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Ponciano Scores Special Win On Hall Of Fame Night At Antioch Speedway

By Candice Martin
Antioch, CA...September 14...Aidan Ponciano of Oakley won the 20 lap Pacific Coast Hobby Stock Main Event Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. This was the second win of his career, and it was a sentimental victory. Earlier in the week, his grandmother, past champion Denise McCown, passed away. Ponciano dedicated the victory to his grandmother. Denise, like her husband Dan McCown and daughter Megan Ponciano, is a past Antioch Speedway Hobby Stock champion.

It was also Hall of Fame Night at the Speedway and 10 new members were inducted.1973 Sportsman champion Larry Schlee, Sportsman and Late Model star Buzz Enea and All Time Wingless Spec Sprint Main Event win leader Jim Perry Jr were among the inductees on hand. Jim Huckaby, Tony Pato, Troy Shirk, Rich Richards, Duane Hodges, Pete Paulsen and John Brocca were part of this year's class of Hall Of Fame inductees.

William Henry of Penngrove had a front row start for the Hobby Stock feature and charged into the lead at the green flag. Championship contender Clarence Holbrook III of Galt moved into second on Lap 2. By the seventh circuit, Henry caught slower traffic, and Ponciano moved in to make it a three-car battle up front. Contact with a slower car in Turn 4 on the eighth circuit cost Henry the lead to Ponciano as Holbrook was running in third. The yellow flag waved on Lap 12 for Trevor Clymens.

Ponciano chose the outside on the restart and continued to lead the way. Henry spun in the fourth turn on Lap 14, collecting Holbrook in the process as Brentwood's Colten Haney was now second. The final yellow flag waved on Lap 18 for Maddie Motts of San Pablo. Ponciano stayed with the outside on the restart and led Pittsburg's Jared Baugh for the final two circuits for the emotional win. Todd Gomez of Antioch finished third, followed by Pittsburg's James Thomson and point leader Ryan Hart of Dos Palos.

Jacob Tuttle won the 20 lap Wingless Spec Sprint Main Event. This was the fourth win of the season for Tuttle aboard the Ted Finkenbinder owned Sprint Car. The win enabled Tuttle to clinch the season championship. He's currently leading the Hunt Wingless Spec Sprint Series point race as well.

After picking up the win in his eight-lap heat race, Tuttle bolted into the lead when the green flag waved. Antioch's Chris Geilfus settled into second ahead of Ryon Siverling of Concord. Tuttle quickly pulled away from the pack and was lapping slower cars before the halfway mark. Josh Young of Roseville slipped past Siverling for third on Lap 10.

Tuttle lapped Siverling a few laps later, leaving only three cars on the lead lap. Tuttle was threatening the second place battle when Young found his way past Geilfus on the back stretch on Lap 18. Tuttle won by nearly a lap over Young. Geilfus enjoyed his best finish yet in third, followed by Siverling and Ethon Lanfri of Milpitas.

Jason Ryan Jr of Oakley won the 20 lap IMCA Sport Modified Main Event. The race ran without a yellow flag and had plenty of action in the battle for the lead, but Ryan would grab his second win of the season. In doing so, Ryan moved to within one point of Pacheco's Kenny Shrader in the championship race with just next week's race remaining.

Al Johnson of Antioch jumped into the early lead ahead of Oakley's Tommy Clymens Jr. Ryan made an inside move on the back stretch on the fifth lap to take third from Antioch's James Graessle and set about reeling in the lead duo. Johnson and Clymens hit the front stretch side by side on the eighth lap, and Clymens used a low pass in Turn 4 a lap later to grab the lead.

Ryan found himself in second when Johnson pushed in Turn 4. Clymens had a similar push in Turn 2 on Lap 13, surrendering the lead to Ryan ahead of Trevor Clymens of Brentwood. Ryan hit slower traffic in the waning laps, and Trevor Clymens tried to make a final turn move for the lead. However, Ryan prevailed at the checkered flag ahead of Trevor Clymens, Tommy Clymens Jr, Shrader and Johnson.

Mitch Machado of Rohnert Park won the 20 lap IMCA Stock Car Main Event. This was the first win in this division for the highly decorated Petaluma Speedway Super Stock champion. He had to hold off the efforts of new track champion Jason Jennings of Pittsburg to get the win.

