9/20/2023
Antioch Speedway
Foulger, DeCarlo, Johns Win Hall of Fame Night Races At Antioch Speedway
Antioch, CA...September 15...Troy Foulger of Oakley won the 25 lap IMCA Modified Main Event Friday night at Antioch Speedway. The win clinched Foulger his sixth IMCA Modified championship in the Bowers Motorsports owned entry. This was also his fifth win of the season.
The championship night format started the drivers based on their points with the leader on the pole. This meant that Foulger had the pole, but State champion Andrew Pearce of Oakley bolted into the lead from the outside position ahead of Foulger and Anthony Slaney of Martinez. Foulger pressured Pearce pretty hard during the first half of the race with Slaney a solid third until he headed pitside on the 14th lap. Foulger made a move around Pearce on the backstretch on Lap 17 to briefly gain the lead, but Pearce beat him back to the line to lead that lap.
However, Foulger made a high pass in Turn 2 of the 18th lap to take command. When Buddy Kniss of Oakley fell out of third on lap 20, that briefly gave the position to Terry DeCarlo Sr of Martinez. However, Tim Balding of Salinas made a move in Turn 4 to grab third. Foulger built a half-straightaway advantage over Pearce by the time the checkered flag waved. Balding ended up third ahead of DeCarlo and Ryan DeForest of Livermore.
Nick DeCarlo of Martinez won the 25 lap IMCA Stock Car Main Event. This was the third win of the season for DeCarlo, and it came on a night in which his father was inducted into the Antioch Speedway Hall of Fame. DeCarlo gained the lead when newly crowned champion Troy Foulger of Oakley had mechanical issues and fell out of the action.
Being a championship night format meant that point leader Foulger took the early lead ahead of Jason Robles of Rio Vista. Nick DeCarlo made an inside pass in Turn 2 of the second lap to claim third and moved past Robles for second on the seventh lap. Foulger seemed in control of things until he suffered a mechanical failure and spun in Turn 2 for a Lap 12 yellow flag.
DeCarlo gained the lead on the restart ahead of Mitch Enos of Manteca. Travis Dutra of Concord ran in the third position, but Enos had his own issues on the 17th lap for a yellow flag. DeCarlo continued to lead Dutra and Robles on the restart. DeCarlo drove a flawless race down the stretch and achieved victory. Dutra settled for second ahead of Robles, Mitch Machado of Rohnert Park and Dave Hill of South San Francisco.
Ken Johns of Antioch won the 25 lap Pacific Coast General Engineering Hobby Stock Bobby Main Event. He took the lead from point leader Grayson Baca of Brentwood late to collect the win and maintain his championship hopes.
Baca started on the front row and charged into the lead at the green flag, followed by Jared Baugh of Pittsburgh and Danny Wagner of Bay Point. On the seventh lap, James Thomson of Antioch got past Baugh for the second position and he held it until contact sent him spinning in Turn 4 on the 16th lap. At that point, Johns moved into the runner-up position and took up pursuit of Baca. Johns made a move in Turn 4 to take the lead from Baca with Wagner and Baugh also getting by. John's went on to victory ahead of Wagner, Baugh, Baca and Aidan Ponciano of Oakley
The track had ceremonies during intermission to honor several past greats. Keith Brown Sr, Dave Byrd, Bob Meeker, Lori Brown, Kimberly Myers, Sharon Smith, Rick Panfili, Terry DeCarlo Sr and Harry Osborne were all inducted into the Antioch Speedway Hall of Fame. There was a bigger group of inductees for the first night as there were more racing divisions on Saturday.
Keep track of what's happening at the speedway by going to www.raceantiochspeedway.com or go to the Antioch Speedway by PROmotions Facebook page.
Unofficial Race Results
IMCA Modifieds
Heat Winner (8 laps)-Troy Foulger. Main Event (25 laps)-Troy Foulger, Andrew Pearce, Tim Balding, Terry DeCarlo Sr, Ryan DeForest, Buddy Kniss, Anthony Slaney.
IMCA Stock Cars
Heat Winners (8 laps)-Troy Foulger, Travis Dutra. Main Event (25 laps)-Nick DeCarlo, Travis Dutra, Jason Robles, Mitch Machado, Dave Hill, Scott Foster, Mitch Enos, Troy Foulger, Terry DeCarlo Jr, Kenneth Robles.
Pacific Coast General Engineering Hobby Stocks
Heat Winners (8 laps)-Jared Baugh, Grayson Baca, James Thomson. Main Event (20 laps)-Ken Johns, Danny Wagner, Jared Baugh, Grayson Baca, Aidan Ponciano, Todd Gomez, Misty Welborn, Charlie Bryant, Jewell Crandall, Taylor DiCarlo.
Article Credit: Candice Martin
Submitted By: Wylie Wade
Article Media
