From Gary Thomas
Antioch, CA — (February 23, 2015) — Always known for action packed racing & close-quarter competition the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds based Antioch Speedway will play host to the World of Outlaws on Sunday March 29 and during it, the Golden State contingent will look to continue its past string of success at the track.
Chris Morgan of Motorsports Ventures is excited about having the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series at the venue for the special Sunday evening showcase.
“We’re definitely looking forward to Antioch and think it will be a great show for the California fans. The racing is always so close there and there’s never a dull moment. The local fans really get into the racing as well and the California drivers have performed phenomenal over the last few years when the World of Outlaws have been there. Antioch seems to be a great equalizer and we’ll see what happens on March 29. We’re hoping for a packed house and another photo finish.”
Last year’s event produced the closest finish in World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series history when Kerry Madsen edged out two-time King of the West Series champion Kyle Hirst by just .005 seconds. “I felt like I was running comfortably and managing traffic pretty well, but I just got bottled up there and he got a run,” Madsen said. “I was pretty lucky to get away with that one. You definitely had to maneuver through traffic well, because cars were everywhere during the main event.”
Of all the tracks that the World of Outlaws compete at in the Golden State, Northern California drivers have seemed to make the most noise at Antioch Speedway against the Greatest Show on Dirt over the last handful of years.
In addition to Hirst’s near win last season, Nor Cal drivers swept the two events held at the speedway in 2013, with Elk Grove’s Kyle Larson claiming the fall event and Fremont’s Shane Golobic winning in the spring. Larson’s win led an all California top-four, as Chico’s Jonathan Allard, San Jose’s Tim Kaeding & Hirst ran second, third & fourth respectively. Golobic’s triumph was his first career World of Outlaws victory and came after holding off veteran Joey Saldana of Brownsburg, Indiana.
In the 2012 event Allard led the first 28-laps of the feature, only to have Donny Schatz sneak by on a green-white-checkered restart. Tim Kaeding however, executed a picture perfect slide job on Schatz in the final corner to claim a thrilling victory. Allard would round out the podium. The inaugural series event at Antioch in 2011 saw 20-time WOO champion Steve Kinser pick up the win, but only after holding off a hard-charging Larson, who blazed through the field from 14th starting.
After winning his first World of Outlaws main event last season at his home track of Silver Dollar Speedway, Allard will look to check one off the list at Antioch Speedway, a track he’s been very close to victory at with the Greatest Show on Dirt. The three-time KWS champ as noted was just two-laps shy of victory in 2012 and very nearly got by Larson on the final lap for the win during the late season event in 2013. The early year showcase that season also saw him lead the first nine-laps in the feature, until Golobic was able to grab the top-spot. In his career Allard also has a trio of King of the West 410 wins at the track.
“I’ve been really close to winning in the past with the World of Outlaws at Antioch, but just haven’t been able to seal the deal yet,” said Allard, who claimed the 61st annual Gold Cup Race of Champions last season in Chico. “Antioch is such a unique track and since it’s so tight, it usually gives the California guys a good shot to run well. I feel like I should have about three wins with the Outlaws there, but these races are so tough to win that you have to be near perfect and have things fall your way. Hopefully we can represent our home state well on March 29 and keep the win in California. I know it’s going to be exciting for the fans.”
With three races complete thus far in the World of Outlaws season Grass Valley, CA’s Brad Sweet sits atop the standings by just four-points over six-time & defending series champion Donny Schatz of Fargo, North Dakota.
Tickets for the Sunday March 29 event are on sale and can be acquired by visiting http://dirtcar.ticketforce.com/ordertickets.asp?p=570&backurl=default.asp or by contacting 1-877-395-8606. General admission tickets cost $39, while reserved grandstand seats cost $45. Children 12 & under are $15 in general admission.
The 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 10th Street. Turn Right on 10th Street. The address for the track is 1201 W. 10th Street Antioch, CA 94509. The track is located just a little over an hour from the capital city of Sacramento.
Information about the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series can be found at www.woosprint.com