ANTIOCH, California — It’s time to go racing. The Carr is revved up. Joe Carr, that is. He’ll be joining a big field of DIRTcar West UMP modifieds competing in the $1,000 to win feature event Saturday night at Antioch Speedway.
It’s been almost a year since Carr has sat in his modified. He was badly injured in a back stretch high-speed pileup that caused the feature to be red flagged and ended last June.
“I got pins and screws in my wrist,” Carr said Wednesday. “My shoulder has been re-constructed. Everything is moving like new. The doctors did a great job. It’s time to race.”
Carr, of Petaluma, is one of California’s most famous racers. He is credited with helping build the modified stock car craze when it began 30 years ago. More than 200 modifieds built by Carr are presently being driven on racetracks throughout the United States and Canada.
Last Saturday night, Michael Paul of San Anselmo was driving a Carr-brand modified as he challenged California’s most winning driver, Scott Busby of Martinez. Busby, with 459 feature wins, was on board his famous blue Harris-brand modified.
Busby complimented Paul’s handling of the car. Paul kept diving under Busby, who pulled his car away when the two exited the turns.
“He had the traction down low,” Busby said. “He drove a clean race.”
Paul drove perhaps the most thrilling race of his career.
“I blew it on the last turn, the last lap,” he lamented. “I pitched it in too tight. I had Scott (Busby) twice. The fans loved it.”
Paul and Busby are friendly, and have been around Antioch Speedway for a long time. This week it may be a rematch between the two veteran drivers.
“Scott calls me ‘old man’,” Paul said. “And he’s not that young.”
Michael Salazar of Antioch and track Champ Troy Foulger of Martinez were in the hunt at the finish, pressuring Busby right up to the checkered flag. Paul stormed back to finish fourth.
This week, several outsiders will challenge the regulars in the modifieds on the 3/8 high-banked oval. A large field of cars is expected.
In addition to the modifieds, complete qualifying and feature events will be held for the Limited Late Model, Hobby Stock, “Mini-Trux” and “Four-Banger” divisions.
Grandstands open at 5 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults, $6 for children 6-12, $6 for adults. A family pack of tickets is $30. The track is located at the Contra Cost Fairgrounds, at 10th and L Streets in Antioch, CA.
