5/2/2023
Antioch Speedway
Scelzi Brings NARC Sprint Cars Back To Antioch Speedway In Victory
Concord's Joey Ancona #88a earned the Sprint Car Main Event pole with his Dash win and followed that up with a third place feature finish. Photo by Katrina Kniss
By Candice Martin
Antioch, CA...April 29...Dominic Scelzi of Fresno scored the victory in the 30 lap NARC/King of the West Winged 410 Sprint Car Main Event Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. This was the first visit for the high-powered 410 Sprint Cars in several years. Scelzi is the reigning champion of the tour.
After winning the six lap Dash, Concord's Joey Ancona set the early pace ahead of Scelzi and Colby Copeland of Roseville. Ancona led the way until both Scelzi and Copeland found their way past him on Lap 16. Copeland began to apply serious pressure on Scelzi during the final 10 laps, briefly taking first on the 25th circuit. A lap later, however, Scelzi came roaring back into the lead.
Concord's Joey Ancona #88a earned the Sprint Car Main Event pole with his Dash win and followed that up with a third place feature finish. Photo by Katrina Kniss
A yellow flag with four laps to go set up a shootout. However, Scelzi was having none of it as he motored into the lead on the restart and held on for the win. Point leader Corey Day charged into second on the restart and would finish there as Ancona took third with two laps to go. Copeland settled for fourh ahead of Hollister's Ryan Bernal.
Reigning champion Nick DeCarlo of Martinez kicked off the IMCA Modified season with a 20 lap Main Event win. Five-time champion Troy Foulger of Martinez set the early pace ahead of Andrew Pearce of Oakley. However, Buddy Kniss of Antioch and Pearce got together in Turn 2 with Pearce stalling on the back stretch for a Lap 4 yellow flag. DeCarlo moved into second behind Foulger on the restart, but Kniss brought out a yellow flag a lap later.
On this restart, DeCarlo motored ahead of Foulger for the lead. As they worked the 15th lap, Foulger took a wild ride on two wheels in Turn 1 but somehow managed to bring it back down. This allowed DeCarlo to build a more than straightaway advantage by the time the checkered flag flew. Foulger settled for second ahead of Bobby Motts Jr of San Pablo, Kniss and Danny Malfatti of Hayward.
Reigning Delta Dwarf Car champion Danny Wagner #11 rebounded from engine woes with a Main Event triumph. Photo by Katrina Kniss
Reigning Delta Dwarf Car champion Danny Wagner of Bay Point won their 20 lap Main Event. Wagner bolted into the lead at the start ahead of Mark Biscardi of San Jose. However, Devan Kammermann of Dublin moved into second on a Lap 4 restart. Following a spin by Tracy's Joe LeDuc on Lap 10, Wagner resumed control ahead of Kammerman and David Michael Rosa of Antioch. They ran in that order until Pete Piantanida of Discovery Bay gained third on Lap 14. Wagner had a comfortable lead over Kammermann, leaving the battle for third. Contact just after Rosa had regained third saw him spinning in Turn 3 of the final lap. Piantanida ended up third ahead of Travis Day of Concord and Ellie Russo of Bay Point.
IMCA Stock Car rookie Kenneth Robles #78k picked up a feature win. Photo by Katrina Kniss
Kenneth Robles of Rio Vista scored the victory in the 20 lap IMCA Stock Car Main Event. Robles raced into the lead at the start ahead of Concord's Travis Dutra and Jason Robles of Rio Vista. An inside pass on the back stretch on Lap 6 gained Troy Foulger of Martinez third. Working the 13th lap, Foulger made a bold inside move in Turn 3 to grab second from Dutra, only to see contact send him spinning for the only yellow flag of the race. Kenneth Robles resumed command on the restart and went on to the satisfying win ahead of Dutra, Foulger, Jason Robles and Jeff Bentancourt of Brentwood.
This Wednesday night, Antioch will kick off the five-race Central California Clash, featuring IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars and Sport Modifieds. This series runs at five different tracks with the Modifieds earning $1,000 for the win and the Stock Cars and Sport Modifieds each getting $750 for their wins.
The series will also feature a point fund for the Top 5 finishers in each group. Last season, Cody Laney out of Torrance won the Modified championship with the Sport Modified series title going to Tyler Bannister of Bakersfield and the Stock Car championship being earned by Steven Johnson of Bakersfield.
Next Saturday, the Wingless Spec Sprints open their season on a night that will also include the Pacific Coast General Engineering Hobby Stocks, Delta Dwarf Cars, Super Stocks and Print Club Mini Stocks. For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com.
Unofficial Race Results
Antioch Speedway
NARC Winged 410 Sprint Cars
FT-Justin Sanders 11.977. Dash Winner (6 laps)-Joey Ancona. Heat Winners (10 laps)-Joey Ancona, Dominic Scelzi, Colby Copeland. Main Event (30 laps)-Dominic Scelzi, Corey Day, Joey Ancona, Colby Copeland, Ryan Bernal, Justin Sanders, Chase Johnson, Bud Kaeding, Shane Golobic, Justyn Cox.
IMCA Modifieds
Heat Winners (8 laps)-Andrew Pearce, Troy Foulger. Main Event (20 laps)-Nick DeCarlo, Troy Foulger, Bobby Motts Jr, Buddy Kniss, Danny Malfatti, Chris Sieweke, Garrett Corn, Andrew Pearce, Jeff Browne.
Delta Dwarf Cars
Heat Winners (8 laps)-Chance Russell, Danny Wagner. Main Event (20 laps)-Danny Wagner, Devan Kammermann, Pete Piantanida, Travis Day, Ellie Russo, Dan Zuger, Tom VanTuyl, Eddie Claessen, David Michael Rosa, Joe LeDuc.
IMCA Stock Cars
Heat Winners (8 laps)-Troy Foulger. Main Event (20 laps)-Kenneth Robles, Travis Dutra, Troy Foulger, Jason Robles, Jeff Bentancourt.
