ANTIOCH, California — If Monday night’s World of Outlaws thriller wasn’t enough, there’s more wild sprint car action on tap Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. Sprint Car Week continues with winged 360 Sprinters and All Star Wingless Sprints heading to the famous 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval.
"It was one of the worst wrecks of my life."— Pete Paulsen
“I can’t wait to get back to racing at Antioch,” said “Cowboy” Craig Smith of San Martin. “It is one of the greatest tracks to drive a winged sprint car on.”
Smith should know - he won both the May and July Winged 360 Sprint Car events at Antioch. The “cowboy” then headed back to race at his old stomping grounds in Montana until this week.
“It will be hard to pull off a hat-trick at Antioch this week,” he explained. “There should be a lot of cars. Not anyone nearby is running Winged 360 sprints.”
Wingless sprints are also on the schedule. Point leader Dan Gonderman will be protecting his lead. The All Stars are expected to be highly competitive as the season winds down and more cars than ever are expected.
“Of course I’ll be there,” Gonderman said. “It’s been a good year. Earlier I said I don’t count points. But, now that is near the end of the season, I’m watching out for Billy Macedo.”
Second place Macedo, of Concord, and Gonderman were huddling at the World of Outlaws event on Monday night. They’re friends, but there’s a rivalry between them. Macedo, in second, is a mere 14 points behind Gonderman.
“It’s been one-two all season long,” Gonderman said. “I’ve got to match him in the heat races then stay within six or seven spots to keep the lead.”
Another battle for the championship is unfolding n the “Mini-Trux” division. Pete Paulsen of French Camp, a veteran of 50 years, is close to driving to his first championship. He leads Junior Garcia by 30 points.
“It’s been a goofy year of highs and lows,” Paulsen said. “I left the first night leading in points, lost the lead midway through the season, and now I’m leading again at the end of the season.”
Paulsen has been in contention all season long, finishing in the top three half the time. It was a spectacular flip that took him out of the point lead the third week of the season.
“It was one of the worst wrecks of my life,” Paulsen said. “I went over six times and landed on top of the wall.”
Paulsen came right back to the track, stronger than ever.
“The championship is important to me,” he explained. “I’ve been here 50 years, won two championships as a car owner, but never as a driver.”
Bruce Curl drove a Paulsen stock car to the championship in 1981, and just seen years ago Joe Cambra drove a Paulsen truck to the championship.
“This may be my last race,” he added. “ I would like to go out on a high.”
Antioch Speedway’s big show features Limited Late Models, Super Hobby Stocks, “Mini Trux” and “Four Bangers” in addition to the sprint cars and trucks.
Racing begins at 7 p.m. Saturday night. Antioch Speedway is located in the Contra Costa Fairground, 1201 W. 10th St., Antioch, CA. Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for senior citizens and children. A family four-pack of two adult and two child tickets is $30.
