Antioch, CA — Racing returns to Antioch Speedway this Saturday night with another special occasion. It’s Fan Appreciation Night, and that means it’s just $5 to check out a night of racing. Once again, there will be giveaways to the fans throughout the night.
Antioch Speedway Hall of Fame member Ron Brown started organizing this event a few years ago as a way to give back to the racing fans. Others within the community have rallied behind Ron in support, and the night has gotten bigger and become one of the more successful events during the season.
The IMCA Modifieds are back in action along with the IMCA Sport Modifieds, Pacific Coast Hobby Stocks, IMCA Stock Cars and the Tri State Pro Stock Challenge Series. Not only will there be fun things happening at the track throughout the night, the racing should be very entertaining from start to finish.
It might not surprise anybody that six-time IMCA Modified champion Troy Foulger of Oakley is leading the point standings. However, people would be surprised to know he’s doing it despite no wins at Antioch after four races. Troy is the winner of a total of 79 Main Events throughout his storied career at the 3/8 mile clay oval. Though he does have feature wins at Merced, Petaluma and Stockton this year, he has had to settle for second four times in Antioch.
Consistency has given Foulger a 15 point lead over Andrew Pearce of Oakley. Pearce has at times been unstoppable with two wins, but his downfall so far is his 10th and 11th place finishes. He holds a four point lead over reigning IMCA State champion Jacob Mallet Jr of Oakley, while current State point leader Katelynn Robertson of Reno, Nevada is seven points behind him.
Last time out, Bobby Hogge IV of Salinas became the first driver in Antioch history to reach 80 career feature wins. The current Watsonville point leader sits fifth in Antioch on the strength of two wins. Anthony Slaney of Martinez, Tyler Browne of Antioch, recent Central California Clash champion Josh Combs of Roseville, Prunedale’s Jonathan Hagio and two-time Antioch champion Carl Berendsen II of Antioch make up the balance of the Top 10 in the standings after four races.
Consistency has continued to be the key in the IMCA Sport Modified championship battle with two of the main players again being two-time reigning champion Kenny Shrader of Pacheco and Oakley’s Jason Ryan Jr. Both drivers haven’t missed a Top 5 finish after five races, and Shrader does have one victory. This keeps him four points ahead of Ryan in the championship battle.
Three-time champion Trevor Clymens of Brentwood is 12 points out of the lead in third after winning the most recent race. Clymens seems to be hitting his stride after recent wins in Merced and Watsonville. At Antioch, he leads his brother Tommy Clymens Jr by five points in the race for third, while State point leader Danny Wagner of Bay Point holds fifth in the standings by four points over top rookie Alfred Johnson of Antioch.
Wagner has won five times on the circuit, including three at Watsonville and one each at Santa Maria and Marysville, but he’s looking for his first Sport Modified win at Antioch. As it is, he’s won in five other divisions at the track throughout his career. Making up the balance of the Top 10 after five races are James Graessle of Antioch, two-time winner Fred Ryland of Brentwood, Oakley’s Joseph Pato and rookie Trent Golden of Pittsburg.
With his first ever Pacific Coast Hobby Stock win last week, Oakley’s James East took a one point lead over 2023 champion Grayson Baca of Brentwood. East also leads the division with five Top 5 finishes. With a second place finish and her recent third place effort, Antioch’s Jewell Crandall has moved into third in the standings. Larry McKinzie Jr of Discovery Bay slipped back to fourth following his rough night last week. The Discovery Bay driver is six points behind Crandall.
Many of the drivers in the field are running strong lately. However, it’s not how you start but how you finish. Oakley’s Charlie Bryant rebounded from recent motor issues with his fourth place finish last week, keeping him 45 points out of the lead in fifth and three ahead of Hunter Hammett of Oakley. Aidan Ponciano of Oakley, Jesse Paladino of Brentwood, San Pablo’s Maddie Motts and 2020 champion James Thomson of Pittsburg round out the current Top 10 in the standings.
Like Troy Foulger, Brentwood’s Fred Ryland has won a combined 79 Main Events throughout his Antioch Speedway career, including two in the IMCA Stock Cars this season. Both Ryland and current State point leader Austin Van Hoff of Chowchilla have yet to miss a Top 5 finish, and Ryland leads Van Hoff by just eight points in the track championship battle.
Mitch Enos of Manteca holds third in the standings, 10 out of the lead and two ahead of Kenneth Robles of Rio Vista. Robles finished second last time out. Rookie Jake Archibald of Oakley is fifth in the standings by three points over Jason Robles of Rio Vista and eight over rookie Jared Baugh of Pittsburg.
Two weeks ago, the Tri State Pro Stock Series had a thrilling battle for victory at Antioch, won by Ryan Smith of Coalinga ahead of Bakersfield’s Jerry Stewart and Phil Marino of Chico. Both Marino and Smith had nights they’d rather forget at the Tri State opener in Marysville, but they were back in full form last time out. Meanwhile, Petaluma’s Mike Learn has five wins on the circuit this year and a second and a fourth in Tri State competition.
With both Tri State and regular shows counting in Antioch points, Learn holds an eight point advantage over Brentwood’s Fred Ryland, who has been piloting the Jim Freethy car this season. Ryland has led laps in the last two Antioch races, but he’s still looking for his first win. With third and fifth place finishes in the two Tri State races, Randy Miramontez of Santa Rosa is currently third in Antioch points. He also runs second to Learn at Petaluma.
The Tri-State Pro Stock Challenge Series strives to bring the best Pro Stock/Super Stock drivers together for great racing and has carried the banner as the lead Pro Stock series for the past seven years. A good turnout is anticipated this week for the second of three scheduled Antioch visits.
Great racing is on the bill with five exciting divisions for this week’s Fan Appreciation Night, and the price is right. $5 gets you into the show, and you’ll be seeing some of the best racing the track has to offer. Plus, there will be lots of giveaways for the fans.
The gates will open at 4:00 with the first race starting at 6:00.
General Admission is $5, and kids four and under are free.
For further information, go to www.raceantiochspeedway.com or check out the Antioch Speedway by PROmotions Facebook page.
Previous
- June 10 – East Wins Thriller At Antioch Speedway, Newberry, Catucci, Learn Score Wins
- June 4 – Smith, Slaney, Newberry, Catucci, Rasmussen, Gentry Are Larry Damitz Memorial Winners
- May 20 – Hogge Scores 80th Career Antioch Speedway Win In IMCA Modified All Star Challenge
- May 13 – Netto Wins Contra Costa County Clash at Antioch Speedway
- May 6 – Slaney, Johnson, Ryland, Pearce, Brown Are Soares Memorial Winners at Antioch Speedway
- May 2 – 10th Annual Soares Memorial Set For Saturday at Antioch Speedway
- April 29 – Morgan Wins Hunt Series Race at Antioch Speedway
- April 22 – Ponciano Rebounds For Antioch Speedway Win, Ryland, Pearce, Foulger Also Victorious
- 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
