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Johnson Wins Track Or Treat Season Finale At Antioch Speedway

Antioch, CA...October 25...DJ Johnson of Stockton won the 25 lap Wingless Spec Sprint Main Event Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. This was the fourth appearance for the Hunt Wingless Sprint Series and final race of the season at the track. Johnson became the sixth different winner in the 12 races held for the series so far. Johnson is a two-time Hunt Series champion.

During the intermission, the drivers interacted with the fans and handed out candy and other goodies. Prior to the running of the Main Event, several drivers ran a Memorial Lap in memory of Petaluma racer Shawn McCoy, who died in a wreck at Marysville Raceway a week ago. Super Stock champion Mike Learn of Petaluma changed his number to 60 in memory of McCoy as he led the lap.

DJ Johnson raced into the lead at the start of the Spec Sprint Main Event, followed by Shawn Arriaga of Antioch and Jimmy Christian of Morgan Hill. Johnson was working slower traffic by Lap 8, but the yellow flag waved for point leader Jake Morgan of Fair Oaks on the front straightaway. Arriaga pitted, and Johnson led Christian and Bob Newberry of Brentwood on the restart. A red flag waved one lap later when Matthew Kaiser of Napa and Carson Hawkins of Vacaville crashed in Turn 3.

Johnson continued to lead Christian and Newberry when the green flag waved. By the 14th lap, Johnson was again lapping slower traffic, but he continued to make good moves to maintain his advantage. The final yellow flag waved when Paul Vandenberg of Sacramento and John Ulrich of Antioch tangled in Turn 2. This didn't stop Johnson as he led the restart and the final laps for the victory. Christian settled for second, followed by Bob Newberry, Dylan Newberry of Brentwood and Eathon Lanfri of Milpitas.

Phil Wilkins won the 20 lap Pacific Coast Hobby Stock Main Event. The newcomer from Roseville withstood a serious lake race challenge from Oakley's Hunter Hammett to earn the thrilling victory.

Josh Appelbaum of Antioch raced into the early lead ahead of Wilkins and Hammett. The leaders caught traffic very quickly, and Wilkins used it to make a Turn 4 pass on Appelbaum on Lap 6 to take the lead. Meanwhile, James Thomson moved past Hammett for third. Wilkins was in traffic again on Lap 13, and Thomson made a Turn 2 pass on Appelbaum for second on Lap 14.

Wilkins got sideways in Turn 2 as they were working Lap 15. Thomson hit the brakes and stalled with Appelbaum getting into the back of him for a yellow flag. Wilkins led Hammett on the restart. An inside move on the front stretch on Lap 19 put Hammett into the lead, but Wilkins emerged with the advantage as they exited Turn 2. Wilkins went on to win ahead of Hammett, a resurgent Thomson and Jon Haney and Jesse Paladino, both of Brentwood.

Rod Oliver of Yuba City won the 20 lap Late Model Main Event. He used his second win of the season to wrap up his second-straight Antioch championship. Recently, he also won the Late Model championship at Placerville.

Xtreme Late Model Series champion Shawn DeForest of Livermore and Oliver shared the front row of the Main Event, which was destined to go without a yellow flag. Oliver got the bite exiting Turn 2 to lead the opening lap and would steadily pull away to about a straightaway advantage over DeForest in victory. Ray Trimble of Auburn held off Oakley's Buddy Kniss in a close battle for third as Chester Kniss of Antioch rounded out the Top 5.

Antonio Aragon won the 20 lap Super Stock Main Event. The Reno, Nevada driver took the lead at the start and led all the way in victory. By taking the green flag, Mike Learn of Petaluma wrapped up his championship season.

Aragon bolted ahead at the start, followed by a Randy Miramontez of Santa Rosa. The battle for much of the race took place between Leif Berglund of Durham and Jim Freethy of Danville. Aragon built a straightaway advantage over heat race winner Miramontez. Contact between Berglund and Freethy sent Freethy sideways right in front of Aragon as they worked the 12th lap. Fortunately, they all kept going as Aragon maintained his huge advantage. Aragon won by a straightaway in front of Miramontez with Berglund the final lead lap finisher, followed by Freethy and Paul Hanley of Emerald Hills.

Joel Hannagan celebrated his birthday by winning the 15 lap Hardtop Main Event. This was the 23rd Annual Chet Thomson Memorial race, and the 10th time this race has been run at Antioch. This makes six wins for Hannagan in seven starts this season as he wrapped up his third-straight championship. It was also his sixth win in this particular race.

Shawn DeForest of Livermore led the opening lap before Hannagan went low in Turn 2 to grab the lead. A yellow flag waved for Don Slaney of Martinez on Lap 3. Hannagan continued to lead the restart, and Mike Gillard of Atwater took second from DeForest. Hannagan pulled away to nearly a straightaway advantage, and DeForest pitted from third on Lap 12. Hannagan brought it home to victory with Gillard earning his third Thomson Memorial runner-up finish. Slaney held off Jeff Pike of Granite Bay to finish third.

This concludes the 2025 championship season. To keep up with the latest news at the track, go to www.raceantiochspeedway.com or check out the Antioch Speedway by PROmotions Facebook page.

Race Results
Hunt Magnetos Wingless Spec Sprints
Fast Time-DJ Johnson 14.031. Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Shawn Arriaga, Eathon Lanfri, Braidon Moniz. Main Event (25 Laps)-DJ Johnson, Jimmy Christian, Bob Newberry, Dylan Newberry, Eathon Lanfri, Braidon Moniz, Jake Morgan, Brent Steck, Nathan Schank, Josh Wooten.

Pacific Coast Hobby Stocks
Heat Winners (8 Laps)-James Thomson, Hunter Hammett. Main Event (20 Laps)-Phil Wilkins, Hunter Hammett, James Thomson, Jon Haney, Jesse Paladino, Josh Appelbaum, Nicky Skidmore, Robert Warf, James Graessle, Natalie Perry.

Late Models
Heat Winner (8 Laps)-Shawn DeForest. Main Event (20 Laps)-Rod Oliver, Shawn DeForest, Ray Trimble, Buddy Kniss, Chester Kniss.

Super Stocks
Heat Winner (8 Laps)-Randy Miramontez. Main Event (20 Laps)-Antonio Aragon, Randy Miramontez, Leif Berglund, Jim Freethy, Paul Hanley, Mike Learn.

Hardtops
Heat Winner (6 Laps)-Joel Hannagan. Main Event (15 Laps)-Joel Hannagan, Mike Gillard, Don Slaney, Jeff Pike, Shawn DeForest.

Picture Info:
Two-time Hunt Series champion DJ Johnson #33 scored a Main Event victory. Photo by Katrina Kniss

Phil Wilkins #2w won the Pacific Coast Hobby Stock Main Event. Photo by Katrina Kniss

Rod Oliver #57 used his second win of the season to wrap up his second Late Model championship. Photo by Katrina Kniss

Joel Hannagan #16 won his sixth Chet Thomson Memorial Hardtop race. Photo by Katrina Kniss

Antonio Aragon #055 scored the victory in the Super Stock feature. Photo by Katrina Kniss

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