FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: pressrelease@ovalmotorsports.com

DAMITZ GETS STANDING OVATION AS ANTIOCH SPEEDWAY HONORS DRIVERS
2013 SCHEDULE FEATURES IMCA MODIFIEDS AND SPORT MODS, WORLD OF OUTLAWS, CIVIL WAR and KING OF WEST SPRINT CARS

ANTIOCH, Calif. -The standing ovation veteran driver Larry Damitz of Vallejo received from more than 200 people was the highlight of the night at 15th Annual Antioch Speedway Awards Banquet on Saturday, January 5.  

Damitz’s second consecutive two-championship season at Oval Motorsports’ two racetracks - Antioch and Merced Speedway will go down in the record books. Track announcer John Myers, who was master of ceremonies for the event, said he had never before seen such an ovation for a driver.

Toping the field of Super Stock drivers, Damitz, who will be 84 this year, said he would be back to race at Antioch again this season. He has raced and won since 1952, racing before most of the drivers at the track were born. Humbled by the ovation, Damitz was speechless as he smiled and waved to the crowd.

Promoter John Soares gave an uplifting speech about the new season, citing Antioch’s growing fields of cars and the track’s reputation as one of the best run race tracks in the country. He explained that sanctioning by the International Motorsports Competition Association (IMCA) would open new opportunities for drivers in the modified and sportmod stock car divisions.

The track will also feature Delta Series events, with open rules for the modifieds, and an extra-distance major event for Hobby Stock drivers in August. He announced a wide variety of sprint car competition for the season featuring two visits by the World of Outlaws, bringing winged and wingless sprint cars to the 3/8-mile clay oval throughout the season.

Champions and top drivers in all divisions were honored, more than 75 awards being presented.

Modified champion Troy Foulger of Martinez thanked the Bowers family of Oakley for their dedication in providing him the ride that took him to his third straight championship. Foulger won eight times and had 14 top five wins against tough competition in 2012.

Wingless sprint car champion D.J. Johnson of Stockton talked about his trek to Antioch Speedway, where he won a single race the previous season and rose to the top of the ranks with help from newfound friends at his new home track. Johnson had five wins and 10 top five finishes in route to the championship

Retired Brentwood sheriff Gene Haney took some ribbing for fulfilling his desire to pursue drivers as he captured the Super Hobby Stock Championship. Dwarf car driver Nick Davis had a long list in his heartfelt appreciation for his championship season.

Sarah Leslie of San Jose brought the largest entourage of the night, including her mentor in the “4-banger” division - Adrian DeSousa. She also thanked her husband and fellow racer Mike Shapiro and described her positive experience racing at Antioch Speedway.

Greg Williams walked away with the championship trophy in the “Mini-Trux” division. Phil Indihar of Milpitas was crowned champ in the SportMod division. He praised the division for its high level of racing at economic costs to drivers.

Second place Hobby Stock Division driver Brad Myers  of Brentwood had to stand on the side of the podium as the division champion told him she loved him. Newlyweds Melissa Myers-Hansen and Brad Myers kissed as a sea of flashes lit the hall.

2013  ANTIOCH SPEEDWAY SCHEDULE
NOTE: SCHDEULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

MARCH
9 TEST & TUNE $20.00 PIT PASSES (GRANDSTANDS CLOSED)
16 SWAP MEET 8 A.M.-12 P.M. TEST & TUNE ( $20.00 PIT PASSES) (GRANDSTANDS CLOSED)
23 TEST & TUNE $20.00 PIT PASSES (GRANDSTANDS CLOSED)
30 CIVIL WAR SPRINT CARS

APRIL
5 FRIDAY  - WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CARS
13 360 WINGED SPRINTS, IMCA MODIFIEDS, HOBBY STOCKS, MINI-TRUX, DWARF CARS, SUPER HOBBYS
20 KING OF THE WEST 410 SPRINT CARS, DWARF CARS
27 WINGLESS SPRINTS, SUPER STOCKS, HOBBY STOCKS, MINI-TRUX, 4-BANGERS

