Tuesday, September 1, 2015

McCarthy, DeCarlo Antioch Winners, Wilson, Hensley Win At Merced

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McCarthy Grabs Second Win, 
Arriaga Antioch Sprint Car Champion

Art McCarthy closed the Northern All Stars Winged 360 Sprint Car season the way he started it as he won the 20 lap Main Event Saturday night at Antioch Speedway.  McCarthy gained the lead when leader Dan Gonderman had troubles lapping a slower car midway through the race.  Shawn Arriaga missed the setup for this race, but he used his fourth place finish to win the division championship.

Arriaga pretty much assured himself of the championship when he won the first of two heat races ahead of Sprint Car veteran Bobby McMahan.  Dan Gonderman won his first heat race ahead of McCarthy.  This seemed like the beginning of a great night for Gonderman as he had a front row start with McCarthy for the Main Event.  Gonderman set the pace at the drop of the green flag ahead of McCarthy and McMahan.  Gonderman ran a good race up front and steadily caught a slower car until it was in his path by lap eight.  He tried getting by on the high side, but the car ran the middle line as second through fourth caught Gonderman.  As they headed down the backstretch after ten laps, Gonderman tried to make his move, but cars got together with Gonderman and Colby Wiesz crashing for a yellow flag.  The race was over for both of them.  McCarthy was the new leader on the restart, and he led the final ten laps for the $1200 victory.  McMahon finished second ahead of Jake Haulot and Arriaga.  Gonderman was scored fifth ahead of Wiesz and Steve Jaquith.  Stephen Ingraham crashed in hot laps to end his night early.

Racing resumes at Antioch Speedway on Sunday, September 13th for the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and IMCA Sport Modifieds.  September 19th will be a regular show, featuring DIRTcar Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, Northern All Stars Wingless Spec Sprints, Hobby Stocks and Limited Late Models.  For further information, check the official Oval Motorsports Website.


DeCarlo, Giuliani Score 
Antioch Speedway Victories

Petaluma point leader Nick DeCarlo had an opportunity to come visit Antioch Speedway Saturday night, and the talented second generation racer made an impressive charge from the back to win the 15 lap IMCA Modified Main Event.  Anthony Giuliani continues to be the driver to beat in IMCA Sport Modifieds as he added a fourth win to his totals in the 15 lap Main Event.  Point leader Kimo Oreta won the time limit shortened 13 lap Hobby Stock Main Event as he led every lap.

Rookie Nick Viscusi III continues to impress as he won his six lap IMCA Modified heat race ahead of Carl Berendsen II.  Shawn DeForest won the other heat race ahead of Scott Busby.  DeCarlo and Busby shared the sixth row of the Main Event.  Aaron Crowell had a front row start in his quest to win three in a row.  Crowell charged into the lead ahead of Viscusi and Trent Wentworth.  DeCarlo joined the battle with Wentworth and Berendsen for third by lap four.  Viscusi pitted with a flat on lap five, and DeCarlo used a low move in Turn 4 to take second from Wentworth on lap six.  By then, Crowell had a straightaway lead over DeCarlo, who set about trying to close the gap.  Shawn DeForest and Busby shuffled Wentworth back to fifth on lap nine.  DeCarlo was closing in on Crowell, but it looked like he would need a yellow flag to have a chance.  That happened on lap 13 as Wentworth and Josh Combs tangled on the front stretch.  Crowell chose the outside on the restart, but DeCarlo had the lead by the time they exited Turn 2.  Crowell had a broken upper A arm and would pit as DeCarlo won ahead of DeForest, Oresta Gonella and Brian Cass.  Busby was riding fifth when he broke a right front ball joint and slammed the wall in Turn 4.  Bobby Motts Jr. finished fifth ahead of Combs, Chester Kniss, Crowell, Busby and Bill Wallace.

