Scott Storms To $5,000 Victory At Antioch Speedway

Figured I'd throw something together to help get the word out on what sounded like a great show at Antioch Speedway. Kudos to John Soares Jr. for putting this one together and also Dennis Daniel for his work spreading the word so they could get the best car count possible. As always, everything here is unofficial.

With a good crowd on hand to watch all of the action and a pit area filled with 52 UMP Dirt Modifieds, Antioch Speedway held a huge event for the popular division. Promoter John Soares Jr. put up a purse of over $20,000, and when the checkered flag flew, it was New Mexico long tow Stormy Scott pocketing the $5,000 first prize for his victory in the 50 lap feature.

The drivers were split into six heat race groups, and the format called for two heat races each with a passing point formula devised to take six drivers from the heat races directly into the big money race. The rest would compete in one of three B Mains that would transfer four cars each into the feature.

Heat race 1a and 1 b produced the only double winner as Chico area racer Duane Cleveland held off former Antioch champion Aaron Crowell to win the first heat and then beat Ryan McDaniel to win the second one.

Heat 2a went to Cottage Grove, Oregon champion Jon DeBenedetti ahead of four time Antioch champion Scott Busby. However, DeBeneditti chased winner Jeremy Newberry across the line for a runner up finish in the second heat.

Danny Dozier impressed by winning Heat 3a ahead of Bakersfield champion Brad Pounds. The second heat for this group went to two time Antioch champion Kenny Neu ahead of Yreka area racer Brian Poppa.

Heat 4a saw Stormy Scott give a preview of things to come by winning ahead of second ranked Antioch racer Nick DeCarlo. DeCarlo took it up a notch by winning the second heat ahead of Chester Kniss.

Making his first start of the season, former Antioch champion Rob Norris held off incoming Antioch point leader Troy Foulger for the win in Heat 5a, and the duo swapped places in the next heat with Foulger collecting the victory.

Heat 6a saw two time Antioch champion Bobby Hogge IV collect the victory ahead of former Bakersfield Street Stock champion Robby Sawyer. 2009 Chowchilla champion Alex Stanford won the second heat ahead of Hogge.

When passing points and heat points were calculated, Cleveland led the pack by five and a half over DeBeneditti, while DeCarlo, Hogge, Foulger and Norris tied for third. Neu and Stanford came up just short and had to run one of the B Mains.

The remaining 46 cars were divided into three B Mains that would transfer four cars each into the big money feature. Pounds was the winner for the first B Main ahead of Neu, Ryan Porter and former Merced champion Jim DiGiovanni. Porter had the point lead at Chowchilla entering the night, but he elected to skip the race to run for the money at Antioch.

The second B Main saw Scott charge to victory in front of Stanford, Poppa and former Merced and Hanford champion Paul Stone. It was former Antioch champion Kellen Chadwick earning his feature starting spot with a win in the third B Main, followed by former Chico champion Ryan McDaniel, Newberry and former Petaluma champion Don Camilli.

The race took it's toll on some of the racers, who ended up watching the finish from the sidelines. Battling with Scott and Pounds for the big money late in the race, Stanford ended up crashing in a moment that had some race fans talking. When the checkered flag flew, it was Stormy Scott taking the win and $5,000 first prize. Scott currently sits fourth in the UMP National point standings. Pounds settled for second, which was still worth $3,000. The $1,750 third prize went to Cleveland. Former NFL star Jeremy Newberry collected $1,250 for fourth as Nick DeCarlo was a $1,000 fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Rob Norris, Don Camilli, Jim DiGiovanni, Ryan McDaniel and Alex Stanford.

With a good turnout of cars and fans, the race would have to be considered a success and the track hopes to continue that momentum next Saturday with a six division show featuring Wingless Spec Sprints, Super Stocks, Hobby Stocks, Dwarf Cars, Four Bangers and Nor Cal Hardtops.