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Last Week
Johns Wins Wild Hobby Stock Race At Antioch Speedway
Antioch CA...March 26...Ken Johns won the 25 lap Pacific Coast General Engineering Hobby Stock Main Event Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. Johns was rebounding from a night of mechanical issues at the opener for the class a couple of weeks ago, and he benefited from the misfortune of Brad Coelho and Grayson Baca.
Breck Smith led the opening lap before pushing high in Turn 2 and surrendering the point to Coelho. Reigning champion Larry McKinzie Jr took up pursuit of Coelo early on, but it was Baca taking the runner up spot on Lap 12. A Lap 13 restart provided Baca the opportunity to steal the lead from Coelho. Coelho stayed tough in the battle, but things got a bit wild on Lap 18 when contact sent Coelho and Baca spinning. Johns suddenly found himself leading Angela Brown on the restart, and they ran that way until Coelho made a low pass in Turn 4 on Lap 24 to gain second. However, Coelho ran out of time as Johns brought it home a happy winner. Brown settled for her best ever finish in third, followed by Michaela Taylor and Gavin Griffiths.
Danny Wagner won the 20 lap Delta Dwarf Car Main Event. This was the second-straight win for the two-time division champion. David Rosa took the early lead ahead of Eric Weisler. Chance Russell slipped past Weisler for second on Lap 3, but he surrendered the position to Wagner on a Lap 6 restart. Wagner chased Rosa until a Lap 10 restart gave him an opportunity to take the lead. Devan Kammermann followed Wagner into second, but he lost that position to Jack Haverty on a Lap 12 restart. Once Wagner got the lead, nobody was going to stop him as he won ahead Haverty, who barely held of Weisler for the second position. Russell and Kammermann completed the Top 5. Both Havertyy and Russell were disqualified in post race tech, making the new Top 5 Wagner, Biscardi, Kammermann, Ellie Russo and David Michael Rosa.
Petaluma Speedway Super Stock champion Randy Miramontez won the 20 lap Mini Stock Main Event. Miramontez started out running Mini Stocks at Petaluma Speedway before moving up to Super Stocks, and this was his return.
Dana Gardner jumped into the early lead in the race that was destined to go non-stop. Reigning Antioch and Petaluma champion Tom Brown settled into second on Lap 2 and made an inside move on the back stretch on Lap 5 to take the lead from Gardner. Miramontez found his way into second on Lap 9 and quickly started pressuring Brown. A low pass in Turn 2 of the 13th lap gained Miramontez the lead. The lead duo had to split a lapped car in the middle at that point, but everybody made it safely. Despite a scary incident in traffic with two laps to go, Miramontez kept his cool and held off Brown for the win. Gardner ended up third, followed by Shan Titman and Eddie Humphrey III.
Mitch Enos won the 15 lap California Sharp Mini Late Model Main Event. This was the debut for the class at Antioch. Matt Malcolm jumped into the lead at the start ahead of Enos. Malcolm pulled away a little bit for the first few laps, but Enos closed in by the midway point of the race. A low pass in Turn 4 on Lap 12 put Enos into the lead, and Malcolm spun in the same turn a lap later for a yellow flag. Enos led the restart, and Malcolm spun again in Turn 4 trying to make a pass. Enos won ahead of DJ Saenz and Malcolm.
Racing resumes next Saturday night with IMCA Modifieds back in action along with IMCA Sport Modifieds, Pacific Coast General Engineering Hobby Stocks and Super Stocks. For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com.
Unofficial Race Results Antioch Speedway
Hobby Stocks
Heat Winners (8 laps)-Larry McKinzie Jr, Charlie Bryant, Breck Smith, Brad Coelho. Main Event (20 laps)-Ken Johns, Brad Coelho, Angela Brown, Michaela Taylor, Gavin Griffiths, Taylor DeCarlo, Jess Paladino, Gene Haney, Shelby Asher, Danny Aves.
Delta Dwarf Cars
Heat Winners (8 laps)-Jack Haverty, Ellie Russo, Danny Wagner. Main Event Danny Wagner, Eric Weisler, Devan Kammermann, Ellie Russo, David Michael Rosa, Barry Waddell, Sean Catucci, David Rosa, Pete Piatinida, Tom Van Tuyl.
Mini Stocks
Heat Winners (8 laps)-Randy Miramontez, Tom Brown. Main Event (20 laps)-Randy Miramontez, Tom Brown, Dana Gardner, Shan Titman, Eddie Humphrey III, Daisy Eszler, Laina Bales, Ryan Graham, Dan Abitz DNS.
California Sharp Mini Late Models
Heat Winner (6 laps)-Matt Malcolm. Main Event (15 laps)-Mitch Enos, DJ Saenz, Matt Malcolm.
