Antioch, CA — Troy Morris III scored the win in the 25 lap IMCA Modified Main Event Wednesday night at Antioch Speedway. This was the opening round of the five race Central California Clash, and the win for the Bakersfield driver paid $1,000.
Reigning IMCA State champion Jim Pettit II of Prunedale motored into the lead at the start ahead of Troy Foulger of Martinez. The race had multiple caution flags during the first 10 laps with Pettit leading Foulger up to that point. Morris moved up to battle Clark Guglielmoni of Vacaville for third on Lap 10. A low pass in Turn 4 on Lap 13 put Morris into third, and he soon joined the battle between Pettit and Foulger for first.
An outside pass on the back stretch on Lap 18 moved Morris around both Pettit and Foulger with Foulger going low in Turn 4 to take second. A yellow flag waved on Lap 23. However, Morris kept his poise and withstood a serious challenge down the front stretch to hold off Foulger for the win. Pettit settled for third ahead of Gugliemoni and Bobby Hogge IV of Salinas.
Jerry Flippo of Bakersfield won the 25 lap IMCA Stock Car Main Event aboard the Les Friend owned entry. Martinez’s Troy Foulger set the early pace ahead of Flippo and Anthony Slaney of Martinez. They ran in that order through the first 12 laps before Raymond Noland of Porterville rolled his car in Turn 2. He was not injured.
Foulger continued to set the pace on the restart, but he got sideways exiting Turn 4 on Lap 18. Flippo gathered the momentum on the inside and passed him at the line to take the lead. Foulger made a couple of big attempts on the inside through Turns 3 and 4 to get by, but Flippo kept holding him back. By that point, Rick Diaz of Los Banos had moved into third.
On the final lap, Foulger made a very aggressive inside move in Turn 3 and drifted up high in Turn 4 with the lead. Undaunted, Flippo ducked to the inside and beat Foulger back to the line for the victory. Diaz settled for third ahead of Fred Ryland of Brentwood and Slaney.
Reigning Clash champion Tyler Bannister of Bakersfield won the 25 lap IMCA Sport Modified Main Event. Les Friend of Galt led a lap before Antioch’s Joseph Pato gained advantage. Following a yellow flag after two laps, Bannister took the lead. Jason Ryan Jr of Oakley moved into third on Lap 4. Mallet took second on a Lap 16 restart and held the spot until being involved in a three-car tangle in Turn 1 on Lap 22. Bannister led Kenny Shrader of Pacheco on the restart, and they finished that way with Ryan settling for third ahead of Trevor Clymens of Brentwood and Aaron Farrell of Atascadero.
Racing continues on Saturday night with the Wingless Spec Sprints kicking off their season with a special Memorial Lap for long time division suppoter Rick Panfili. Also in action will be the Pacific Coast General Engineering Hobby Stocks, Super Stocks, Delta Dwarf Cars and Print Club Mini Stocks. For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com.
Antioch Speedway Race Results
IMCA Modifieds
Heat Winners (10 laps)-Jake Pike, Nick DeCarlo, Josh Combs. B Main (12 laps)-Anthony Slaney, Austin Kiefer, Paul Guglielmoni. Main Event (25 laps)-Troy Morris III, Troy Foulger, Jim Pettit II, Clark Guglielmoni, Bobby Hogge IV, Nick DeCarlo, Paul Stone, Jake Pike, Josh Combs, Cody Burke.
IMCA Sport Modifieds
Heat Winners (10 laps)-Timmy Crews, Jacob Mallet Jr. Main Event (25 laps)-Tyler Bannister, Kenny Shrader, Jason Ryan Jr, Trevor Clymens, Aaron Farrell, Mark Garner, Fred Ryland, Les Friend, Chuck Golden, Jacob Mallet Jr.
IMCA Stock Cars
Heat Winners (10 laps)-Rick Diaz, Anthony Slaney. Main Event (25 laps)-Jerry Flippo, Troy Foulger, Rick Diaz, Fred Ryland, Anthony Slaney, Travis Dutra, Kevin Roberts, Steve Stone, Kenneth Robles, Jason Robles.
The speedway lost a 25-year veteran of Wingless Spec Sprint racing, Rick Panfili #44. Saturday, we will remember him. Photo by Katrina Kniss
Panfili To Be Remembered At Antioch Speedway Saturday Night
Antioch, CA…The Wingless Spec Sprint division will kick off their 25th season of racing at Antioch Speedway this Saturday night. The track launched the carbureted Sprint Car division as an alternative to get new drivers into open wheel racing.
One driver had competed in the class every year since it started. He’s Rick Panfili. He had been diagnosed with cancer in 2019. He lost that brave battle two weeks ago. He leaves behind wife Diana and his family.
