As always, I am unofficial.  Just trying to put the word out on the coming Sprint Car races at Antioch Speedway.

Winged 360 Sprint Cars Return To Antioch Speedway

The popular Winged 360 Sprint Cars return to Antioch Speedway for their third of eight scheduled appearances.  When they return to the track, they bring with them an amazing 11 race streak in which there have been no repeat winners.

Three of the Top 4 drivers will be out to snap that streak.  Third generation racer Shawn Arriaga finished in the Top 5 last race and won a race two years ago to make the list of 11.  He leads non winner Jake Haulot by six points coming into Saturday's race.

Chris Magoon is the defending champion and a winner last season, while past champion Art McCarthy won the season opener.  The two drivers crashed early in the most recent race to end the night for both. Magoon is 12 points behind Arriaga, while McCarthy is 14 points back.  Magoon made some practice laps last week to prepare for this race.

Fifth place Dan Gonderman will be hoping to extend the streak to 12 winners.  The second generation racer has been getting used to the more potent winged Sprint Cars after winning two Wingless Spec Sprint championships at the track.  Gonderman brings a lot of experience with him and should not be counted out.

Others hoping to make a run at a win this week include last year's "Rookie Of The Year" Roy Fisher, third generation racer Ryan Timmons, Rick Brophy and Ricky Brophy.  The Brophy #5 car managed to take a checkered flag in tenth last time out.

Antioch Speedway is in the process of establishing its own Winged 360 Sprint Car program, and 18 drivers have competed in the first two events this year.  A field of 8-12 cars is anticipated for this race, and optimism is high that car count will grow bigger in the weeks ahead.

Antioch Winged 360 Sprint Car Points

Shawn Arriaga     92
Jake Haulot       86
Chris Magoon     80
Art McCarthy       78
Dan Gonderman     70
Justin Sanders     52
Anthony Espinoza 51
Alissa Geving     50
Bradley Terrell 46
Brandon Powell     44
Pete Paulson     44
D.J. Freitas     44
Darrell Taylor    40
Zack Lynskey      40
Roy Fisher     36
Ricky Brophy    34
Ryan Timmons     30
Rick Brophy     28

Last 17 Feature Winners

April 25 2015:  Alissa Geving
March 7, 2015: Art McCarthy
August 2, 2014: Zack Lynskey
June 21 2014:  Bradley Terrell
June 10, 2014:  Chris Magoon
April 5, 2014:  Kurt Nelson
May 4, 2013: Shawn Arriaga
April 13, 2014: Chris Martin
September 17, 2011:  Billy Aton
July 30, 2011:  Craig Smith
September 15, 2010: Jeremy Burt
August 25, 2010: Craig Smith
April 24, 2010: Craig Smith
March  27, 2010: Craig Smith
March 20, 2010:  Ryan Risconi
September 26, 2009:  Jeremy Burt
August 29, 2009:  Jeremy Burt


Northern All Stars
Winged 360 Sprint Car Schedule

May 16
June 6
June 20
July 11
August 8
August 29




Antioch Bringing Affordability Back To Wingless Spec Sprints

Antioch Speedway promoter John Soares Jr. was at the forefront of the creation of a popular form of Sprint Car racing.  Seeking to create a class of Sprint Car that would appeal to Stock Car racers and the kids coming up from Micro Sprints, Soares decided to make it happen.  Back in 1998, he put Don O'Keefe Jr. and Don Martin II to the task of creating a new rules set and building what became the Wingless Spec Sprint division.

In 1999, the division made its debut at Antioch Speedway and fielded no less than 12 cars that season.  A year later, the division ran its first B Main.  The rules were simple.  They were a self starting Sprint Car with a 360 cast iron motor and two barrel carburetor.  The availability of affordable Sprint Car chassis made this class an easy sell.

Soon, several tracks in California and across the country had a division of their own, and this class thrived.  However, Soares was concerned when he saw the gap opening up between the haves and have not in recent years.  Some teams were spending a lot more on motors and shocks and dominating the show.

Before this season began, Soares made the decision to scale back the rules in the spirit of what the class was in 1999.  In a way, it's been about reestablishing the class, and car count is starting over.  However, the racing has been much closer so far this year.

In six races, we've had four different winners with Jeff Lee, Roy Fisher, Jimmy Perry III and point leader Kyle Bakkie.  Bakkie and Fisher have each won twice so far.  More importantly, just about anybody in that field appears capable of winning on any given week.

Bakkie holds a 20 point lead over Panfili going into Saturday's race despite failing to finish last time out.  Panfili started things off this year with three straight Top 3 finishes, but he's struggled a bit in the last three races.  Panfili has competed in this class since it started and is still searching for his first win.

Second generation racer Marcus Smith made a big move on the last lap the last time this division raced.  The rookie went from sixth to a career best second place finish and is now 38 points behind the leader.  Some are saying Smith could be in line for a feature win soon.

Alan Miranda had a win in hand last time.  He led for 19 and three quarters laps before being spun from the lead in the final turn.  He is currently fourth in the standings and may be the driver to watch this week.

Ryon Siverling, NFL alumni Jeremy Newberry, Chase Wood Jr., Perry and Al Ghiorso are others to watch for this week as a field of 8-12 cars is anticipated.  Perry benefited from Miranda's spin to win the last race, while Newberry crashed in Turn 2 after a couple of strong finishes in the previous two races.

The division is expected to rebound from the changes and grow stronger in the weeks ahead.  Through the years, many competitive racers have gotten started in Sprint Car racing in this division, because it's the perfect class for the budget minded.  Soares wants that to continue to be the case at Antioch Speedway.

Top Ten In Points

Kyle Bakkie        290
Rick Panfili        270
Marcus Smith        262
Alan Miranda        216
Roy Fisher        194
Ryon Siverling     182
Chase Wood Jr.        148
Jim Perry III        140
Jeremy Newberry    136
James East        126

Past Champions

1999-Dan Gonderman
2000-Travis Berryhill
2001-Terry Tarditi
2002-Darrell Hanestad
2003-Darrell Hanestad
2004-Bob Newberry
2005-Scott Merrell
2006-Jimmy Perry III
2007-Jim Perry Jr.
2008-Billy Macedo
2009-Billy Aton
2010-Tommy LaLiberte
2011-Dan Gonderman
2012-D.J. Johnson
2013-Gary Nelson Jr.
2014-Billy Macedo