Busy morning getting these articles and the DCRR Racing Radio Show ready, and I have three audio calls that I intend to release as well. I was back in the grandstands at Antioch Speedway for the first time since the end of the 2003 season, and I enjoyed the races. Got to speak with two people who have been important in my life, John Soares Jr. and Jim Robbins. Also, I want to thank Jason Willis for sponsoring my ticket to the grandstands. The audio show is linked below the last story.
Before we get to the story...
Don's California Racing Recollections: Best Of The Blog And Beyond
Available via print on demand at Lulu in Hard Cover or Paperback
Just A Kid From The Grandstands: My Time In Auto Racing
Available on Lulu in Paperback And Hard Cover
Also, what could be a series of informative books...
Short Track History Project at Gofundme
Decker Grabs Antioch DIRTcar Late Model Win, Wagner Wins Dwarf Car Thriller
Antioch, CA...March 14...The DIRTcar Late Models returned to Antioch Speedway Saturday night as part of an exciting five division program, and they delighted the crowd with some exciting racing on the one third-mile clay oval. When the checkered flag flew on the 20 lap Main Event, it was 2007 track champion Jeff Decker collecting a well earned victory after battling with Duane Cleveland and defending champion Richard Papenhausen during the course of the race. In Dwarf Car action, defending champion Danny Wagner made a last lap pass on Travis Dutra to score the win in the 20 lap feature.
The DIRTcar Late Models ran two heat races, and four time Dirt Modified champion Troy Foulger won the first heat ahead of two time Petaluma champion Paul Guglielmoni. David Newquist collected the win in the second heat race with Papenhausen coming from the third row to finish second. An anonymous donor put up $200 for the winner of a Dash For Cash. As Foulger sped ahead at the start, Papenhausen found his path to second blocked by Newquist. Foulger collected the cash with an impressive drive to victory, and Newquist lost a driveline in Turn 2 in a tangle with Papenhausen. Newquist switched to the backup car that he initially brought for Limited Late Model competitor Mike Hynes to drive.
Decker drew the outside front row for the Late Model feature with Cleveland next to him and Papenhausen starting third. Decker led Cleveland at the start, but Chester Kniss got into the Turn 4 wall for a lap one caution flag. Decker stayed with the outside on the restart and continued to lead Cleveland as Papenhausen settled into third, As the lead trio pulled away, Foulger made an outside move on the back stretch to take fourth from Guglielmoni. Working lap seven, Cleveland had a brush with the Turn 4 wall and yielded second to Papenhausen. Papenhausen spent the remainder of the race hounding Decker, but Decker rebuffed his every move to collect a well earned victory. Following Decker and Papenhausen at the finish were Cleveland, Foulger, Guglielmoni and Danny Malfatti, all on the lead lap.
The Northern All Stars Dwarf Cars opened the season with enough cars for three heat races, and David Teves captured the first heat ahead of Dutra. Mike Corsaro, the 2014 point runner up, won the second heat race ahead of 2010 champion Jerry Doty. The final heat win went to ageless veteran Charlie Correia ahead of Wagner, who is on a mission to capture his third straight division championship.
Wagner drew the pole for the Dwarf Car feature, but if he thought this would be a cake walk, he was mistaken. At the drop of the green flag, Wagner raced into the lead ahead of third starter Dutra and Doty. Corsaro made a move past Doty for third on the fourth circuit. Chester Kniss, who was putting some laps on the Dwarf Car he purchased for his son, brought out a lap six caution flag. Wagner opted for the inside on the restart. By the time the leaders exited Turn 2, however, Dutra emerged with the lead on the outside. A lap 11 caution flag flew for Kevin Miraglio, and Dutra maintained the lead from his outside start ahead of Wagner. A tangle between Thomas Leiby and Tim Reeder on the back stretch forced a final yellow flag on lap 16. The outside was working well for Dutra, so he stayed with it for this restart and continued to lead Wagner, Corsaro and Doty. Wagner began pressuring Dutra hard. On the final lap, Wagner made a high move in Turn 2 and emerged with the lead down the back stretch. Wagner brought it home to a popular victory ahead of Dutra, Corsaro, Doty, Jake Haverty, David Teves, Correia, Adam Teves, Chuck Weir and Reeder, all on the lead lap.
