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Central California Clash Race On Tap For Antioch Speedway

By Candice Martin
Antioch, CA...We made it through a very wet month of March, and April hasn't been much better. This has led to four-consecutive rainouts at Antioch Speedway. However, the forecast calls for sunny skies all week and throughout the weekend, meaning racing will return on Saturday night.

On March 30th, the Central California Clash was rained out. This was to be a night featuring the IMCA sanctioned Modifieds, Sport Modifieds and Stock Cars along with the West Coast Hobby Stocks. Promoter Chad Chadwick and Clash Series Director Doug Lockwood quickly reached an agreement to reschedule the race for this Saturday night.

Other schedule adjustments had to be made, including removing IMCA divisions and Hobby Stocks from the April 27th Soares Memorial race and effectively canceling that date. After going over the schedule, the Soares race has been rebooked for June 22nd, which will feature all of the IMCA classes along with Hobby Stocks and Spec Sprints.

In the meantime, fans are about ready to get a treat. Saturday night will not only see the best racers Antioch has to offer, we'll be getting visits from top drivers from throughout the state for the first of six Central California Clash races. Lockwood has adjusted the series to make it easier for each track on the schedule to get a bigger car count.

Initially, this series was created as California IMCA Speedweek in 2020. Because of the Covid situation keeping the grandstands closed, Lockwood set up a week-long series that fans could enjoy through a streaming service online, and the series got rave reviews. It continued as a bigger week-long series the following year.

In 2022, Lockwood readjusted the schedule and renamed it the Central California Clash. Antioch wasn't on that schedule, but it returned last year and gets the opening date this year.

It's a six-race series featuring increased prize money for all divisions involved. There's also a series point fund, sponsored by the streaming service, IMCA TV.

Antioch racers performed well in the series last year. In fact, track and State Stock Car champion Troy Foulger of Oakley finished second to Jerry Flippo of Bakersfield in the Stock Car portion of the series, while out-running Bakersfield's Troy Morris III and Bobby Hogge IV of Salinas to win the Modified honors. Bakersfield star Tyler Bannister outran Oakley's Jason Ryan Jr to win the Sport Modified crown.

Increased prize money for the six-race series will see a $100 minimum to start for the Modified Main Events with $1,000 for the winner. The Sport Modifieds and Stock Cars will get $80 minimum with $750 to the winners, while the Hobby Stocks get a $500 first prize. This is an increase over their payouts for any regular weekly show.

For just the six races, the champion stands to gain $1,000 in the Modifieds, $600 in the Sport Modifieds and Stock Cars and $500 in the Hobby Stocks. The Top 5 drivers in each division will receive point fund money at the end.

With Marysville being added to the schedule, the series also includes Merced, Bakersfield, Tulare and Petaluma. The fact that each track gets a Saturday night race should increase the car counts everywhere.

The West Coast Hobby Stocks, which were launched by Brian Cooper and Jerry Bartlett last year, are a part of the series. That duo had successfully held one season for the West Coast Sport Modifieds before pursuing other interests. The Hobby Stock series averaged 40 or more cars for each race last year with Nick Johnson of Bakersfield winning the series title over Cooper and Steven Johnson a Bakersfield.

Antioch Speedway hasn't successfully held a race since March 16th thanks to the inclement weather. On that occasion, the track's all-time combined Main Event win leader Bobby Hogge IV out-dueled reigning State champion Andrew Pearce of Oakley to win the IMCA Modified race.

It was reigning champion Kenny Shrader of Pacheco holding off last year's runner-up Jason Ryan Jr in the Sport Modifieds, while Brentwood's Fred Ryland got the IMCA Stock Car glory ahead of Chester Kniss of Antioch. Clarence Holbrook III of Galt won the Hobby Stock race.

A big car count is anticipated in all divisions for this show, and that will make it a must see event for the local fans. With weather expected to be in the 70s and the most exciting IMCA sanctioned racing you'll see anywhere on the West Coast, Antioch Speedway will be the place to be this Saturday night.

The gates will open at 4:00 with the first race starting at 6:00.

Adult tickets are $20, Senior/Military $15, Kids (5-12) $15 and kids four and under free.

For further information, go to www.raceantiochspeedway.com or check out the Antioch Speedway by PROmotions Facebook page.

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