Joe Hunt Wingless Spec Sprint Tour comes To Antioch Speedway Saturday Night
By Candice Martin
Antioch, CA…There’s a buzz in the air as racing has resumed at Antioch Speedway. Following last week’s 63rd championship season opener, the fans are in for a real treat. The Joe Hunt Wingless Spec Sprint Tour kicks off their season at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds oval, joined by the IMCA Sport Modifieds and the 600 Micro Sprints.
Everyone knows that Antioch Speedway introduced the Wingless Spec Sprint division to the racing community In 1999 as an option to get newcomers into Sprint Car racing. The track will have its 25th championship season for that class this year.
Other tracks followed the example of Antioch Speedway with a Spec Sprint division of their own, and eventually there was call for a series. First came the NCMA Select Series, but when that group left the dirt to run exclusively on pavement in 2010, a new option with needed.
The Joe Hunt Wingless Spec Sprint Series was born. This series brings some of the best drivers in the class together for good competition and increased purses and contingencies. If you can win with this group, you can win anywhere.
Seeing the need for a little something extra for last season’s Soares Memorial, the Hunt Series with brought in last October and gave the Antioch crowd 28 cars and some great racing. Past series champion Shawn Jones of San Jose picked up the win that night ahead of Jake Morgan of Fair Oaks.
Following last season’s exciting tour, Morgan was crowned the series champion ahead of Josh Young of Roseville and Antioch’s Shawn Arriaga Arriaga, who is a past Winged 360 Sprint Car champion at both Antioch and Petaluma, has been a factor in recent Wingless Spec Sprint races, including his win in the Sonny Calkins Memorial last season at Antioch Speedway, which netted him $2,500. He should be one of the front runners this week.
A field into the high twenties or low thirties is anticipated, including such hard chargers as Nick Larson of Vallejo, Brent Steck of Roseville, Jarrett Soares of Gilroy, Shane Hopkins of Placerville, Ethon Lanfri of Milpitas and Livermore’s Scott Chapeta.
Previous attempts to get the IMCA Sport Modified season going have resulted in rainouts, but clear skies are in the forecast for this Saturday night. Last season, Fred Ryland of Brentwood won his third track championship and also scored his 70th overall career win at Antioch, moving him into fourth on the track’s all time win list. He beat rising young star Andrew Pearce of Oakley by a slim margin. Oakley’s Jacob Mallet Jr won the IMCA State championship last year.
After winning the top rookie honors in IMCA Modifieds last year, three-time champion Trevor Clymens of Brentwood returns to Sport Modified competition this week. He figures to make his presence known at the front of the pack. Other stars to watch for include Chuck Golden of Pittsburg, Kenny Shrader of Pacheco, Tommy Fraser of Antioch and Jason Ryan Jr of Oakley.
It was just announced on Sunday that the 600 Micro Sprints have been added to this week’s show. Micro Sprint racing reigns at the smaller 1/5 mile ovals in Dixon and Stockton, so getting a date at Antioch when drivers can attend has become a challenge.
Several drivers who travel up and down the road are hoping to take on the bigger oval this week. The division uses 600cc engines that still get around the track quite well. This division should be a nice touch to the overall program.
The Hunt Series is just part of the Sprint Car excitement coming to Antioch this year. In addition to the local Wingless Spec Sprints, you can expect special visits from the NARC Winged 410 Sprint Cars on April 29th and the Sprint Car Challenge Tour Winged 360 Sprints on July 1st, among other great attractions throughout the season.
The gates will open at 4:00 with the first race starting at 6:00.
Adult tickets are $20, Senior/Military $15, Kids (5-12) $15 and kids five and under free.
For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com or check out the Antioch Speedway by PROmotions Facebook page.