The DIRTcar Late Models head up another five division show next week, which will also include the IMCA Sport Mods, the Northern All Stars Wingless Econo 360 Sprint Cars, Hobby Stocks and Dwarf Cars. For more information, check the official Oval Motorsports Website.
Busby Collects 65th Career Antioch Victory, Fisher And Baldwin Also Victorious
Antioch, CA...March 14...The IMCA Modifieds were back on the card for their third race of the season Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. Gaining the lead after Bobby Hogge IV had motor problems in Turn 4, Scott Busby scored the 65th feature win of his storied career at Antioch Speedway. The four time champion collected 59 of those wins in the Dirt Modified class to lead all drivers in that division's 25 year history. Holding off a challenge from 2014 runner up Kyle Bakkie, veteran Roy Fisher won the 20 lap Wingless Econo Sprint feature. In a race that was destined to go non stop, Nick Baldwin drove a flawless race to win the 20 lap Hobby Stock Main Event.
The IMCA Modifieds ran two heat races with Busby and Hogge both coming from the back for the 1-2 finish in their heat. 2014 Petaluma champion Nick DeCarlo won the second heat race ahead of defending track champion Carl Berendsen II. Bobby Motts Jr. had the pole for the IMCA Modified feature, but the outside row of Busby and Hogge charged into the 1-2 slots at the start. A low move in Turn 3 of the third lap gained Hogge the lead from Busby. As Hogge and Busby pulled away, Motts and DeCarlo had a race for third. A low move in turn 4 of the sixth lap gained DeCarlo third. Hogge and Busby quickly caught slower traffic and would build a half lap lead on DeCarlo. Working lap 15, Hogge's motor gave out on him in Turn 4, giving Busby the lead over DeCarlo and Motts. Busby maintained the lead on the restart as Sean O'Gara grabbed third from Motts. Busby brought it home to victory ahead of DeCarlo, O'Gara, Motts, Chris Elby, Berendsen and Terry Kaiser, all on the lead lap.
The track's attempt to rebuild their Wingless Econo Sprint division saw just enough cars for two heat races. Fisher won the first heat race ahead of Alan Miranda, while Bakkie won the second heat race over Nick Dunn. Miranda and second generation racer Ryon Siverling shared the front row for the feature, and Miranda raced into the early lead over Fisher. A low move in Turn 4 saw Fisher take the lead on the second lap ahead of Siverling. Miranda pitted with a flat tire and Rick Panfili settled into third. Newcomer Dunn jumped the cushion and got into the Turn 4 wall for a lap five caution flag. Fisher continued to lead Siverling on the restart, and Bakkie slipped past Panfili for third on the back stretch on lap seven. A lap ten caution flag flew for debris, and Siveling pitted from second. Fisher led Bakkie and Panfili on the restart. With a few laps remaining, Bakkie was pressuring Fisher hard for the lead as Marcus Smith moved in to battle Panfili for third. Bakkie got some good momentum on the outside exiting Turn 2 on the final lap and passed Fisher on the back stretch. However, Fisher regained the lead through Turns 3 and 4 and collected a well earned victory. Bakkie settled for second ahead of Panfili, Smith and rookie Chase Wood Jr., all on the lead lap.
The Hobby Stock preliminaries proved to be kind to last week's top 2 feature finishers as last week's winner Melissa Myers won the first heat ahead of Jeremy Jennings. Two time defending champion Kimo Oreta won the second heat in font of Michael Cooper. Baldwin was fortunate to find himself on the pole for the Main Event, and he raced into the lead ahead of fourth starter Jennings and Cooper. This race was destined to go non stop, and Jennings was shadowing Baldwin's every move up front. Fifth row starter Myers was already up to fourth by lap three and made a low move in Turn 2 of the seventh lap to take third from Cooper. Danny Jones pitted from fifth on lap nine to move Oreta into that position. Jennings made a strong move in an effort to grab the lead coming out of Turn 2 of the 14th lap and got sideways on the back stretch. Myers managed to take second before Jennings recovered in third. Baldwin was not to be denied as he drove a flawless race for the victory. Myers placed second, and Jennings won a photo finish with Oreta for third. Cooper was the final lead lap finisher in fifth.
