ANTIOCH, California — - It’s the final point races of the 2011 season for the three divisions competing Saturday night at Antioch Speedway, and there are three different stories unfolding which will result in a thrilling season’s finale.
"I’m going to Antioch Saturday night to win a race, that’s it."— Troy Foulger
For reigning DIRTcar modified stock car champ Troy Foulger of Martinez, there is less pressure on tap this Saturday night. He holds a commanding 76-point lead over veteran Scott Busby, and will more than likely repeat as champion.
“I’m going to Antioch Saturday night to win a race, that’s it,” Foulger said. “It’s going to be fun.”
For second place hobby stocker Jim Freethy of Danville, there’s only a slim chance of topping red-hot Brad Myers of Brentwood in the championship chase.
“He (Myers) would have to not finish a race for me to have a chance,” Freethy said Wednesday. “That’s pretty unlikely. He’s got it nailed. He deserves the championship - he’s had a consistent run all season long.”
Myers is staying calm. All he has to do is start in the feature event to win the championship.
“I’m treating Saturday night like any other Saturday night,” he said. “It’s all about having fun.”
Freethy will have to run hard to keep ahead of third place Brian Beard II of Bay Point, who follows him by 28 points. Last Saturday night, Freethy thrilled the crowd when he flipped his Limited Late Model in a heat race and came back to finish third in the feature event - his car running with a blown head gasket.
“It’s tough to run two cars in one night,” Freethy explained. “The crew is still working on the engine - we’ll see what happens.”
Myers, who jumped into second place point man Fred Ryland’s car to finish second in last week’s feature, won’t have a ride in the Limited Late Models. Ryland’s back is better and he’ll be behind the wheel. Larry Damitz of Vallejo leads the division, but archrival Lori Brown wants one back from him.
Brown, who lives but two blocks from the track, was leading a feature event earlier this season when Damitz made contact with her, costing her the checkered flag.
“I’d like to get that win back,” she admitted this week. “I’m racing in honor of another great racer - Kimberly Myers.”
Brown’s Secret Message
Brown is not your typical Antioch racer. She’s a mother, grandmother, wife and career woman who has 22 years of experience at Antioch Speedway.
There’s a special message on her car that only insiders know about - it’s “65 Roses”. It’s the way kids are taught to say “Cystic Fibrosis”, the disease that claimed the life of promising female driver Kimberly Myers at age 27 in 1997.
“Fans who know about the disease know about ‘65 Roses’,” Brown explained. “Kimberly and I met here at Antioch, and we raced together. I feel she is still with me when I drive the car onto the track.”
When Kimberly passed away from the genetic disease, Brown and her husband, Ron, bought her car and have raced it ever since. Ron Brown won two championships in the car while Lori sharpened her driving skills in her pink street stock. Then, she took over as driver of the Limited Late Model when Ron had to curtail his racing activity.
Lori’s success was quick to come. She was crowned 2004 Limited Late Model Champion.
“A lot of our success is due to having Scott Compton on our team,” she explained. “He was Kimberly’s mechanic - he came with the car as an added bonus and he’s been with us ever since.”
Compton was Kimberly’s mechanic from her rookie year through her passing in ‘97. His daughter Michelle also has Cystic Fibrosis, and recently had a double lung transplant.
Lori kept racing while raising two children and working as a project coordinator for a wireless company.
It all began 23 years ago when Ron, who was her boyfriend at the time, brought her to Antioch Speedway.
“Two weeks later I was on the track,” she explained. “Soon, I raced in Sacramento and ran with the boys - they weren’t too happy to get beaten by a girl in pink car.”
Ron’s there in the pits with her week after week.
“The husband and wife activity can sometimes be interesting,” she explained. “We’ve said from the beginning it is no good to race in the same division - if you crash into each other, you lose two cars. Then there could be problems.”
It’s Ron who sets up the car for Lori.
“He stresses out too much,” she laughed. “I never get mad at him. The track changes so much, you never know exactly what the set-up should be.”
Seasons and more seasons have passed. Lori’s dad, Ray Waggoner, who was on the crew, has passed away. Lori and Ron now have two grandchildren, Jordyn, 3, and Ayden, 6 months.
“And I’m still driving that car,” she said. “It feels like Kimberly and my dad are using remote controls up there, helping me drive around that track.”
Three divisions of action will take place at 7 p.m. this Saturday night at Antioch Speedway, 1201 W. 10TH St., Antioch, CA. Admission is $12 for adults, $6 for children and senior citizens. A family pack of four (two adult, two cild) tickets is $30.
