ANTIOCH, CA...JULY 1...Gaining the lead after Chad Chadwick lost a muffler, two time Antioch Late Model champion Bobby Hogge III scored the victory in the Second Annual Firecracker 50 for the All Pro Series Dirt Modifieds Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. Hogge's win was the 43rd of his Antioch career and came aboard his Keith Black Pistons sponsored Carr Modified Chassis. Brian Curran came from the back after an early spin to finish a career best second and J.D. Willis improved his title chances with a solid third place finish in the Bill Bowers owned Coelho Chassis.
The extra distance race qualified 16 Dirt Modifieds through heat races and four from the B Main for a 20 car field, and Hogge drew 16th starting. Brian Cass and Chadwick shared the front row with Chadwick leading early over Cass and Jeff Thomas. A four car crash in Turns 1 and 2 forced a lap two caution flag, and Willis made a brief pit stop. Chadwick chose the outside on the reastart option and continued to lead Cass and Thomas. Curran spun in Turn 1 for a lap four caution, and Thomas and Bob Newberry took second and third on the restart. Point leader Don Shelton settled into third from 13th starting on lap 12, and George Crithfield IV blew a motor for a lap 17 caution flag. Chadwick picked the inside for this restart, and Shelton followed by on the inside for second. Kenny Neu, Richard Mueller and Willis tangled for a lap 19 caution flag. Chadwick picked outside for this restart, and Hogge followed him up high for second. Shelton pitted with motor problems, and the top five at the halfway mark was Chadwick, Hogge, Newberry, Thomas and Kent Bickford.
A lap 28 caution flag signaled the end for Chadwick's strong effort as he had lost his muffler. Hogge picked the outside on the restart option and led Newberry and Thomas. A low pass in Turn 4 of the 30th lap gained Thomas second. Newberry pitted from the top five, and debris forced a lap 42 caution flag. Hogge surprised by picking the inside, only to lose the lead to Thomas. However, Thomas spun in Turn 1 a lap later as Hogge led Curran and Willis. A lap 49 caution flag flew for a stalled Kenny Neu. The track rule calls for single file restarts in the final three laps of a main event. Hogge slowly led the pack to the green and white flags, but Willis raced by both Hogge and Curran for the lead going into Turn 1. As Willis came out of Turn 4, the yellow flag was displayed and a false start was called. Furia's top five run ended in a back stretch crash and Hogge had spun in Turn 1. After misunderstandsing the officials, Hogge pitted, but he returned to the track a few minutes later and was put to the front of the pack. Hogge would easily lead the final lap to win ahead of Curran, Willis, Bickford, Cass, Thomas and Debbie Clymens, the final lead lap car. Furia, Mueller and Newberry rounded out the top ten.
There were 27 Dirt Modifieds on hand for this race, and Chris Elby,
Chadwick, Furia and Hogge won eight lap heat races. Chadwick also won the
four lap trophy dash. Shelton won the 12 lap B Main ahead of Bickford and
Mitch Enos.
