Antioch, CA — The excitement of racing at Antioch Speedway in August continues with a very special event scheduled for this Saturday night. On the heels of the successful Fan Appreciation Night two weeks ago, the track will pay tribute to Jerry and Mary Ann Hetrick this Saturday night.
Jerry Hetrick is an Antioch Speedway Hall of Fame member. In the 1970s, he competed in the popular Sportsman division. Despite not having a big budget, he managed to rank Top 5 in the standings on multiple occasions and was one of the first drivers to clock in with a 15 second time in qualifying. He was also a Main Event winner in the highly competitive division.
When Jerry retired, he was still a part of the racing and community. He was known to help the new racers get up to speed. He continued to be a beloved figure at Antioch Speedway until his passing in 2016. The race in his name was established in 2016. When his wife Mary Ann passed away, it became the Hetrick Memorial Race.
This Saturday night will be the ninth running of the Hetrick Memorial, which has featured the IMCA Modifieds each year. This race has become the biggest event of the regular championship season. Marysville legend Randy McDaniel won the first race of 2016. Since then, Bobby Hogge IV of Salinas has won it three times, while Oakley’s Kellen Chadwick has won it twice.
Reigning champion Troy Foulger of Oakley picked up his second Hetrick Memorial victory last season. The combined Main Event purse for the program that will also feature the IMCA Sport Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars and Pacific Coast Hobby Stocks is in excess of $16,000. Modified drivers will compete for a $1,500 to win payday while being guaranteed at least $200 to take the green flag.
The IMCA Modified championship battle took a turn in Chadwick’s favor on Fan Appreciation Night. By the end of the evening, he had taken a 35 point advantage over Foulger. Chadwick is a two-time feature winner this season and certainly one of the drivers to watch on Saturday night.
Foulger, meanwhile, is just three points ahead of reigning State champion Andrew Pearce of Oakley. Hogge and the tied Jacob Mallet Jr of Oakley and Reno, Nevada’s Katelynn Robertson currently round out the Top 5 in the standings.
Meanwhile, the IMCA Sport Modifieds have been a part of all but one of the Hetrick Memorial Races. Aaron Crowell of Antioch, Trevor Clymens of Brentwood, Tommy Fraser of Antioch and Fred Ryland of Brentwood were the winners of the first four Sport Modified races, but there’s been a familiar name on top for the last three seasons.
Reigning track champion Kenny Shrader at Pacheco has been known as a clutch driver in big events at Antioch. He’s pocketed the big prize money and trophy for his wins in the last three Hetrick races. A win on Saturday is worth $1,000 while drivers get a minimum of $100 just for taking the green flag.
Wins may make the difference in the tight Sport Modified battle. Shrader currently leads Oakley’s Jason Ryan Jr by just three points going into this show. Meanwhile, Tommy Clymens Jr of Oakley has a 13 point lead over Kelly Campanile of Oakley in the race for third. Rookie James Graessle of Antioch continues a solid season ranked fifth in the standings.
The increased prize money is sure to draw drivers from surrounding race tracks on this occasion. With points on the line, that could also impact the championship battles. In this scenario, one of the point contenders could make a real big gain on the others. This is particularly a possibility in the Pacific Coast Hobby Stocks, where they have a different point structure than the IMCA sanctioned divisions.
Hobby Stock drivers have been a part of all but one of the Hetrick Memorial Races. Wins have been recorded by Guy Ahlwardt of Antioch, Melissa Myers of Brentwood, Cameron Swank of Antioch, Josh Leach of Antioch, Kenneth Robles of Rio Vista and Les Friend of Galt. Friend has won two of the last three Hobby Stock races, but the division wasn’t a part of last season’s show.
The addition of the Hobby Stock division to Fan Appreciation Night proved to be big for Ryan Hart of Dos Palos. The two-time Merced Speedway champion used his sixth place finish to take an 18 point advantage over Clarence Holbrook the III of Galt. Holbrook had a disappointing outcome as he didn’t take the checkered flag.
