TJ Smith #68 won the USAC Western States Midgets Main Event. Photo by Katrina Kniss
By Candice Martin
Antioch, CA…August 5…TJ Smith of Fresno collected the victory in the 30 lap USAC Western States Midgets Main Event Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. It was the inaugural appearance for the group at the track, and it came on Fan Appreciation Night. Fans got to attend for just $5. The win for Smith earned him a $2,000 payday.
Smith and David Gasper of Santa Barbara shared the front row with Smith bolting into the immediate lead. Jake Andreotti of Castro Valley settled into third and was soon threatening Gasper for second. The leaders caught slower traffic by the sixth lap as they ran in close formation. Andreotti found an opening and slipped past Gasper for second on the ninth lap.
A yellow flag flew moments later. Smith continued to lead Andreotti and Gasper on the restart. The race had a red flag on Lap 14 as Caden Sarale flipped on the back straightaway. Smith resumed command on the restart ahead of Andreotti and Gasper, but Cade Lewis of Bakersfield bolted past Gasper for third on the 16th lap. Lewis didn’t put too much distance between himself and Andreotti, but he made the right moves when they counted and brought it home to victory. Lewis settled for third ahead of Ben Worth of Coalinga and Gasper.
Jarrett Soares #12 increased his Wingless Spec Sprint point lead with his second win. Photo by Katrina Kniss
Jarrett Soares of Gilroy made a thrilling late race pass on Bob Newberry of Brentwood to win his second 25 lap Wingless Spec Sprint Main Event. The win could be crucial in his bid to become the division champion as he put a little more distance between himself and James East of Oakley in the battle.
Two-time champion Newberry had the pole for the race and took the early lead ahead of Oakley’s Jacob Tuttle and Soares. Newberry had a bumpy moment exiting Turn 4 of the fourth lap as Tuttle motored by on the front stretch for the lead. However, Newberry got back around on the back stretch on Lap 6 to resume command. A yellow flag bunched the field on Lap 7 with Newberry continuing to lead Tuttle and Soares on the restart.
The battle between the lead trio remained close and hit traffic with five laps to go. Newberry was very protective of the inside line, but Soares got some momentum on the outside on the 24th lap and put it between Newberry and a slower car to take over. Soares brought it home to an impressive victory as Newberry settled for second ahead of Tuttle, Blake Bower of Brentwood and Brentwood’s Jeff Scotto.
Andrew Pearce #28g helped his IMCA Modified National Rookie of the Year effort with his fourth Antioch win. Photo by Katrina Kniss
Oakley’s Andrew Pearce won his fourth 25 lap IMCA Modified feature of the season. Pearce maintains second in the track point battle while leading the State championship race as well as the IMCA National rookie battle.
Pearce charged into the lead at the start, only to see a yellow flag wave after Jeff Browne and Terry DeCarlo Sr crashed on the front stretch. Browne went pitside as Pearce led point leader Troy Foulger and Ryan DeForest on the restart. Brown was sent back on the track and spun out the entry gate for the final yellow flag with three laps remaining. Pearce didn’t let that deter him as he led the restart and the final laps for the win, followed by Foulger, DeForest, DeCarlo and Browne.
Kenny Shrader #188 stayed in the IMCA Sport Modified title chase with his third win. Photo by Katrina Kniss
Kenny Shrader of Pacheco won his third 20 lap IMCA Sport Modified Main Event of the season. The win kept him within four points of track and State point leader Jason Ryan Jr of Oakley in the hotly contested championship chase. Shrader had earlier won the $200 prize in the four lap Trophy Dash after a thrilling battle with Antioch’s Todd Gomez.
Gomez set the early pace ahead of Joe Salvi of Modesto. A yellow flag waved after Mark Garner spun in Turn 2 to avoid another car on Lap 3. Gomez was involved in a tangle with Trevor Clymens of Brentwood at the opposite end of the track. This put Shrader in the lead on the restart ahead of reigning State champion Jacob Mallet Jr of Oakley and Ryan. Shrader drove a flawless race from that point on to score the win ahead of Mallet, Ryan, the resurgent Garner and Gomez.
Nick DeCarlo #17 won his first IMCA Stock Car feature of the season. Photo by Katrina Kniss
Nick DeCarlo won the 25 lap IMCA Stock Car Main Event. The two-time reigning IMCA Modified champion has been struggling with motor issues this year, but he was unbeatable on this occasion.
