10/3/2024
Antioch Speedway
Bowers Memorial Race, Salute To JD Willis at Antioch Speedway Friday And Saturday
Antioch, CA...Antioch Speedway enters the month of October with one of the biggest races of the season. This Friday and Saturday night, the track will host the Fifth Annual Bill Bowers Memorial race, featuring the IMCA sanctioned Modifieds, Sport Modifieds and Stock Cars. The Pacific Coast Hobby Stocks are also a part of the Saturday show.
Bill was a beloved and well-respected man around the speedway. He was very knowledgeable about race cars, and people who had his help tended to do better. Through the years, he and fellow Hall of Fame member JD Willis teamed up to win many races and championships together. When Bill passed away, the West Coast Nationals was renamed in his honor.
Bill's legacy continues on at Antioch Speedway and elsewhere with his son Bill. The Bowers Motorsports team with Troy Foulger of Oakley behind the wheel has won many races and championships. In the process, they are rewriting the record books and setting the standard for others to pursue. You can bet Bill would be proud.
The Friday night program will salute JD "Ubetcha" Willis. JD won five championships in three different classes, Sportsman, Stock Cars and IMCA Modifieds. His accomplishments at Antioch Speedway alone saw him win 72 combined Main Events. He retired as the all-time win leader.
The increased purse money for the IMCA Modifieds finds the drivers racing for $750 to win on Friday with a minimum of $100 to take the green. On Saturday night, The winner will receive $1,500, second $700, third $600 and it's $150 just to take the green. The winners have nice trophies waiting for them on Friday, and special flannel shirts commemorating their wins on Saturday. Bowers was known for wearing flannel shirts.
The IMCA Sport Modifieds get $500 to win and a minimum of $75 to start on Friday. The Saturday show sees them receiving $1,000 for the winner, $500 for second and a minimum of $100 to take the green flag.
When the race started as the West Coast Nationals in 2019, the IMCA Modifieds had a barn-burner. Bobby Hogge IV of Salinas seemed to have the win at hand, but as the leaders were battling through traffic, Oakley's Kellen Chadwick swooped in and snatched the victory. Kenny Shrader of Pacheco began to build his reputation as a big show winner with his Sport Modified victory.
Jacob Hobsheidt came all the way from Nebraska to win the Bowers Memorial in 2020, with Hogge finally getting his win in the Modified show a year later. The past two wins have gone to Foulger, who has won three of the four IMCA Stock Car Saturday shows as well. Interestingly enough, Foulger now sits two wins behind Hogge on the all-time win list, 78 to 76.
The IMCA Sport Modifieds have seen four different Saturday winners in a row following the Shrader victory. Those wins have gone to Guy Ahlwardt of Antioch, Fred Ryland of Brentwood, Jacob Mallert Jr of Oakley and Mark Garner of Antioch. Ryland is third on the all-time win list with 75 total victories.
Points are over, and the IMCA championships at Antioch Speedway have gone to Chadwick in the Modifieds, Shrader in the Sport Modifieds and Jason Jennings of Pittsburg in the Stock Cars. Ryan Hart of Dos Palos is the Hobby Stock champion. Now it's time to see who will win the big money. For the Hobby Stocks, this race is a tune-up for the November 2nd Hobby Stock Nationals, which will pay $3,000 to the winner and $300 just to take the green flag.
Drivers are anticipated from all over the state for this show, but Modified stars anticipated include Chadwick, Foulger, Hogge, new State champion Mallet, Andrew Pearce of Oakley, Nick DeCarlo of Martinez and Tyler Browne of Antioch.
Shrader knows the competition is coming from everywhere, but on the local front, hard chargers such as Jason Ryan Jr, Tommy Clymens Jr and Kelly Campanile, all of Oakley, two-time State champion Clymens of Brentwood, past Antioch and State champion Fred Ryland of Brentwood, Buddy Kniss of Oakley, new State champion Chuck Golden of Pittsburg and top rookie James Grassle of Antioch are all anticipated.
Foulger seems to be the king of the hill when it comes to IMCA Stock Cars, but everybody will be gunning for him this weekend. Top prospects include Jennings, Ryland, three-time championship runner-up Jason Robles of Rio Vista, new State champion Scott Foster of Oakley, top rookie Mitch Machado of Rohnert Park, two-time champion Travis Dutra of Concord, Chester Kniss of Antioch and others from out of town.
Friday night will be a party atmosphere after the races with a corn hole tournament and chili cook-off scheduled to take place. For the fans, this will be an opportunity to watch the racers competing not for points but for the honor of winning these special events. It's going to be a weekend of racing that you won't want to miss.
The gates on both nights will open at 4:00 with the first race starting at 6:00.
Adult tickets on both nights 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.
Article Credit: Candice Martin, Photos by Katrina Kniss
Submitted By: Wylie Wade
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