Antioch, CA — For over 60 consecutive seasons, auto racing has taken place at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds. The Antioch Speedway dirt oval has featured many exciting divisions through the years and longtime fans still speak of legends such as Gary Pacheco, Bill Brown, JD Willis, Dean Cline and Gene Dothage with reverence.
For many years, the Antioch Speedway events were sanctioned by NASCAR. Back in those days, they had a strong weekly racing series of tracks throughout the United States. Though NASCAR still sanctions tracks, there is a strong IMCA sanctioning presence in the state. Antioch is among them.
The popular IMCA Modifieds have been on the roster since 1990, and the IMCA Sport Modifieds are approaching their 15th season as a mainstay at the track. The IMCA Stock Cars are the new kids on the block with three seasons of championship racing under their belt.
Not to be forgotten in the shuffle is the track’s Pacific Coast Hobby Stock division, which has been holding championship seasons since 1995. It’s the second longest continuously run division at the speedway, followed closely by the Dwarf Car and Wingless Spec Sprint divisions, which also started being featured regularly in the 1990s.
The fans are going to get their regular dose of these exciting divisions from the opening day on March 16th all the way to championship night on September 28th. October will feature special events for increased prize money, and other big shows are slated in November. March 9th has been rescheduled as a play day due to bad weather costing the track it’s other two practice events.
Lest people think the track isn’t offering special attractions, the speedway has several on this year’s bill. On September 6th and 7th, the popular Malicious Monster Truck Insanity Tour comes to town with their high adrenaline, gargantuan machines flying through the air and crushing the cars below.
NARC Sprint Car racing has been a thing in California since 1960, and the popular Winged 410 Sprint Car class comes to town for their lone appearance on May 11th. That Mother’s Day themed event will also feature BCRA Lightning Sprints, Hobby Stocks and the annual Mother’s Day Mini Van race. Lightning Sprints will come to town several more times throughout the season.
Thanks to the heavy rains, the season is now scheduled to open with Wingless Spec Sprints, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars and Pacific Coast Hobby Stocks on Match 16th. On June 15th, the Sprint Car Challenge Tour comes to town as the premiere Winged 360 Sprint Car series in the state. IMCA Sport Modifiess and Stock Cars as well as Mini Stocks will make this a must see event.
BCRA Midgets made their triumphant Antioch return last year on three occasions, and all three races were crowd pleasers. This season, the Sala family Classic will take place on April 6th with the Midgets joined by the BCRA Lightning Sprints, IMCA Sport Modifieds and Hobby Stocks. On September 28th, the Floyd Busby Salute pays tribute to the long time BCRA Publicity Director. Midgets and Lightning Sprints are scheduled along with the Super Stocks, Dwarf Cars and 600 Micro Sprints, who have a half dozen appearances this year.
Not to be forgotten on September 28th is the annual Chet Thomson Memorial Hardtop race. The show last year featured 17 Winged Sportsman and Hardtop cars, the biggest show in the modern era for this class. They will appear several times during the season.
Fans of IMCA competition will get a big show on March 30th. The Easter Eggstravaganza night will also have an Easter Egg candy hunt in the infield during intermission. IMCA Modified, IMCA Sport Modified and IMCA Stock Cars are part of the six-race tour scheduled throughout the year for its own championship fund. Also taking part in this show will be the West Coast Hobby Stock Tour, which delivered roughly 50 cars in their appearance last year.
The Soares Memorial pays tribute to the family that promoted the Speedway for 42 years. IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars and Pacific Coast Hobby Stocks will be there along with the Dwarf Cars on April 27th. The Hetrick Memorial moved to August to avoid a conflict with a huge Sport Modified race in Yreka. The Ninth Annual Hetrick race features IMCA sanctioned Modifieds, Sport Modifieds and Stock Cars along with the Hobby Stocks.
Hall of Fame weekend returns on September 13th and 14th with most of the divisions in the regular rotation being featured on either night. The track will be honoring several of the greats who have made things at the speedway so special through the years.
The speedway will also include multiple appearances by the popular Xtreme Late Models and the wild and crazy Figure 8. The first Figure 8 takes place during the County Fair on May 17th. The track races on both the 17th and 18th that weekend. The annual Dean Cline Classic happens on July 13th, featuring the Hobby Stocks. Also competing will be IMCA Stock Cars, Mini Stocks, 600 Micros and the Figure 8.
October 4th and 5th is Bill Bowers Memorial West Coast Nationals weekend. The Friday portion is the JD Willis Salute. The following night honors Bowers, Willis’s longtime partner in many successes at the speedway. Both nights feature the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds and IMCA Stock Cars. The Fourth Annual Pacific Coast Hobby Stock Nationals and Second Annual Sprint Car Showcase happens on November 8th and 9th.
The track has penciled in a turkey hangover race on November 30th with divisions to be determined. Also on the slate will be the annual Track and Treat event on October 26th, featuring the Xtreme Late Models, Wingless Spec Sprints, Super Stocks, Mini Stocks, Winged 360 Sprint Cars and Hardtops. This will be the Third Annual Butch Althar Memorial Hardtop race.
Antioch Speedway has been the source of many exciting Saturday nights as families come together to have fun. People come to watch an exciting show, but they leave with happy memories that last a lifetime. Throughout the season, the speedway will be offering many touches that will make it even more entertaining. It’s always a good idea to keep an eye on the track’s Facebook page to see the latest announcements. Or, go to www.raceantiochspeedway.com.
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