Carrick Outduels Sanders For Sprint Car Win
At Ocean Speedway
Watsonville, Ca...March 25...Tanner Carrick won the 30 lap Ocean Sprint Car, presented by Taco Bravo, Main Event Friday night at Ocean Speedway. Carrick was piloting one of the Demo Mittry owned cars, and he survived a thrilling battle with Justin Sanders for the hard fought victory.
It was Tanner Carrick taking the early lead ahead of Sanders and reigning champion Bud Kaeding. A red flag waved after two laps with Stephen Kent and Michael Pombo both eliminated from the contest. Carrick continued to lead the way ahead of Sanders and Kaeding on the restart. A yellow flag waved once again on the ninth lap. Carrick continued to lead the way over Sanders and Kaeding when the green flag waved. By the midpoint of the race, Carrick was feeling the pressure from Sanders. Sanders slipped past Carrick for the lead on Lap 19, but Carrick returned the favor on Lap 21. Sanders made what appeared to be a move for the lead as they worked Lap 23, but a yellow flag negated the pass. The race ended at that point for Jayson Bright, Jeremy Chisum and Connor Danell. Sanders led Carrick and Kaeding on the restart. However, Carrick came roaring back strong on Lap 25 to regain the lead for good. Tanner Carrick brought it home to victory ahead of Sanders, Kaeding, Logan Forler, Max Mittry, Blake Carrick, Keith Day Jr, Joey Ancona, Jake Andreotti and Zane Blanchard.
There were 32 Winged 360 Sprint Cars in action, and Max Mitttry turned the quarter-mile clay oval with the fast time of 11.124, beating the 11.222 of Keith Day Jr and the 11.238 of Justin Sanders. The eight lap heat race wins went to Logan Forler, Bud Kaeding, Eric Humphries and Blake Carrick. Sanders picked up the six lap Trophy Dash win ahead of Tanner Carrick. Michael Pombo made a flag the flag run for the 12 lap B Main win with Connor Danell a race long second. Zane Blanchard made a move in the later stages to finish third as Jeremy Chisum settled for fourth ahead of Joel Myers.
Matthew Hagio was the unlikely winner of the 20 lap IMCA Modified Main Event. Reigning champion Cody Burke bolted into the early lead ahead of Raymond Keldsen Jr and previous winner Bobby Hogge IV. Both Hogge and Hagio slipped past Keldsen on the second lap, and Hogge started pressuring Burke immediately. That close battle went on for several laps before a yellow flag waved on Lap 14 for Keldsen. Hogge took the lead from Burke on the restart. However, some close quarters racing between Hogge and Burke shook things up on the 17th lap as Hagio found himself leading. The yellow flag waved moments later as the race ended for both Hogge and Burke. Hagio led Pettit and JC Elrod on the restart, and that's the way they finished. Keldsen ended up fourth, followed by Burke, Hogge, Steve Pemberton and Robert Marsh. Hogge picked up the win in the eight lap heat race.
Reigning champion Joe Gallaher scored his second-straight 20 lap Hobby Stock Main Event victory. For much of the race, it looked like he may not repeat. Steve Remde jumped into the lead at the start ahead of six-time champion Sam Kennedy and Jerry Skelton. A yellow flag waved on Lap 2, ending the race for Mitch Lettunich. Remde continued to lead Kennedy and Skelton on the restart. Wally Kennedy was battling Joe Gallaher for the fourth position, and Gallaher grabbed that that spot on Lap 5. The lead four competitors ran closely at the front, and Joe Gallaher made a big move on Lap 15 to take second from Sam Kennedy. Gallaher put the moves on Remde to take the lead two laps later. As Joe Gallaher went on to victory, Sam Kennedy executed a last lap maneuver to take second from Remde. Skelton settled for fourth, followed by Brady Muller, Bobby Gallaher, Wally Kennedy and Lettunich. Norm Ayers, Tony Oliveira and Ryan Miller were Main Event scratches. Eight lap heat race wins went to Skelton and Remde.
Troy Moore won the 15 lap Mini Stock Main Event. The race had to be restarted for a yellow flag that eliminated both Dylan Chairez and Jason Bookout. Moore led the complete restart ahead of Nicole Beardsley and TJ Santos. Moore was doing a fine job of leading the way until a yellow flag waved on Lap 8 as the Top 5 run of Travis Van Gilder came to an unfortunate end. Moore continued to lead Nicole Beardsley and Santos on the restart. Moore maintained a decent advantage from there to the victory with Nicole Beardsley settling for second ahead of TJ Santos, previous winner Kenny Stragalinos, Amaya Flowers, reigning champion Tony Gullo, past champion Bill Beardsley, Thomas Cumming, Charlie Hernandez and Van Gilder. Stragalinos and Moore won the six lap heat races.
Racing resumes next Friday night with the Ocean Sprint Cars back in action along with the IMCA Modifieds, WMR Midgets, IMCA Sport Modifieds and Hobby Stocks. For further information, go to www.oceanspeedway.com.
