ANTIOCH, California — Danny Lauer shares something in common with most modified stock car drivers - he likes to race in the “big shows.” Lauer and a contingent of Southern California drivers are headed north to the second annual DIRTcar West Coast Nationals at Antioch and Merced Speedways this weekend.
"LAUER HEADS NORTH FROM SANTA MARIA"
“You go where the competition is - that’s the nature of a true race driver,” Lauer said. “I like to run the big shows because it keeps me on my toes.”
Lauer is the current point race leader at Santa Maria Speedway, and was track champ in 2008. At age 24, he has six years under his belt as modified driver and even more years before that as a go-kart racer.
Where rules make the Santa Maria cars a little different than the cars racing at Antioch and Merced, Lauer feels he still can win. He’ll utilize the expertise of friendships he and car owner Rance Minyard have developed with drivers who race regularly at the tracks.
“I’ve never been at either track,” he explained. “The cars there have quick change rear ends, which make them better in the center of the turns because of the mounting points. It’s not a big deal. When can overcome that.”
Lauer is up for trying anything new.
“Some guys stick with what they know,” he added. “We like to expose ourselves to different tracks and drivers. It is a learning process. We bring back knowledge that will make us go faster.”
Drivers from the Pacific Northwest to the Southwest and all points in between will converge on the two speedways to get a chance to race against drivers like Bobby Hogge IV, Chris Shannon and Scott Busby. Hogge IV won both legs of the two-day, two track event last year, collecting a bonus for doing so.
There will be A, B, and C main events as dictated by car count. Twenty cars will start the feature events, which pay $3500 to win. There is a $1,000 bonus for a driver who can win at both tracks.
Modified stock cars will be the only cars at the events. Racing starts at 7 p.m. at Antioch Speedway on Saturday night and at 5 p.m. at Merced Speedway on Sunday night. Mitchell’s Modesto Harley-Davidson will sponsor the Merced Speedway races. Harley-Davidson motorcycles will be on display, and the company will award trophies for the event.
Antioch Speedway is located in the Contra Costa Fairgrounds, at 1201 W. 10th St. in Antioch, CA. Merced Speedway is located at the Merced County Fairgrounds at 900 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way in Merced, CA. Both tracks have partnered with area hotels for special rates for race fans. Visit www.antiochspeedway.com and www.racemerced.com for more details.