Anthony Giuliani won the first IMCA Sport Modified heat race ahead of Chuck Golden.  Fred Ryland won the other heat ahead of Al Johnson.  Tim Hammett was a Main Event scratch as Trevor Clymens led early from the pole.  Golden was second until F. Ryland made a low pass in Turn 4 of the third lap to grab the spot.   Patti Ryland made an outside pass in Turn 3 of the sixth lap to take third from Golden as her husband F. Ryland was challenging Clymens for the lead.  A low move in Turn 4 of the eighth lap gained F. Ryland the lead.  F. Ryland lost his hood piece on the front stretch for a lap nine caution flag, and he was black flagged from the lead for having no hood piece.  Clymens chose the outside for the restart, but P. Ryland got a good run on the inside.  P. Ryland made a low pass in Turn 4 of that lap to grab the lead, and fourth row starter Giuliani made an inside pass in Turn 2 of the tenth lap to grab second.  Giuliani quickly moved in to battle P. Ryland for the lead.  Giuliani made an inside pass in Turn 4 of the 11th lap to grab first.  Giuliani brought it home for another win with P. Ryland settling for second.  Clymens was third ahead of K.C. Keller, Golden, Johnson, F. Ryland and Paul Mulder.

The Hobby Stocks had their biggest field of the year, and Merced racer Marc Key won the first heat over Michael Cooper.  Russell Shearer won his second straight heat race ahead of Chris Long and Placerville Pure Stock racer Jay Bryant won the third heat ahead of Oreta.  His second place heat finish put Oreta on the outside front row for the Main Event, and he raced into the early lead ahead of Long and Cooper.  Bryant slipped past Cooper for third on lap 3.  Key made this a five car battle up front as Tony Jennings Sr. hit the front wall on lap five.  Bryant made a Turn 3 pass on Long for second on lap seven as Key followed into third.  Long stalled with a flat tire for a lap eight yellow flag.  Oreta chose the outside on the restart and continued to lead as  Key took second from Bryant.  Working what would have been lap 11, Key brushed the Turn 4 wall, and Bryant’s pass for second was negated when a caution flag flew for debris.  Another yellow flag flew for debris on the next restart attempt.  Oreta led Bryant and Key for one more lap before the third yellow in a row flew for debris on the track.  Pressed for time, officials called for a yellow checkered at the next yellow flag.  Oreta led Bryant and Key on the restart, but a yellow flag flew after 13 laps for Key to force the early finish.  Oreta grabbed the victory ahead of Bryant, Steven Rogers, Natalie Perry, Robert Niven, Frank Furtado, Shearer, Joey Ridgeway, Dan McCown and Jordan Swank.

Racing resumes at Antioch Speedway on Sunday, September 13th for the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and IMCA Sport Modifieds.  September 19th will be a regular show, featuring DIRTcar Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, Northern All Stars Wingless Spec Sprints, Hobby Stocks and Limited Late Models.  For further information, check the official Oval Motorsports Website.


Bakkie, Gustafson Back In 
Antioch Speedway Winner’s Circle

Taking the lead from Roy Fisher late in the race, Kyle Bakkie won the 20 lap Northern All Stars Wingless Spec Sprint Main Event Saturday night at Antioch Speedway.  The win was point leader Bakkie’s fourth of the season and first since his flip back in June.  Mike Gustafson went flag to flag for his third 20 lap Limited Late Model victory of the season.  Two time champion Danny Wagner ended the Dwarf Car point season with an impressive victory in the 20 lap Main Event.

Alan Miranda won the first Wingless Spec Sprint heat race over Jimmy Perry III, while Bakkie won the other six lapper ahead of Petaluma visitor Bill Cornwell.  Fisher and Rick Panfili shared the front row of the Main Event and settled into the 1-2 positions at the start.  Long time Spec Sprint competitor Keith Shipherd was back with a new chassis and ran third early on.  David Dias spun on the back stretch for a lap four caution flag.  Fisher continued to lead Panfili on the restart as previous winner Billy Macedo took third from Shipherd.  Working lap six, Macedo attempted to move underneath Panfili just as Panfili got sideways in Turn 4.  Panfili gathered it back up with the two bumping wheels as Macedo stalled.  Shipherd was back in third.  Perry made an inside pass in Turn 4 of the seventh lap to take third from Shipherd with Bakkie fourth a lap later.  Panfili’s second place run ended as he hit a rut in Turn 4 with Perry and Bakkie moving by.  Fisher, Perry and Bakkie ran  close up front, and Bakkie made an outside pass on the front stretch to claim second on lap 13 with Perry pitting moments later.  A lap 14 caution flag flew for Cornwell on the front stretch.  Fisher led the restart lap, but an inside move on the front stretch of the 16th lap gained Bakkie the lead.  Shipherd was back in third, and Bakkie brought it home a happy winner ahead of Fisher, Shipherd and Alan Miranda.  Marcus Smith got his car back together after a heat race crash and came from 12th starting to finish fifth, followed by Cornwell, James East, Peter Carlotto, David Dias and Panfili.