Panfili had raced with the NCMA Modifieds for five years prior to joining this class in its infancy. Statistics will show that he finished second and third in the points and finished as high as second in the Main Event on multiple occasions. What they don’t show is how well respected he was within the community.
If Rick could help somebody with a part or a moment of his time, he did. He always had time to meet with fans and if the track called on him for something, he was usually right there to do it.
This year, he received a Lifetime Achievement award from DCRR Racing Media and he was the first inductee into Antioch Speedway’s 2023 Hall of Fame.
On Saturday night, Rick’s car will be at the track leading a special memorial lap in his memory. Though he was at the track as part of the DNF crew at the season opener, he will not take a green flag in a Wingless Spec Sprint race for the first season in the 25-year run of the class.
For his fellow racers, It will be a sad thing to note. Whatever the car count, his #44 car was usually in the field supporting the class.
Saturday’s lineup will include the Wingless Spec Sprints, Pacific Coast General Engineering Hobby Stocks, Delta Dwarf Cars, Super Stocks and Print Club Mini Stocks.
Last season, Shannon Newton wasn’t expecting to run for points. After chalking up four-straight wins, he overtook season runner-up James East for his second Spec Sprint division championship. Newton and East are both anticipated for this event along with last year’s third ranked driver, Steve Maionchi, MacKenzie Newton, Bob Newberry and Roy Fisher.
The Hobby Stocks will be in action for the third time this season. Jared Baugh is off to a good start with a pair of Top 5 finishes. Previous winner Grayson Baca leads Jared by just two points with Michaela Taylor eight points back following her third place finish last time out. Others anticipated this week include Ken Johns, Kevin Brown and double division racer Danny Wagner.
Wagner will be busy. The three-time reigning Delta Dwarf Car champion will be competing in that class as well. Engine issues sidelined him from a potential win at the season opener, but he rebounded last week with the win.
Finishing third in his best run to date was Pete Piantanida. Last year’s top rookie is just six points behind Wagner and two ahead of season opener winner David Michael Rosa in the early point battle.
Other hard chargers, such as 2020 champion Travis Day, Ellie Russo and last season’s runner-up, Devan Kammermann, are anticipated as well.
The Super Stock division finally kicks off their season, and it’s a tune-up race for May 13th Larry Damitz Memorial for the Tri State Pro Stocks. Jim Freethy won his third championship last season.
He is one of two drivers able to dethrone Larry in his strong seven-year run at the end of his career. Larry had won five championships during that span, finishing second to Jim in one of the seasons he didn’t win.
Joey Ridgeway finished second last season and is anticipated this week along with 2020 champion Mike Walko, Chad Hammer, Ryan Cherezian and Jay Bryant.
Reigning Print Club Mini Stock champion Tom Brown started this season with a backup car while his motor was being freshened in his primary vehicle. However, the Bob Davis owned Pinto should be ready, which is bad news for the competition. Brown had picked up a pair of second place finishes to start the season and will be in the hunt for a win this week. As it is, Brown holds the point lead over Don Abitz.
Abitz had a good night last time around as he won the Best Appearing Car contest and finished third in the Main Event. He’s hoping to make a better run in the point chase. Last season he finished fifth despite missing some races, and he finished third in his rookie season.
Other drivers to watch for this week include season opening winner Dana Gardner, Laina Bales, David Carson and Eddie Humphrey III.
On the Wednesday leading up to this event, the track is set to host the first round of the Central California Clash for the IMCA Modifieds, Sport Modifieds and Stock Cars. This is the fourth year for this special series that competes at several Central California tracks. Antioch had been off the schedule for a year, but has the honor of getting this year’s festivities started.
The series brings together some of the best drivers in the state and will also compete at Merced, Hanford, Tulare and Bakersfield during the five-day span. There are championship point funds for all three classes, including a $1,000 title for the Modifieds and $750 for the other two classes. That is also the to win money for each Main Event on the circuit.
Championships last season were won by Cody Laney in IMCA Modifieds, Tyler Bannister in IMCA Sport Modifieds and Steven Johnson in IMCA Stock Cars.
- The gates will open at 4:00 with the first race starting at 6:00.
- Adult tickets are $20, Senior/Military $15, Kids (5-12) $15 and kids five and under free.
For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com or check out the Antioch Speedway by PROmotions Facebook page.
Season Articles:
- May 1: Scelzi Brings NARC Sprint Cars Back to Antioch Speedway in Victory
- April 25: Shrader, Baca, Foulger, Davis Share Antioch Speedway Spotlight
- April 18: Arriaga Wins Hunt Spec Sprint Series Opener At Antioch Speedway
- April 11: Andreotti Opens BCRA Midgets Triple Crown Series With Win at Antioch Speedway