Arriaga Wins Hunt Spec Sprint Series Opener At Antioch Speedway
by: Candice Martin
Antioch, CA…April 8…Leeding from the outset, Shawn Arriaga won the 25 lap Hunt Magneto’s Wingless Spec Sprint 25 lap Main Event Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. Arriaga is a past Winged Sprint Car champion at Antioch Speedway and was piloting the Dave Johnson owned car In victory.
Arriaga motored into the lead at the start ahead of Trevor Schmid of Corte Madera, but Schmid surrendered second to two-time Antioch champion DJ Johnson of Stockton on Lap 4. Trey Walters of Reno, Nevada moved up to battle Johnson for second on Lap 7. However, there was a yellow flag for a car stalled on the frontstretch as they were beginning Lap 10. Johnson and Walters touched and spun entering Turn 3 after the yellow flag flew, but they were both forced to restart in the back after stopping on the track.
Arriaga continued to lead Roseville’s Brent Steck and Marcus Hardina of Santa Rosa on the restart, but Hardina surrendered third to Petaluma’s Nick Robfogel with an inside pass on the back stretch on Lap 15. Robfogel and Steck had a good battle going for second as Arriaga maintained command, but a final yellow flag on Lap 21 for Evan Gularte of Gardnerville, Nevada bunched the field one last time. Undaunted, Arriaga motored ahead at the green flag and went on to score the impressive victory. Steck held off Robfogel for second as Johnson and Hardina completed the Top 5.
Reigning champion Fred Ryland of Brentwood scored the win in the 20 lap IMCA Sport Modified Main Event. This was the 71st Main Event win for Ryland in his career at the track, putting him one behind legend JD Willis for third on the all-time list.
Kenny Shrader at Pacheco took the early lead ahead of Brentwood’s Trevor Clymens. Ryland was third but slipped past Clymens for second in Turn 4 on Lap 3. Ryland started pressuring Shrader before making an inside pass In Turn 3 on Lap 8 to grab second. When a yellow flag waved on Lap 11 for Billy Garner, Shrader ducked into the pits. Ryland continued to lead Clymens on the restart. Reigning State champion Jacob Mallet of Oakley settled into fourth and made a low pass in Turn 2 on Lap 19 to take third. Ryland brought it home to his 71st career Antioch win, followed by Clymens, Mallet, Jonathan Hagio of Prunedale and Mark Garner of Antioch.
Don McLeister of Stockton won the 15 lap 600 Micro Sprint Main Event. The division was added to the program headed into the week and drew a small field. McLeister led from the outset ahead of George Nielson of Penngrove. A yellow flag for a spin on Lap 12 bunched the field. Nielson tried to give McLeister a run, but it was to no avail. McLeister resumed command on the restart with Nielson still holding onto second. They finished that way ahead of Charlie Kight of Antioch and Santa Rosa’s Jack Clark.
Racing resumes next Saturday night with the IMCA Sport Modifieds back in action along with the IMCA Stock Cars, Pacific Coast General Engineering Hobby Stocks and Print Club Mini Stock. For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com.