From the outset, Machado led the way ahead of Jennings and Jason Robles of Rio Vista. Nick Caugman Jr of Richmond settled into third on the second lap. As Machado and Jennings pulled away, Caughman, Robles and Kenny Shrader of Pacheco had a spirited duel for third. Shrader headed pitside on Lap 13, and Caughman retired from third on the 17th circuit. Jennings made a last turn effort to get underneath Machado, but Machado beat him to the checkered flag for the victory. Robles ended up third ahead of new State champion Scott Foster of Oakley and Caughman.

Sean Catucci of Brentwood won the 20 lap Dwarf Car Main Event. This was the first win of the season for Catucci, who took the lead on the second lap and didn't look back.

Incoming point leader Travis Day of Concord led the opening lap before being overtaken by Catucci. Antioch's David Michael Rosa and David Rosa settled into second and third on the third circuit, but Day spun in Turn 4 on the fourth lap. Catucci set a good pace and led to the Lap 11 in yellow flag for David Rosa and Turn 2. Caucci led David Michael Rosa and Jason Lazzerini of Moss Landing on the restart. They ran that way until Lazzerini spun in Turn 4 on Lap 19. Catucci brought it home a happy winner ahead of David Michael Rosa, David Rosa, Day and Lazzerini.

Tom Davis of Los Molinos won the 15 lap Mini Stock Mini Event. Despite it being his fifth win of the season, he still lost the championship to Tom Brown of Santa Rosa. The race was not without Its controversy.

Looking to wrap up his third Antioch championship, Brown charged into the lead at the start ahead of Davis and Tony Quinonez of Corning. The yellow flag waved on Lap 3 when Sophie Shelly of Santa Rosa slammed the Turn 1 wall. Brown continued to lead Davis and Quinonez. They ran in that order until Davis started challenging Brown for the lead. Working the 13th lap, Davis drifted into Brown's line and Brown ended up hitting the Turn 1 wall.

Brown's race was over, but he would finish high enough to claim his third championship. Davis was assessed a two-position penalty on the restart, but still got around Quinonez when the green flag waved and would lead the final two circuits. Quinonez settled for second ahead of Jason Higgins of Santa Rosa, Brown and Jackie Price of Antioch.

Racing resumes next Saturday night with IMCA championship night. The IMCA sanctioned Modifieds will be in action along with the Sport Modifieds and Stock Cars. Also competing will be the Pacific Coast Hobby Stocks and Wingless Spec Sprints. For further information, go to www.raceantiochspeadway.com.

Race Results
Pacific Coast Hobby Stocks
Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Frank Furtado, Jared Baugh, Aidan Ponciano. Main Event (20 Laps)-Aidan Ponciano, Jared Baugh, Todd Gomez, James Thomson, Ryan Hart, Colten Haney, Clarence Holbrook III, Daniel Braudrick, Frank Furtado, Trevor Clymens.

Wingless Spec Sprints
Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Eathon Lanfri, Jacob Tuttle. Main Event (20 Laps)-Jacob Tuttle, Josh Young, Chris Geilfuss, Ryon Siverling, Eathon Lanfri, Kevin Box, James Johnson, Steve Maionchi, John Ulrich.

IMCA Sport Modifieds
Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Al Johnson, Tommy Clymens Jr. Main Event (20 Laps)-Jason Ryan Jr, Trevor Clymens, Tommy Clymens Jr, Kenny Shrader, Al Johnson, James Graessle, Haley Gomez, Chuck Golden, Jeff Bentancourt.

IMCA Stock Cars
Heat Winner (8 Laps)-Jason Jennings. Main Event (20 Laps)-Mitch Machado, Jason Jennings, Jason Robles, Nick Caughman Jr, Scott Foster, Kenny Shrader.

Dwarf Cars
Heat Winner (8 Laps)-David Michael Rosa. Main Event (20 Laps)-Sean Catucci, David Michael Rosa, David Rosa, Travis Day, Jason Lazzerini, Chad Normile.

Mini Stocks
Heat Winner (8 Laps)-Tom Davis. Main Event (15 Laps)-Tom Davis, Tony Quinonez, Jason Higgins, Tom Brown, Jackie Price, Dustin Smith, Sophie Shelley

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