By Susan Arnold
ANTIOCH, Calif. (Sept. 8, 2013) – Joey Saldana and the Motter Equipment Fatheadz Eyewear Beltline Body Shop 71M team were optimistic about their return to Antioch Speedway. In April they finished second.on the 1/3-mile oval.
In the first segment of preliminary action, Saldana lapped the track in 12.154 seconds, placing him fourth in the qualifying order.
After the inversion mathematical formula was applied, the Brownsburg Bullet was assigned the fourth starting position in the final heat. When the race went green, pole sitter Jason Statler led the pack with Jason Sides second and Saldana third. With one lap complete Todd Wanless spun to bring out the caution. On the restart, Saldana’s well-performed slide job between turns one and two gained him second position, pushing Jason Sides back to third. At the checkered flag it was Statler with the win and Saldana second both earning starting spots in the dash and the A-Main.
After the dash inversion draw, Saldana was allotted the No. 5 starting position. In the all green six-lap event, Larson was the winner, Allard was second, and Kemenah was third. Saldana finished seventh and would start the feature in the seventh position.
Pole sitter Kyle Larson brought the field down for the start of the 30-lap A-Main and took the early lead followed by Tim Kaeding. With eight laps complete the yellow flew after four cars tangled in front of leader Larson. The drivers involved in the accident were Sammy Swindell, Dominic Scelzi, Brad Sweet and Rico Abreu. Larson did suffer some damage to the rear push bumper following contact with Abreu. Outlaws officials stopped Larson on the track to inspect his hanging push bumper. Rules mandate that a push bumper must be functional and it did pass inspection. Restart order: Larson, Allard, Kemenah, Kaeding, Steve Kinser, Kyle Hirst, and Saldana. Green again but on lap 11 the yellow flew for Dollansky and Darrah who tangled on the track. Swindell went to the work area with a flat left rear tire. Restart: Larson, Allard, Kemenah,
Kaeding, Hirst, Statler, Steve Kinser, Madsen, and Saldana. Green again. With 17 laps complete, Darrah and Paul McMahan made contact, also gathering Swindell. Restart:
Larson, Allard, Kaeding, Hirst, Kemenah, S. Kinser, Madsen, Statler and Saldana. Larson started to open up a big lead with 10 laps to go. Kraig Kinser slipped by Saldana for ninth and Saldana fell to 10th. Larson notched a flag-to-flag victory. Allard was second and Kaeding was third. Saldana finished 10th.
Saldana did move from fifth to fourth in World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car point standings.
“We were just too loose tonight,” said the Bullet. “But moving to fourth in points does help a little bit.”
Next on the agenda: Spencer, Iowa on Sept. 13th.