Antioch, CA — Aidan Ponciano of Oakley won the 20 lap Pacific Coast Hobby Stock Main Event Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. This follows a rough season opening effort that saw him unable to make it into the Main Event. This was the Easter Eggstravaganza event, which included an Easter egg hunt and bike and Easter basket giveaway during intermission.
Ponciano set the pace at the start ahead of Daniel Braudrick of Vacaville and Antioch’s Jewell Crandall. Brentwood’s Colten Haney made a Turn 4 pass on Crandall for third on Lap 3 and slipped past Braudrick two laps later for second. Braudrick saw a good run up front end when he spun for a Lap 6 yellow flag.
Ponciano continued to lead Haney and Crandall on the restart, but Ponciano began to pull away rapidly from the pack. Crandall and Haney had a spirited duel for second as Ponciano caught slower traffic in the waning laps. Ponciano made all the right moves and scored a satisfying win. Haney beat Crandall across the line for second, but he was disqualified in post race tech. Crandall ended up second ahead of the Oakley trio of Hunter Hammett, James East and Charlie Bryant.
Brentwood’s Fred Ryland won the 20 lap IMCA Sport Modified Main Event in a near photo finish victory over Jason Ryan Jr of Oakley. This was the 40th career Sport Modified win for the three-time Antioch Speedway champion.
Ryland led the field to the green flag ahead of Al Johnson of Pittsburg and Jeff Bentancourt of Brentwood. A yellow flag waved after three laps for Scott Savell of Sacramento. Ryland continued to lead Johnson on the restart with Danny Wagner of Bay Point settling into third. An inside pass on the front stretch of the sixth lap put Danny Wagner into second with Pacheco’s Kenny Shrader settling into third. Ryland had a big lead erased when Alfred Johnson spun in Turn 3 for a Lap 10 yellow flag.
Ryland led Wagner on the restart with Ryan moving into third, but a multi-car tangle in Turn 4 brought out another yellow flag on Lap 11. When it was all sorted out, Ryland continued to lead Wagner and Ryan. Ryan slipped past Wagner for second on the 15th lap. Ryan was making his presence known in the battle for the lead, but Ryland had the preferred line and kept his cool under pressure. Ryan got a good run on the inside exiting the final turn, but Ryland beat him to the checkered flag by inches. Ryan was docked two positions in tech, moving Wagner into second ahead of Shrader, Ryan and Tommy Clymens Jr of Oakley.
Oakley’s Andrew Pearce won the 20 lap IMCA Modified Main Event. The 2023 State champion grabbed the lead from the start and drove a flawless race on his way to the victory.
Pearce surged ahead at the start, followed by Anthony Slaney of Martinez and Troy Foulger of Oakley. A low pass in Turn 2 of the third lap gained Foulger second. The only yellow flag of the race flew on Lap 4 when John Pearce of San Jose hit the front straightaway wall. Pearce maintained command on the restart as Slaney got around Foulger for second.
Pearce initially pulled away, but Slaney gradually started closing in on him. However, Foulger was gaining on Slaney and made another low pass in Turn 2 on Lap 16 to claim second. Foulger quickly closed in on Pearce and attempted an inside maneuver in Turn 3 of the last lap, only to back off slightly to avoid major contact. Pearce went on to victory, followed by Foulger, Slaney, Josh Combs of Roseville and Oakley’s Jacob Mallet Jr.
Troy Foulger of Oakley won the 20 lap IMCA Stock Car Main Event. The race went without a yellow flag, and the 2023 champion stalked Manteca’s Mitch Enos tenaciously before making what proved to be his winning maneuver on Lap 13.
Enos had a front row start and bolted into the lead ahead of State point leader Austin Van Hoff of Chowchilla and Foulger. Foulger made a high pass in Turn 2 of the second lap to claim second and nearly got around Enos in Turn 4 before Enos nudged ahead. Enos and Foulger pulled away a little bit in the lead battle.
On the 12th circuit, Foulger made a slide job pass on Enos in Turn 3 but slid too high exiting Turn 4. Enos continued to lead the lap, but Foulger made a Turn 2 pass on Lap 13 to regain the lead for good. Foulger pulled away for the victory, and Enos held off Brentwood’s Fred Ryland to finish second. Van Hoff and Jason Robles of Rio Vista completed the Top 5.
Ron Oliver won the 15 lap Late Model Main Event. The Yuba City driver is the reigning champion, and he led from the outset ahead of Auburn’s Ray Trimble for the 1-2 finish. Joey Ridgeway of Antioch had mechanical issues in the heat race and scratched from the Main Event.
Racing resumes next Saturday night with the first of four scheduled visits from the Hunt Wingless Spec Sprint Tour. Also competing will be the Pacific Coast Hobby Stocks, BCRA Lightning Sprints, Super Stocks, 600 Micro Sprints and Dwarf Cars. For further information, go to www.raceantiochspeedway.com.
Race Results
Pacific Coast Hobby Stocks
Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Aidan Ponciano, Daniel Braudrick, Trevor Clymens. Main Event (20 Laps)-Aidan Ponciano, Jewell Crandall, Hunter Hammett, James East, Charlie Bryant, Chris Long, James Thomson, Larry McKinzie Jr, Trevor Clymens, Maddie Motts.
IMCA Sport Modifieds
Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Jason Ryan Jr, Danny Wagner, Fred Ryland. Main Event (20 Laps)-Fred Ryland, Danny Wagner, Kenny Shrader, Jason Ryan Jr, Tommy Clymens Jr, Trevor Clymens, Jeff Bentancourt, Trent Golden, Emali Van Hoff, Kelly Campanile.
IMCA Modifieds
Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Tyler Browne, Anthony Slaney. Main Event (20 Laps)-Andrew Pearce, Troy Foulger, Anthony Slaney, Josh Combs, Jacob Mallet Jr, Tyler Browne, Randy Shafer, Katelynn Robertson, Doug Hagio, Chris Sieweke.
IMCA Stock Cars
Heat Winner (8 Laps)-Austin Van Hoff. Main Event (20 Laps)-Troy Foulger, Mitch Enos, Fred Ryland, Austin Van Hoff, Jason Robles, Kenneth Robles, Jared Baugh, Jake Archibald.
Late Models
Heat Winner (8 Laps)-Ray Trimble. Main Event (15 Laps)-Rod Oliver, Ray Trimble, Joey Ridgway DNS.
Previous Races
- April 15 – Young, Shrader, Catucci, Mentch, Gillard Win at Antioch Speedway
- April 8 – Bobby Hogge Scores 70th Win at Antioch Speedway
- April 4 – New Championship Season Begins Saturday At Antioch Speedway
