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After Three Successful Practices, Antioch Speedway Prepares For Monster Trucks, Season Opener

By Candice Martin
Antioch, CA...March 24...Under sunny skies and warm weather, Antioch Speedway is preparing for the 2x Monster Truck show this Saturday night and the first race of the season a week later. This comes on the heels of three-straight practice sessions that saw nearly 70 drivers participate in at least one of those events.

Last year, on the final weekend of March, the 2x Monster Truck Tour made their very first appearance at the speedway and entertained the crowd from start to finish. This is a group that puts on shows across the country and has become very popular. They also do things just a little bit differently than the others.

What happened last year and will again this Saturday is two shows in one day. The show includes the competitive Monster Trucks, Monster Truck rid-alongs, Motorcycles doing jumps and much more. The group has a show in the morning and one in the evening, and tickets are in high demand. Last year, both shows sold out, making this the most spectated event in the track's history.

Tickets are still available on their website at, http://www.2xmonstertrucks.com/upcoming-events/antioch-ca-2026. However, they're going fast.

After all of the excitement of the Monster Trucks, the speedway will shift gears and kick things off in celebration of the track's 65th Anniversary. The speedway opened for business in 1961 and continues this year with another exciting lineup.

It's a rare occasion when the season begins on Easter Weekend, but that's the case when the track's popular Easter Eggstravaganza kicks things off on April 4th. The show will include an Easter egg candy hunt for the kids during intermission. The popular lineup of IMCA sanctioned Modifieds, Sport Modifieds and Stock Cars will be featured along with the Pacific Coast Hobby Stocks, WMR Midgets and Dwarf Cars. The Seventh Annual Bill Bowers Memorial will follow on April 11th.

As was the case last year, the speedway was blessed with warm weather throughout March, making it possible to showcase all three playdays as scheduled. All three events were also broadcast for free on the Antioch Speedway by PROmotions Facebook page for all to see. All three broadcasts were heavily viewed.

Nearly 70 drivers spanning all of the track's featured divisions practiced at least once, and some of them multiple times. Ahead of the IMCA Modified season opener, seven-time reigning champion Troy Foulger of Oakley, reigning IMCA Modified State champion Kate Robertson of Reno, Nevada and Tyler Browne of Antioch led the charge in their division, and all three drivers were fast. Foulger was seen making some fast, side by side laps with Xtreme Late Model Series title contender Anthony Slaney of Martinez.

In the IMCA Sport Modified ranks, three-time champion Fred Ryland of Brentwood made it to the final practice, bringing both his Sport Modified and Stock Car. Ryland is the reigning Stock Car champion. As expected, he was as fast as ever. The championship runner-up for the past three seasons, Jason Ryan Jr of Oakley made two of the practices in the car he purchased during the off season and is as fast as ever. Reigning Marysville champion Mark Garner of Antioch, James Graessle of Antioch and newcomer Kelly Campanile of Oakley were among the other Sport Modified competitors making laps.

Not to be lost in the shuffle, 2024 IMCA Stock Car champion Troy Foulger, perennial front-runner Jason Robles and son Kenneth Robles, both of Rio Vista, and newcomer Blaize Hill of Livermore were also practicing with their IMCA Stock Cars. It's looking like all three IMCA sanctioned divisions are poised for a great season.

Not surprisingly, the Pacific Coast Hobby Stocks had the biggest turnout throughout the three practices with over 20 competitors. This includes reigning champion Grayson Baca of Brentwood, who was debuting a new car and making fast laps. On the heels of their Top 5 seasons last year, Hunter Hammett and Charlie Bryant, both of Oakley, also made use of the practice along with such notables as Jesse Paladino of Brentwood, Frank Furtado of Martinez, Kevin Brown of Oakley, Gavin Griffiths of Brentwood and newcomer Nicholas Garner of Antioch.

The track's Wingless Spec Sprint division was well represented at the practices. After skipping last season, ageless veteran Roy Fisher of Antioch turned some laps, along with John Ulrich of Antioch, Jeff Scotto of Pittsburg, Steve Maionchi of Sonora and Colin Kirby of Petaluma. Hunt Wingless Spec Sprint star Shawn Arriaga made the final practice as the team gets things dialed in for the big Hunt shows at Antioch. However, the final laps of the day in the Dave Johnson owned Sprinter were turned in by Shawn's mother, Cheri Hill of Antioch, who hadn't driven a Sprint Car in 15 years. She is on record as the first lady driver to win a Winged 360 Sprint Car Main Event at Antioch in the 1990s.

The speedway was the place for all divisions to practice, and several 600 Micro Sprints, Dwarf Cars, Super Stocks, Late Models and Hardtop/Valley Sportsman competitors also came to dial in their race cars. The track was looking good, and it's expected to be in top shape when the first green flag flies for racing on April 4th.

To get a look at the schedule and other information, go www.raceantiochspeedway.com or check out the Antioch Speedway by PROmotions Facebook page.

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