By Candice Martin
ANTIOCH, Calif. (March 16, 2024) – Bobby Hogge IV kicked off the 64th championship season of auto racing at Antioch Speedway with the 20-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified win, his career 106th in the division.
Rookie Jacob Mallet Jr. set the early pace. On the fifth lap, Hogge put it up on the outside In turn two and emerged with the lead. Kellen Chadwick swept into the second position and held it until mechanical issues sidelined him on lap 15.
Hogge led Mallet and reigning State champion Andrew Pearce on a lap 16 restart but Mallet faded on the last lap as Pearce moved into second. Hogge picked up the satisfying win ahead of Pearce, Timothy Allerdings, Keith Brown Jr. of Greenbrier, Ark., and Mallet.
Hogge is the all-time main event win leader in the track’s history and a two-time track champion.
Reigning champion Kenny Shrader won the 20-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod main event.
He led from the outset for the impressive win. Buddy Kniss and Jason Ryan Jr. had a good battle for the second position. They went back and forth for just about every lap before a low pass in turn two on lap 14 put Ryan into second for good.
Shrader cruised to an impressive win ahead of Ryan, Kniss, Fred Ryland and Chuck Golden.
And two-car star Ryland won the 20-lap IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature. He led the race from the outset, and only a yellow flag on lap eight for Les Friend slowed the pace.
Ryland continued to hold command on the restart as Kniss settled into second. Friend moved back into third on lap 11. Ryland went on to win by a straightaway ahead of Kniss with Friend in third, followed by Dave Hill and Dan Gonderman.
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