After protecting his Petaluma point lead earlier in the evening, Pittsburg’s James Thomson came from the back to finish fifth in the Antioch race. This put him 16 points behind Holbrook and 34 behind Hart in the three-car championship chase.
Jared Baugh of Pittsburg missed some races to start the season. While the championship isn’t in his sights, the Dean Cline Classic winner is a threat to win this race. He’s currently fourth following his third place finish on Fan Appreciation Night. Baugh leads Rick Rogers of San Pablo by 20 points in the race for fourth.
It’s a little closer behind Rogers as Brandon Carpenter of Galt, Maddie Motts of San Pablo, Kevin Brown of Oakley and Colten Haney of Brentwood are all within 24 points of Rogers.
In the IMCA Stock Car division, Jason Jennings of Pittsburgh has hit his stride. He carried a 22 point advantage over Jason Robles of Rio Vista into Fan Appreciation Night, but Robles didn’t compete. Jennings now has a 35 point advantage over State point leader Scott Foster of Antioch. The IMCA Stock Cars produced a double digit turnout that night in a race won by Foulger. Foulger was a double winner that night and is hoping to pull off the same feet again this week.
Meanwhile, Robles is now third in the standings, 24 points behind Foster and 22 ahead of Brentwood’s Fred Ryland. Following his second win of the season last week, Foulger is just seven points behind Ryland in the battle for fourth.
The Hetrick Memorial Race is special to the Antioch Speedway community. We remember a man who was not just a good racer but was beloved to all who knew him. Even without points or the increased prize money, drivers want to get the win on this occasion. Saturday’s show is sure to be one you won’t want to miss.
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 four and under free.
For further information, go to www.raceantiochspeedway.com or check out the Antioch Speedway by PROmotions Facebook page.
Past Hetrick Memorial Winners
IMCA Modified
- 2016 Randy McDaniel
- 2017 Bobby Hogge IV
- 2018 Bobby Hogge IV
- 2019 Kellen Chadwick
- 2020 Kellen Chadwick
- 2021 Troy Foulger
- 2022 Bobby Hogge IV
- 2023 Troy Foulger
IMCA Sport Modified
- 2016 Aaron Crowell
- 2018 Trevor Clymens
- 2019 Tommy Fraser
- 2020 Fred Ryland
- 2021 Kenny Shrader
- 2022 Kenny Shrader
- 2023 Kenny Shrader
Pacific Coast Hobby Stock
- 2016 Guy Ahlwardt
- 2017 Melissa Myers
- 2018 Cameron Swank
- 2019 Josh Leach
- 2020 Les Friend
- 2021 Kenneth Robles
- 2022 Les Friend
IMCA Stock Car
- 2022 Garrett Corn
- 2023 Troy Foulger
Previous Races
- Crandall Grabs First Career Win on Fan Appreciation Night at Antioch Speedway
- July 30 – Tuttle Wins Wild Hunt Series Main Event At Antioch Speedway
- July 23 – Hogge Wins at Soares Memorial at Antioch Speedway
- July 16 – Jared Baugh Wins Dean Cline Classic at Antioch Speedway
- July 2 – Sarale, Johnson, Learn Collect Antioch Speedway Victories
- June 25 – Hart Outduels Holbrook for Antioch Speedway Win
- June 18 – Chiaramonte Collects First Sprint Car Challenge Win At Antioch Speedway
- June 4 – Foulger, Ryland, Robles, Holbrook Win At Antioch Speedway
- May 28 – Slaney Wins Eighth Annual Larry Damitz Memorial at Antioch Speedway
- May 21 – Antioch Speedway Treats Fairgoers to Two Nights of Racing
- May 14 – Sanders Prevails In NARC Sprint Car Feature at Antioch Speedway
- March 22 – Hunt Wingless Spec Sprint Series Comes To Antioch Speedway
