Antioch, CA — On the heels of last week’s successful Championship Night, racing continues at Antioch Speedway with another special occasion this Saturday night. It’s the Salute to Floyd Busby race for the BCRA, and we’ll see the Midgets and Lightning Sprints in action. It’s also a $1,000 to win Super Stock race, the Third Annual Butch Althar Memorial for the Hardtops and there will be Dwarf Cars and 600 Micro Sprints in action as well.
If you’ve been following the BCRA through the years or if you’re doing research on the immense history of the group, chances are you’ve read several stories written by Floyd Busby. Floyd handled media relations for the group for many years and is a member of the BCRA Hall of Fame. They are saluting him at their final Antioch appearance of the season. The race will pay $1,500 to win with a minimum of $200 to start.
The oldest California based racing organization is working on incentives to get more cars to the track. This includes $100 to the five drivers who low the farthest to get to Antioch, a $100 prize for the fast qualifier and $50 heat winner prizes.
The six race series has already seen the group race at Petaluma, Stockton, Placerville twice and this is their second visit to Antioch. Stockton’s Caden Sarale is the reigning champion, and he has two wins to his credit so far. He carries a 14-point advantage over Drake Edwards of Surprise, Arizona. Edwards is also 17 points out of the lead behind Bakersfield’s Cade Lewis in the USAC Western States Midgets battle. Lewis is a one-time winner on the BCRA trail this year.
Running third in the BCRA standings is nine-time champion and Hall of Fame member Floyd Alvis of San Carlos. Tanner Carrick of Lincoln is fourth, four points ahead of Delano’s Terry Nichols. Michael Faccinto of Hanford and Chase Johnson of Penngrove are the other winners in the series this season.
The BCRA could see some WMR Midget support, as has often been the case at their recent Antioch visits. Currently, Oakley’s Bryant Bell leads that series over Logan Mitchell of Santa Cruz by 18 points with San Jose’s Anthony Bruno third. The BCRA anticipates a better turnout for this race than they had at the first race, won by Sarale
With some sponsorship from Red’s Mobile Welding, the Super Stocks will be competing for $1,000 to win this week. Joey Ridgeway of Antioch has been working behind the scenes to get a little more money into the purse. This effort helped get the increase last time out in the race that was won by Ryan Cherizian of Knightsen. Ryan finished second to Antonio Aragon of Reno, Nevada at the Larry Demitz race earlier this season.
Mike Learn of Petaluma won all of the races last year in winning the Antioch championship. He was also the Petaluma champion, a title he won again this year. Multi-time Antioch champion Jim Freethy of Danville is also anticipated along with 2020 champion Mike Walko of Oakley, 2022 Larry Damitz Memorial winner Michael Burch of Walnut Creek, Jimmy Robbins of Concord, Randy Miramontez of Santa Rosa and Paul Hanley of Emerald Hills.
Butch Althar was a Stock Car racer at Vallejo Speedway who also got the opportunity to drive a Hardtop before becoming an announcer at the track. When Vallejo closed, he announced at other places, including a three-year stint at Antioch Speedway. He was highly respected for his skills on the microphone, and this Hardtop race was created two years ago to remember him. That race was won by multi-time Merced Speedway Sportsman champion Rick Elliott of Merced.
Last year’s edition was won by Joel Hannagan of San Jose, who won every race at Antioch last year aboard the Doug Braudrick owned Junkyard Dog. Currently, Hannagan holds a 12-point lead over Merced Speedway point leader Mike Gillard of Atwater. Braudrick was on a pace to win every race this year, but Gillard picked up the victory last time out. Gillard is a threat to do it again this week.
26 points behind Gillard in third is Don Slaney of Martinez. Joe Shenefield of Modesto has a solid hold on fourth, followed by Dexter Long of Ballico. Turlock’s Gary Hildebrand is anticipated this week as well.
Meanwhile, the BCRA Lightning Sprints are returning for their third appearance. Greg Dennett of Livermore currently leads the standings by 63 ahead of Hunter Kinney of Citrus Heights. Dennett has a pair of victories this year, while Kinney has won three times.
Past champion Matt Land of Elk Grove is a solid third in the standings. He has one win on the circuit. Jason Schostag of Hangtown and Josef Ferolito of Modesto round out the Top 5 going into the night. Ferolito is also a two-time winner this year.
In Dwarf Car competition, Concord’s Travis Day is on his way to his second division championship. He leads Antioch Speedway Hall of Famer David Rosa of Antioch by 42 points, and Rosa leads his son, David Michael Rosa of Antioch, by 42 points.
Brandon Aylesworth of Benicia and Sean Catucci of Brentwood round out the Top 5, and every one of these drivers has won at Antioch this year. Though the car count numbers were down at the start of the season, they are rebounding.
In the 600 Micro Sprint class, Ken Carter of San Jose is closing in on the championship. He has a pair of victories, giving him a 14-point advantage over Ryan Dotson of Fremont. Dotson won his first race of the season last time out to keep it close.
One-time winner Devon Zuffa holds third of the standings by 29 points over Antioch’s Charlie Kight. Seven points behind Kight is Buddy Chappell of Stockton. Don McLeister of Stockton won the first race of the season and finished second last time out.
Saturday night, we get a look at some different open wheel divisions as well as a little bit of Stock Car and Vintage racing action. It should be a fun night at Antioch Speedway. With the Bill Bowers Memorial set to open an active month of racing in October.
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
Previous Races
- Sept. 24 – Foulger A Double Winner, Holbrook, Shrader Win Championships
- Sept. 17 – Ponciano Scores Win on Hall of Fame Night at Antioch Speedway
- Aug 27 – Shafer Collects First Late Model Win At Antioch Speedway
- Aug 20 – Pearce Wins Hetrick Memorial IMCA Modified Race at Antioch Speedway
- Aug 8 – 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