The DIRTcar Late Models head up another five division show next week, which will also include the IMCA Sport Mods, the Northern All Stars Wingless Econo 360 Sprint Cars, Hobby Stocks and Dwarf Cars. For more information, check the official Oval Motorsports Website.
Ryland Back On Top At Merced, Miguel And Joaquin Also Win
Merced, CA...March 14...After drawing a fifth row starting spot, Fred Ryland worked his way to the front and collected the 20 lap IMCA Sport Mod feature win at Merced Speedway Saturday night. The win was Ryland's fifth on the circuit this season and second at Merced Speedway as he sets his sights on IMCA Regional and National Championships. Recent Chowchilla winner Darren Miguel rebounded from last week's bad luck to win the 20 lap Mini Stock Main Event. Another recent Chowchilla winner, Kevin Joaquin, won his second Hobby Stock Main event on The Valley circuit this season with his 20 lap victory. Coming off of his Antioch win, Mark Garner won the Limited Late Model feature, while Marcus Lung topped the slim field of Valley Sportsman cars.
The IMCA Sport Mods ran two heat races, and Keith Brown Jr. won his heat race from the pole ahead of defending track champion Rick Diaz. Pole sitter Jeremy Hoff won the second heat race ahead of Tim Prothro. Ryland found himself starting back in the fifth row of the Main Event, while previous feature winner Diaz started in the fourth row. Hoff had the pole next to Brown, but his night ended in a disappointing last place finish. Brown, meanwhile, turned in his best effort of the season. Ryland made a steady charge to the front and would collect the impressive victory, while third generation racer Brown was second. Mark Squadrito was third, and Diaz managed to grab the fourth spot. Mark Odgers rebounded from last week's disappointment with a solid fifth place finish ahead of Prothro, two time Hobby Stock champion Bruce Nelson, D.C. Brown, Josh Hensley and Danny Roe.
The Mini Stocks ran a pair of heat races. With no racing at her home track in Petaluma, Kelly Campanile returned and held off defending champion Chris Corder to win her heat race. Miguel won the second heat race by moving around pole sitter Matt Schlessinger, who settled for second. Second generation racer Campanile had the pole for the Main Event, but Campanile's night ended in a disappointing DNF. Miguel proved to be a hard man to pass as he used his front row start to bring it home to a satisfying victory. C. Corder maintained the point lead with his second place finish. However, it is only a four point lead as past Mini Truck champion Kevin Lockerby improved from last week's fifth by placing third this time. Joy Alger was fourth, and Brian Widdowson replaced last week's blown motor and was rewarded with a fifth place finish. Schlessinger, Steve Johnson, double division racer Jennifer Corder, Dennis Copus and second generation racer Kode Dean rounded out the Top 10.
In Hobby Stock heat race action, Joaquin got his night started off right by winning his race ahead of Ty Shelton. Steve Rodgers won the other head ahead of past Chowchilla champion Chris Falkenberg. Joaquin had the pole for the Main Event and would drive a good race to collect the victory. The win also put him into the point lead, but his advantage is only two ahead of Shelton. Shelton grabbed his third straight Merced podium finish in second, and rookie Jennifer Corder had a good night in third. Rounding out the finish were Dexter Long, Rodgers, Bobby Williams, Shannon Nelson, Falkenberg and Kristie Shearer.
The Limited Late Model field was a little light, and Mark Garner collected wins in both the heat and Main Event ahead of local ace Buddy Thatcher and 2014 Antioch "Rookie Of The Year" Peggy Sue Jarred. Scott Van Gelder broke in his heat and scratched for the main. Marcus Lung and Chris Birdsong were back again and ran 1-2 in both the heat and Main Event for the Central Valley Sportsman division.
Racing resumes at Merced Speedway next week, and the IMCA Modifieds are back on the card. Joining them will be the IMCA Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks, Valley Sportsman For more information, check the official Oval Motorsports Website.
DCRR Racing Radio Show: Episode 22 by GenWhat