MAY
4 360 WINGED SPRINTS, IMCA MODIFIEDS, SUPER STOCKS, SUPER HOBBYS, HOBBY STOCKS, 4-BANGERS    
11 IMCA MODIFIEDS, WINGLESS SPRINTS, SUPER HOBBYS, SUPER STOCKS, DWARF CARS, 4-BANGERS
18 IMCA MODIFIEDS, IMCA SPORTMODS, LATE MODELS, HOBBY STOCKS, MINI TRUX, DWARF CARS, 4-BANGERS
25  CLOSED  MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND  

JUNE
1  FAIR  (TBA)
8 IMCA MODs, IMCA SPORTMODS, WINGLESS SPRINTS, SUPER HOBBYS, HOBBY STOCKS, MINI-TRUX, DWARF CARS
15 IMCA MODIFIEDS,  IMCA SPORTMODS, LATE MODELS, HOBBY STOCKS, MINI-TRUX, SUPER HOBBYS, 4-BANGERS
22 LATE MODELS, IMCA MODIFIEDS
29 IMCA MODS,  IMCA SPORTMODS, SUPER STOCKS, HOBBY STOCKS, SUPER HOBBYS, MINI-TRUX, DWARF CARS

JULY
6 DELTA  SERIES: “FIRECRACKER 50” FOR OPEN MODIFIEDS ($1000 TO WIN), WINGLESS SPRINTS, SPORT MODS, SUPER STOCKS, HOBBY STOCKS, MINI-TRUX, DWARF CARS, 4-BANGERS
13 WINGED SPEC SPRINTS, IMCA MODIFIEDS, SUPER STOCKS, SUPER STOCKS, LATE MODELS
20 IMCA MODIFIEDS, 360 WINGED SPRINTS, SUPER HOBBYS, HOBBY STOCKS,MINI-TRUX, DWARF CARS, 4-BANGERS
27  BCRA MIDGETS & BCRA MIDGET LITES, IMCA MODIFIEDS,  IMCA SPORTMODS, DWARF CARS, MINI-TRUX

AUGUST
3 IMCA MODIFIEDS, WINGLESS SPRINTS, SUPER STOCKS, SUPER HOBBYS, MINI-TRUX, 4-BANGERES
10 IMCA MODIFIES, WINGLESS SPRINTS, SUPER STOCKS, SUPER HOBBYS, HOBBY STOCKS, DWARF CARS
17 150 LAP HOBBY STOCK ($2000.00 TO WIN)  IMCA MODIFIEDS, IMCA SPORTMODS, DWARF CARS, LATE MODELS
24 IMCA MODS, WINGLESS SPRINTS, IMCA SPORTMODS, SUPER HOBBYS, SUPER STOCKS, MINI-TRUX, 4-BANGERS
31 360 WINGED SPRINTS, IMCA MODS, HOBBY STOCKS, SUPER HOBBYS, IMCA SPORTMODS, DWARF CARS, 4-BANGERS

SEPTEMBER
8 SUNDAY   WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CARS
14 WINGLESS SPRINTS, IMCA MODS, IMCA SPORTMODS, SUPER STOCKS, HOBBY STOCKS, MINI-TRUX, SUPER HOBBYS, DWARF CARS, 4-BANGERS
21 WINGED SPEC SPRINTS,  IMCA SPORTMODS, HOBBY STOCKS, SUPER HOBBYS, DWARF CARS, MINI-TRUX, 4-BANGERS
28 WINGLESS SPRINTS, SUPER STOCKS, SUPER HOBBYS,HOBBY STOCKS, MINI-TRUX DWARF CARS 4-BANGERS

OCTOBER
5 “DELTA CLASSIC” - OPEN—DIRT MODIFIEDS, WINGLESS SPRINTS, HOBBY STOCKS, DWARF CARS, LATE MODELS