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Andrew Pearce #15p has become one of the top drivers in IMCA Sport Modified computation at Antioch Speedway. Photo by Katrina Kniss
Antioch Speedway To Feature Modified Classes Saturday night
While the crew works on the front end damage of his car, Andrew Pearce
is doing body work to get it ready for the Main Event. Photo by DCRR
Racing Media
Antioch, CA...The popular IMCA sanctioned Modifieds and Sport Modifieds return to action this Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. The drivers were competing at another speedway for big money last week, but they will resume the point battles at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds based oval track this Saturday. Also in action will be the popular Pacific Coast General Engineering Hobby Stocks and the return of the Super Stocks.
One of the things drivers learn very quickly when they race for points is that every position counts and you never give up on an evening of racing. You can always gain something if you don't quit. Young charger Andrew Pearce, who is coming off of a second place finish at Merced, had a heat race issue at the most recent Antioch event.
With front-end damage, his evening was in doubt. However, his father Brian Pearce and the crew went to work making repairs. Andrew came back out and salvaged a decent evening with a fourth place feature finish.
When you're competing against Fred Ryland, every point counts. Ryland won the Main Event that night, and to demonstrate what a force he is this year, Ryland went to Merced last weekend and won both the IMCA Sport Modified and IMCA Stock Car races. Everybody's gunning for Fast Freddy, the two-time reigning champion. Drivers to keep an eye on this week include past champion KC Keller, Jacob Mallet Jr, Tommy Clymens Jr and Mark Garner.
When last we saw the IMCA Modifieds two weeks ago, Kellen Chadwick was putting on a clinic as he beat the field by a full straightaway in victory. Chadwick was disappointed with himself after the season opener. He held a similar lead in that race, but somehow he let it slip away. The past Antioch champion, who has won some of the biggest races on the West Coast, got his redemption, but he'd like to back it up with another win on this occasion.
Nick DeCarlo competed in his father's car last time out as he was planning a trip out of state after the race. The team maintains two cars, but they figured it would be easier to just run the one car. Nick is competing for points this year, and his win in the season opener was his first victory at Antioch in two years.
Nick bears this distinction of being the only driver to win IMCA Modified championships in Antioch, Watsonville and Petaluma. Nick will be back this week, but with drivers like Jim Pettit II, Buddy Kniss and Bobby Motts Jr in the field, he'll have to bring his A Game.
Motts led the early goings of the most recent feature. When Chadwick got by him, he still had a tough battle for the second half of the race. DeCarlo looked high and low, but Motts didn't give up and scored the runner-up finish. The Motts family has been involved in racing for many years, and Bobby has had some very good moments at Antioch Speedway, including championships in both the IMCA Modifieds and Street Stocks.
The Hobby Stocks were so popular last weekend that most of the fans in attendance stayed all the way to the end to see how things would end up. The lead changed hands several times, but it was Ken Johns prevailing at the checkered flag. Also noteworthy was the drive turned in by second-generation competitor Angela Brown.
With some damage to repair to the rear end of her car, Angela's feature start was in question. Speedway veteran Jim Robbins was helping in the pits. With everything repaired, she came out and earned her best ever finish in third. Michaela Taylor was right behind her in fourth. Taylor recently celebrated her 17th birthday. One of the things Angela attributes to her improvement this year is her willingness to travel to other venues to better her driving style.
Street Stocks were a part of the Antioch roster going back to the 1970s, and the Hobby Stocks are the spiritual successor to that class. New drivers get their starts in this division. Some of the drivers who joined in the last couple of years have gotten very competitive. Larry McKenzie Jr may be the reigning champion, but he knows he's got stiff competition with the likes of Jared Baugh, Grayson Baca, Jewell Crandall, Taylor DeCarlo and James Graessle in the field.
After the season ended last year, it looked as if the Super Stock division was done. Former promoter John Soares added the class in 2000. At the time, this was the way to bring back some of the old Late Model chassis from the late 1980s and early 1990s. One driver instrumental in finding cars for some drivers was two-time champion Ron Brown, who made his season debut in a Hobby Stock last Saturday.
One of the instigators in securing another chance for this class was last year's champion, Jim Freethy. Jim wanted to keep racing, and there were enough drivers there with him that management reconsidered and put them on the schedule for this Saturday night and next week. Two-time division champion Mike Gustafson, who is sure to be in the Hall of Fame in the future, will be in the field. Nobody's won more Super Stock Main Events than Gustafson, who is also a past Sportsman title winner. Others to keep an eye on include 2020 champion Mike Walko, Joey Ridgeway Jr, Chad Hammer and Michael Burch.
Saturday night's show will bring plenty of excitement with this four division lineup. Grandstands will open at 4:00 pm with the first race scheduled to fire off at 6:00 pm.
Ticket prices are $20 for adults, $15 for military, senior (60 and over) and children (under 11) with children five and under free.
For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com.