The Limited Late Models ran two heat races with Larry Damitz winning his heat race ahead of Lori Brown.  Jim Freethy won the other heat ahead of John Keith.  Gustafson had the pole for the Main Event with Mike Hynes and point leader Damitz in the fifth row.  With oil line issues, Damitz simply took a green flag and retired.  Gustafson led the opening lap, and Freethy and Brown were second and third a lap later.  Gustafson had a straightway lead by lap six as the hard charging Hynes took third from Brown.  A fire under the hood of Keith’s car forced a lap seven red flag, and Freethy pitted during the caution period.  Gustafson led the restart over Hynes, and Eric Berendsen grabbed third on a lap nine restart following a yellow flag for Mark Garner on the front stretch.   A low move in Turn 3 of the 12th lap gained Brown third from Berendsen.  Even a pair of late yellow flags could not stop Gustafson from grabbing the victory.  Following the division’s all time win leader in second was Hynes as Brown and the steady John Evans were the final lead lap finishers.  Freethy finished fifth ahead of Ryan Cherezian, Keith, Garner, Damitz and Berendsen.

The Dwarf Cars ran three heat races with Adam Teves winning his heat race ahead of Miranda Chappa.  Kevin Miraglio won his heat in front of Wagner, while Kurtis Craig won his first six lapper of the season ahead of Chuck Weir.  Point leader David Teves had a front row start for the Main Event and led two laps ahead of Wagner before a caution flag flew for David Rosa in Turn 4.  D. Teves chose the inside on the restart and continued to lead as Mike Corsaro made an inside pass in Turn 4 to take second.  D. Teves stalled for a lap five caution flag as Corsaro now led Wagner and Miraglio.  Corsaro chose the outside and continued to lead Wagner and Miraglio.  Wagner and Corsaro ran side by side from lap nine to 14 before Wagner finally made it stick.  Wagner began to pull away and brought it home to a well earned victory.  Corsaro settled for second ahead of Miraglio, A. Teves, Craig, Thomas Leiby, Travis Dutra, Josh Miller, Weir and Brian Gray.

Racing resumes at Antioch Speedway on Sunday, September 13th for the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and IMCA Sport Modifieds.  September 19th will be a regular show, featuring DIRTcar Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, Northern All Stars Wingless Spec Sprints, Hobby Stocks and Limited Late Models.  For further information, check the official Oval Motorsports Website.


Point Leaders Wilson, Hensley 
Win IMCA Features At Merced Speedway

Alex Wilson continued his drive towards the IMCA Modified championship at Merced Speeway with his fourth 20 lap Main Event victory Sunday night.  A. Wilson grabbed the lead early on from Ricky Thatcher and won a side by side battle with his brother Kyle Wilson before pulling away to the impressive win.  Point leader John Hensley drove a flawless race after taking the lead from Andy Welch and won his second 20 lap IMCA Sport Modified feature.

Kyle Wilson won the first of two six lap IMCA Modified heat races in front of Antioch visitor Chester Kniss.  Alex Wilson held off long time Late Model racer Derek Nance to win the other heat.  Ricky Thatcher had a front row start and led just two laps of the Main Event before A. Wilson slipped underneath him in Turn 4 to grab the lead.  A lap five yellow flag slowed the pace, and K. Wilson slipped past Thatcher for second.  Last starter Ramie Stone was third, and the crowd was treated to two very close battles.  K. Wilson ran the outside with his brother Alex on the inside in a side by side battle for the lead.  Meanwhile, Nance, Stone and Kniss battled fiercely for third.  K. Wilson barely beat A. Wilson back to the line to lead laps nine through 11 before a low move in Turn 2 of the 12th lap regained Alex the lead.  Stone used a back stretch pass on lap 13 to take third from Nance, and Kniss dropped Nance back to fifth two laps later.  K. Wilson beat A. Wilson back to the line to lead lap 15, but Alex again came back strong on the inside to regain the lead on lap 16.  From there, A. Wilson began to pull away and would win the race.  K. Wilson settled for second ahead of a good season debut for four time champion Stone, Kniss, Thatcher, Aaron Barnell, Nance, Ray Mayer and Alan Pace.

