There were no results as I put this story together, but I did track down information thanks to JonK once again. The track has put up results this week, so I have updated the story accordingly. Just thought I'd get something out there for the racers and anybody else who may care.
On an unusually cool August evening, racing continued at Antioch Speedway with a five division program. Serving notice that he's not to be counted out in a hotly contested championship battle, Jerry Doty won the Dwarf Car Main Event, while Mike Gustafson continued his climb towards the top five in points after his late start by winning the Super Stock feature. Alex Stanford dominated the Dirt Modified feature, while Dan Williams (Hardtops) and Patty Ryland (Four Bangers) won their respective features.
The 17 Dwarf Cars ran three heat races with the top two going to the Trophy Dash. Incoming point leader Nick Squatritto cruised to victory in his heat with Mini Truck graduate Tom Brown second. Clayton Dortzback captured the second heat ahead of Roger Ingals with the other heat win going to Jerry Doty ahead of Joel Osias. Brown collected the Trophy Dash plaque ahead of Doty to prevent what could have been a clean sweep.
From his front row start, Squatritto raced into the Main Event lead in hopes of ending his recent slump. Dortzbach settled into an early second ahead of Brown. Osias brought out the first caution flag on lap eight. Ricardo Rivera and Doty charged into second and third behind Squatritto on the restart, and another caution flag waved on lap 11. Squatritto made a pit stop with Doty taking the lead on the restart ahead of Rivera and Dortzback. Tony Carmignani had moved into fourth before Brown and Dan Liston tangled for a lap 17 caution flag. A high move in Turn 2 appeared to gain Rivera the lead, but a Turn 3 spin forced the caution flag that would negate the pass. Doty led the restart and held off Rivera for the victory that will tighten an already close championship battle between Doty, Rivera and Squatritto. Carmignani brought it home third ahead of Robert Mesloh, Liston, Duane Jordan, Squatritto, Dortzbach, Brown and Mike Corsaro.
The eight Super Stocks ran one heat race with Eric Berendsen winning ahead of Mike Gustafson. Jon Haney had a front row start and led the opening lap of the feature before Larry Damitz spun in Turn 3 for a caution flag. Lloyd Cline had missed the initial start and attempted to make the restart, only to be black flagged. Haney led Fred Ryland and Gustafson on the restart. A low move in Turn 2 of the third lap gained Ryland the lead, but he pushed high in Turn 4 of the seventh lap with a flat tire. Haney now led Gustafson and Damitz, and a yellow flag flew as Berendsen's car erupted in a cloud of smoke on the front stretch. Haney picked the outside on the restart, but Gustafson and Damitz raced into the top two spots. A lap 12 caution flag flew when Haney and point leader Mitch Machado got together in Turns 3 and 4. Damitz made a pit stop during the caution period, and Gustafson continued to lead the restart as Machado charged back into second. Contact between Damitz and Ryland saw Ryland spin. Damitz made a move into third late as Gustafson collected the victory ahead of Machado. Mike Calhoun took the checkered in fourth ahead of Haney and Ryland.
The 11 Dirt Modifieds ran two heat races, and Chico visitor Duane Cleveland won the first heat ahead of Jeff Thomas. Rick Karnes cruised to victory in his heat ahead of Norm Boeck. From his front row starting spot, Alex Stanford took the Main Event lead from the green flag. Johnny Eskew was an early second ahead of point leader Troy Foulger and Thomas. Karnes stalled in Turn 4 for a lap four caution flag. Stanford maintained the lead on the restart, and some contact in the three car battle for second allowed Foulger to gain the position. A lap seven caution flag flew for Gene Haney, and Stanford led the single file restart. Dan Gonderman had settled into second ahead of Foulger. Stanford set a blistering pace and was never really threatened as he won by a half lap ahead of Gonderman, Foulger, Sean O'Gara and Eskew. Boeck was a lap down in sixth as Thomas was the final finisher on the track.
Seven Hardtops competed, and George Connor led early in the heat race before being passed by Tommy Thomson. Connor settled for second. Thomson and Connor shared the front row in the Main Event,and Thomson charged into the early lead with Dan Williams passing Connor for second. John Philbert was lapped on lap three. The lead three cars ran a fast pace and caught the three car battle for fourth by lap eight. Working lap ten, Thomson made contact with Jack Low exiting Turn 2 with Low spinning on the back stretch and losing a wheel. Thomson recovered in second with Williams the new leader. Conrad Cavallero avoided losing a lap, but he joined Low in the pits during the caution period. Williams led through one more caution period and would win by a straightaway over Thomson. Connor crashed on the front stretch after taking the checkered flag in third as Philbert was the final finisher on the track.
The seven Four Bangers ran one heat race with defending champion Patty Ryland winning ahead of Justin Silveira. Dayna Andreesen missed the heat and started the Main Event with a severe smoking problem to earn starting points before being black flagged. Point leader Ken Radabaugh set the early pace in the Main Event with Ryland a close second. Exiting Turn 4, Radabaugh got sideways, allowing Ryland to race by on the front stretch for the lead. Silveira moved in to battle Radabaugh for second. On lap 11, Silveira even passed Radabaugh briefly before falling back to third. Ryland's pace was slowed in traffic, but she maintained the lead. A lap 14 caution flag flew for Fred Radabaugh. Ryland led the restart, and Silveira beat Radabaugh through Turns 1 and 2 on the outside for second. Ryland went on to victory ahead of Silveira, K. Radabaugh, Mike Felt and Dominic Myers.
Racing resumes next Saturday night with a five division show featuring Dirt Modifieds, Wingless Spec Sprints, Hobby Stocks, Four Bangers and Mini Trucks.