DeCarlo had the pole position and took an immediate lead ahead of Fred Ryland of Brentwood and point leader Troy Foulger of Oakley. DeCarlo began to pull away in the rapidly run event as Ryland held off the advances of Foulger. Even slower traffic with three laps to go didn’t slow DeCarlo. He made all the right moves and scored the satisfying win ahead of Ryland, Foulger and Rio Vista duo Kenneth Robles and Jason Robles.
Tony Quinonez #73 won his first Print Club Mini Stock Main Event. Photo by Katrina Kniss
Tony Quinonez won the 20 lap Print Club Mini Stock Main Event. This was the first win of the season for the Corning driver, who was piloting the second car for Delbert Rios. Teammate Tom Davis of Los Molinos had won six in a row going into this night to maintain the point lead.
Davis had the pole and led a lap before an outside pass on the back stretch gained Quinonez the lead. Davis had issues and headed pitside on the third lap as Quinonez led David Carson of Antioch and Pittsburgh’s Don Abitz. The yellow flag waved for Billy Garner of Antioch on Lap 3. Abitz moved into second behind Quinonez on the restart, and the duo began to pull away from the pack. Abitz could keep pace with Quinonez, but he wasn’t quite able to gather the momentum to make a pass attempt. Garner passed Carson at the line to finish third as Davis was scored fifth.
Dan Zuger #26 won the Mini Late Model Main Event. Photo by Katrina Kniss
Dan Zuger of San Jose won the 15 lap California Sharp Mini Late Model Main Event. Zuger took the lead at the start ahead of DJ Saenz of Manteca. Tyler Tucker of Delhi spun in Turn 2 for the yellow flag. He retired at that point as Zuger led Saenz and Caydon Foster of Oakley on the restart. Foster retired, and Zuger would stretch his advantage over Saenz in victory. Foster was scored third ahead of Tucker.
The race on August 12th has been rescheduled as a practice day, meaning the next race will be on August 19th, featuring IMCA Modified, Sport Modifieds and Stock Cars along with the Print Club Mini Stocks and Delta Dwarf Cars. For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com.
Antioch Speedway Race Results
USAC Western States Midgets
FT-Brody Fuson 13.882. Heat Winners (8 laps)-Colby Johnson, TJ Smith. Main Event (30 laps)-TJ Smith, Jake Andreotti, Cade Lewis, Ben Worth, David Gasper, CJ Sarna, Danika Jo Faccinto, Nikko Panella, Samuel May, Jerry Kobza.
Wingless Spec Sprints
FT-Jarrett Soares 14.184. Heat Winners (8 laps)-Bob Newberry, Jacob Tuttle. Main Event (25 laps)-Jarrett Soares, Bob Newberry, Jacob Tuttle, Blake Bower, Jeff Scotto, Colson Plourde, Dylan Newberry, James East, Anthony Bruno, Roy Fisher.
IMCA Modifieds
Heat Winner (8 laps)-Jeff Browne. Main Event (25 laps)-Andrew Pearce, Troy Foulger, Ryan DeForest, Terry DeCarlo Sr, Jeff Browne, Sean Wilson DNS.
IMCA Sport Modifieds
Heat Winners (8 laps)-Tommy Fraser, Todd Gomez, Trevor Clymens. Main Event (20 laps)-Kenny Shrader, Jacob Mallet Jr, Jason Ryan Jr, Mark Garner, Todd Gomez, Chuck Golden, Trevor Clymens, Tommy Clymens Jr, Matt Pitts, Dylan Connolly.
IMCA Stock Cars
Heat Winners (8 laps)-Fred Ryland, Troy Foulger. Main Event (25 laps)-Nick DeCarlo, Fred Ryland, Troy Foulger, Kenneth Robles, Jason Robles, Scott Foster, Jared Baugh, Steve Stone, Dave Hill DNS.
Print Club Mini Stocks
Heat Winner (8 laps)-Tom Davis. Main Event (20 laps)-Tony Quinonz, Don Abitz, Billy Garner, David Carson, Tom Davis, Roberto Monroy DNS.
California Sharp Mini Models
Heat Winner (8 laps)-Dan Zuger. Main Event (15 laps)-Dan Zuger, DJ Saenz, Cayden Foster, Tyler Tucker.
