their heats. But another Sansom vs. Sansom battle ended early in the 30-lap main event when Zach’s racer broke on the 11th lap.

“I looked on the scoreboard on the backstretch and saw 44 was in second. I looked in the infield in the front stretch and (Zach) was in the infield,” said Wyatt Sansom, who extended his points lead by pulling away to his third victory of the season by 4.316 seconds. “I had a good run in the heat race and a good car for the main event, so I just had to hit my marks and kept it calm.”

Jason Gilbert of Danville was second, Justin Gantt of Stockton was third, and trophy dash winner Lawrence Massone of Stockton finished fourth.

Pure Stock: Brandon Jones of Lodi has so dominated the Pure Stock class this season he took the green flag for the 20-lap main event a half-lap behind the field … and won by a whopping 11.221 seconds ahead of Stockton’s Jerry Crawford. Earlier in the evening Jones set fast time in qualifying and easily won his heat and the trophy dash.

“Ehhh, it was planned,” said Jones, who has won all six Pure Stock features this season.

Jones needed five laps to catch the pack then rocketed into the lead on lap 8. On Aug. 8, Jones lapped the entire field.

Also, Bob Hutton of Kingsburg won the Legends of Kearney Bowl exhibition event.

Stockton 99 Speedway is back in action Saturday, Sept. 5, with racing in the Stockton Late Model, Grand American Modified, Legends of 99 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.