7/13/2011
Sprint Source
Antioch Speedway next up for Golden State King of the West Sprints
410 Sprint Cars rumble into Antioch Speedway this Saturday with Golden State King of the West Sprint Car Series Round 13
By Gary Thomas
Antioch, CA – July 12, 2011…The thunder of 410 Sprint Cars will return to the Antioch Speedway this Saturday night when the Golden State King of the West Series invades the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds track for the final time this season.
The event on Saturday will be the 13th night of competition for the tour, as the series continues its march towards championship night in mid-October. Including this weekend there are seven races remaining on the schedule and Saturday’s show brings KWS back to where it started in April.
As the season slowly winds down former Golden State 410 champion Tim Kaeding continues to have a firm grip on the point lead, as he attempts to become the first “King of the West” while driving the famed Roth Motorsports No. 83 machine.
The San Jose veteran has captured three main event wins so far this season and in his career has scored a pair of 410 victories at the Antioch Speedway. “TK” has finished among the top-five in all but one KWS event so far this season, using the type of consistency it takes to win championships.
Tying Kaeding for the most wins this season with the Golden State King of the West Sprint Car Series last week was Chico’s Jonathan Allard, who claimed victory during the Antioch Speedway opener in April. The win that night was the first for Allard in Antioch and he goes into Saturday ranking fourth in the KWS points.
Scotts Valley’s Evan Suggs sits second in the Golden State King of the West Sprint Car Series standings and will look for another strong run in Antioch, a track he finished second at in April. The 24-year-old currently stands 60-points behind T. Kaeding going into the weekend and will be looking to make up some ground.
Thirteen-time Golden State 410 champion Brent Kaeding comes to Antioch third in the standings and has won the most races at the track since 410 racing returned to the facility in 2003. This weekend will also mark the two-year anniversary of the last time “BK” won a Golden State 410 main event, which he’ll be looking to change on Saturday.
When 410 Sprint Car racing returned to the Antioch Speedway in ’03 it was Grass Valley’s Jason Statler who claimed victory that night. “The Big Guy” currently rounds out the top-five in the Golden State King of the West Sprint Car Series standings and will be searching to return to victory lane on Saturday.
Sitting just outside the top-five in points is Sacramento’s Willie Croft, who will be searching for his second Golden State King of the West Sprint Car Series win of the season on Saturday. In the April race at Antioch Speedway “Double Down” went from 16th to sixth in the main event to earn the PitStopUSA hard charger award.
Elk Grove’s Bobby McMahan continues to move up the ladder in the standings and goes into Antioch seventh in the KWS points. The former NARC Speedweek champ led laps in the feature during the April event at Antioch, but his night came to a tough end when contact with a lapped car left him upside down in the first corner.
Looking to change up his luck this weekend will be Placerville’s Andy Gregg, who is coming off a rough night in Santa Maria that saw him get upside down in the main event. Gregg sits eighth in the Golden State King of the West Sprint Car Series standings going into Antioch, where he finished seventh at in April.
Fremont’s Brent Bjork ranks ninth in the KWS standings coming into the weekend and will be looking for a strong run at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds oval. The youngster has scored a best finish of fifth so far this season and has been fast at Antioch in the past.
Completing the top-10 in KWS points going into the Antioch Speedway is 16-year-old rookie contender Kenny Allen of Chico. Allen has gained vast experience this season traveling with the Golden State King of the West Sprints and will try to battle his way forward over the remainder of the year.
Other drivers expected to be in action at the Antioch Speedway on Saturday will include Stockton’s Brad Furr, Campbell’s Bud Kaeding, St. Helena’s Rico Abreu, Merced’s Mark Barroso, Grass Valley’s Pat Harvey, North Kingstown, Rhode Island’s Eli Deshaies, Oakhurst’s Doug Gandy, Rio Vista’s Dan and Danielle Simpson, Salinas’ Orval Burke Jr. and more.
On Saturday July 16 the front grandstand gate will be open at 5pm. Hot laps are scheduled for 6pm, with qualifying at 6:30 and racing anticipated to start around 7.
Antioch Speedway is located on the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds at the corner of 10th and L Streets in Antioch, California. Take SR-4 East (Highway 4) to the Somersville Road North Exit. Follow Somersville Road to 10thStreet. Turn Right on 10th Street. The address for the track is 1201 W. 10th Street Antioch, CA 94509.
Tickets will also be available the day of the race with adults being $20, children 6-12 $10, seniors 65 & older $10 and children 5 & under free. A family pack with two adults & two children will also be available for $50.
More information on the Golden State King of the West Sprint Car Series can be found at http://www.kwssprints.com
You can also follow KWS on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/KWS410s#!/pages/Golden-State-King-of-the-West-Series/150145691703907 and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/KWS410s
Brent Kaeding holds a slim three-point advantage over Jonathan Allard for third in the KWS standings going into the Antioch Speedway. "BK" always seems to do well at the track, which is the site of his most recent Golden State 410 victory that came in July of 2009. Photo by Steven Cox of http://www.sprintcarphotos.com
Article Credit: Gary Thomas
Submitted By: Gary Thomas