Hensley won the first of two IMCA Sport Modified heat races ahead of Gary Tucker, and Dwayne Short held off point rival Mark Odgers to win the other heat race.  Andy Welch had a front start for the Main Event and led early ahead of Short and Hensley.  This race was destined to go with only one yellow flag, and an inside move on the back stretch of the fourth lap gained Hensley second.  Gary Tucker shuffled Short back to fourth.  An outside move on the front stretch of the 11th lap gained Hensley the lead from Welch.  Odgers and Jared Tickel settled into fourth and fifth on lap 11.  Short and Kelly Wilkinson got together with Wilkinson spinning for a caution flag on lap 17.  Hensley chose the outside on the restart and continued to lead Welch and Tickel.  Hensley would lead the rest of the way for the win.  Welch settled for second ahead of Tickel, Tucker, Short, Eric Rose, Mark Odgers, Marisa Odgers and Wilkinson.

Racing takes a two week break at Merced Speedway before returning on September 20th with a five division program that will include IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, Northern All Stars Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks and Limited late Models.  For further in formation, check the official Oval Motorsports Website.


 Nelson, Miguel Impress With 
Merced Speedway Victories

Subbing for Michael Shearer, IMCA Sport Mod star Bruce Nelson won the 20 lap Northern All Stars Hobby Stock Main Event Sunday night at Merced Speedway.  Nelson made his winning pass during the final ten laps and became the 16th different winner in 21 races,. The two time Hobby Stock champion revealed that he has sold his Sport Mod and bought an IMCA Modified from Paul Stone.  Darren Miguel grabbed the lead early and sped home to his 12th Mini Stock Main event win of the season.  The win gave Miguel an eight point lead over Chris Corder going into next month’s season finale.

Ty Shelton won the first of three Hobby Stock heat races ahead of Dexter Long.  Nelson won his six lapper ahead of Marshall Weaver, and Andrew Krumm won the final heat ahead of point leader Kevin Joaquin.  Robbie Loquaci and Austin Van Hoff shared the front row of the Main Event with Joaquin starting fifth and Nelson ninth.  Van Hoff raced into the early lead ahead of Loquaci and Joaquin.  An outside move on the front stretch of the fifth lap gained Joaquin second from Loquaci.  A lap five caution flag flew for Weaver.  Van Hoff led another lap before Cody Parker brought out a caution flag.  Van Hoff stayed with the outside and continued to lead Joaquin and Ryan Hart on the restart.  An inside move on the back stretch of the eighth lap gained Joaquin the lead, but Van Hoff made a similar move a lap later to regain first.  A low pass in Turn 2 of the tenth lap gained Loquaci third from Hart.  Nelson took third from Loquaci on lap 11 and made an inside pass in Turn 2 of the 12th lap to take second from Joaquin.  The hard charging Nelson made another inside pass in Turn 2 of the 14th lap to take the lead from Van Hoff.  Charlie Hunter spun in Turn 2 for a lap 17 caution flag.  Nelson chose the outside and continued to lead Van Hoff and Joaquin on the restart.  Joaquin made an outside pass on the front stretch to take second on lap 18.  However, Joaquin could only follow the happy winner Nelson to the checkered flag.  A low pass in the final turn gained Loquaci a third place finish as Kristie Shearer followed him into fourth.  Van Hoff settled for fifth as Parker, Jennifer Corder, Hart, Hunter and Dexter Long completed the Top 10.

The Mini Stock point race tilted in Miguel’s favor as he won the heat race ahead of C. Corder.  With a neon green glow stick on the trunk of his Mini Stock under the night sky, Steve Johnson led the opening lap of the Mini Stock feature before being passed by Miguel in Turn 1.  An inside move on the back stretch of the fifth lap gained Dan McCabe second, and Johnson’s car began smoking.  James Stockton made his move around Johnson for third on lap nine.  C. Corder wasn’t quite up to speed, but he took fourth from Johnson on lap ten.  Miguel set a good pace up front to earn the victory with McCabe not too far behind in second.  Stockton was a season best third with C. Corder the final lead lap finisher.  Jennifer Corder finished fifth as Alica Caldwell, Johnson, Dennis Copus  and Mike Germait rounded out the finishing order.

Racing takes a two week break at Merced Speedway before returning on September 20th with a five division program that will include IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, Northern All Stars Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks and Limited late Models.  For further in formation, check the official Oval Motorsports Website.