Antioch Speedway Results, 56th Season of Racing Now Underway

Antioch, CA — The gates opened for the 56th season of racing at Antioch Speedway on Saturday where five divisions competed on John Soares’s fast three-eighth mile clay oval.

When the checkered flag flew on a thrilling Late Model 20 lap Main Event, it was Bobby Hogge IV snatching the victory from Richard Papenhausen.  Danny Jones went winless last year, but he opened the Hobby Stock season with an impressive 20 lap victory.  Larry Damitz opened the Limited Late Model season the same way he closed the 2015 season as he scored another victory.  Likewise, defending B Modified champion Fred Ryland claimed the win in their 20 lapper, while Mike Corsaro sped to a Dwarf Car Main Event win.

Richard Papenhausen and Bobby Hogge IV gave a preview of things to come when Papenhausen got the jump on Hogge to win his Late Model heat race.  Chester Kniss grabbed his first heat race win ahead of Andy Obertello.  The Main Event featured a classic duel between a pair of champions, Papenhausen and Hogge.  Papenhausen never could quite shake Hogge, and when he got sideways exiting Turn 2 of the 18th lap, Hogge drove by on the outside for the lead.  Hogge went on to win with Papenhausen a disappointed second ahead of defending champion Jeff Decker, David Newquist and Obetetello.

Danny Jones had one recurring theme to his 2015 Hobby Stock season.  Every time he got anywhere close to a feature win, something bad happened.  He led the class in runner up finishes last year with a half-dozen, but no feature wins to his credit.  He started the night off by grabbing a heat race win from Jason Jennings on the last lap.  Steven Rogers drove his pretty green and yellow #25 car to a heat win of his own.  Unfortunately, the main was a bit rough for Rogers, who was caught up in a tangle. In the Main Event, Jones was determined to finally get that monkey off of his back.  The crafty veteran had to contend with Michael Cooper, who was on the heels of his first feature win, but Jones would prevail at the checkered flag ahead of Cooper and 2015 “Rookie Of The Year” Jordan Swank.  Rookie Guy Ahlwardt made his debut with a fourth place feature finish after finishing second earlier in his heat race.

Larry Damitz won the Limited Late Model season opener. The 86 year old, four time division champion now has over 50 feature wins at Antioch Speedway to rank sixth all time. Michael Briggs Photo

At age 86, Larry Damitz shows no signs of slowing down.  The Limited Late Model defending champion and winner of four of the five previous championships got the lead in the Main Event and would not let go as he sped to another checkered flag.  Damitz closes in on the Top 5 on the track’s All Time feature winner’s list with over 50 wins to his credit.  Past champion Lori Brown got her season started off well with a second place finish.

Three was not a lucky number for 2015 “Rookie Of The Year” John Keith.  While running third in his heat race, he threw three belts.  While running third in the feature, he tore a radiator hose to end that effort.

It was three time Hobby Stock champion Kimo Oreta starting off his rookie season with a solid third place finish.

This year promises to see some new players in the B Modified championship battle, but the man they have to beat is still defending champion Fred Ryland.  Ryland collected the season opener and is climbing the All Time win list ladder in tenth with 41 victories.  Trevor Clymens is one of the title hopefuls this year, and he drove to a second place finish ahead of 2015 “Rookie Of The Year” Patti Ryland.  Making his return to racing after a few years away, Brian Pearce drove his beautiful #15 car to a fourth place finish.

Kevin Miraglio #40 enjoyed an Antioch career best second place finish in the Dwarf car Main Event, Michael Briggs Photo

Mike Corsaro served notice to the competition that he will be a player in the Dwarf Car championship battle this season.  Corsaro grabbed the lead in the Main Event and put a hurting on the rest of the field for the impressive victory.  Josh Miller chased down Kevin Miraglio for a third place finish.  For Miraglio, that was his best ever finish at Antioch.

The action continues next Saturday night as Winged 360 Sprint Cars headline the show along with BCRA Midget Lites. B Modifieds, Dwarf Cars and Hobby Stocks.

It should be another good show.  More information can be found at the track’s official website, www.antiochspeedway.com.