ANTIOCH, Calif. -- Dan Gonderman freshened the engine in his All Star Wingless Sprint Car last week. It made a big difference on Saturday night, as he was untouchable in the Antioch Speedway main event. The hometown hero garnered his fourth win this season and is the current wingless sprint car division point leader.

“I stuck with the middle (groove),” Gonderman told second place Roy Fisher, a friend and competitor for many seasons. Fisher put in a spectacular effort as he tried a lower line to catch Gonderman. They finished a car length apart.

“He (Gonderman) is tough,” Fisher said in victory lane. “All I can say is that I tried real hard. I gave it my all.”

For the second week in a row there was a first-time winner in the speedway’s highly competitive Limited Late Model division. Melissa Hansen of Brentwood celebrated her first win after barely escaping a surging Larry Damitz, who worked his way to her back bumper from the back of the pack.

Hansen popped from her car screaming in excitement as she pulled next to Damitz in victory lane. Asked what it felt like to score a victory in the division dominated by veterans like Damitz, she was speechless, and just held up two trembling hands.

Damitz rushed to congratulate her.

“You drove a great race,” Damitz said.

“I could hear you trying to pass me,” Hansen replied. “I was trying hard not to mess up. I knew eventually you would be right there.”

Last week’s winner, Jim Freethy, of Danville, was third, followed by another division winner, veteran Mike Gustafson of Concord. Early leader Ken Rhoades of El Sobrante pulled off with broken rear suspension mid-way through the race. Fred Ryland of Brentwood, a top runner, was eliminated in a first-lap, first turn pileup.

American River College student Nick Viscussi of Vacaville applied everything he learned in automotive technology in building his Hobby Stock to win his first race ever.

“Four years in go-karts, four years in stock car racing, and it finally happened.” Viscussi said. “I built this car from scratch. How do I feel? Blessed by God, happy, excited, relieved. My dad and I worked so hard, so long at it.”

Cole Oreta of Vacaville was flying as he moved into second behind Viscussi. Brad Myers, with fiancé and co-pilot Melissa Hansen, fresh from her late model win, finished third.

In the “Mini-Trux” division, veteran driver “Rocket” Ray Bunn of San Jose won in a veteran truck. He battled Jon Haney of Brentwood to the finish line.

“Things are always better when you win,” Bunn laughed. “I made some adjustments after finishing second last week. This truck’s been with me a long time - since I raced on pavement back in 2001.”

Bunn raced the truck at the old Altamont Speedway. When it closed, he converted the truck for racing on Antioch Speedway’s clay.

It was both a sad and happy occasion for Dwarf Car winner Tony Carmignani of Alameda. Carmignani lost his son, Anthony, just two weeks earlier.

“I had him on my side tonight,” a tearful Carmignani said in victory lane. “This one’s for him.”
Second place Nick Squatritto of San Jose gave Carmignani a long, silent hug.

RESULTS

08/13/11 Antioch Speedway Wingless Sprints

Main Event:
1. 8 Dan Gonderman
2. 21 Roy Fisher
3. 14J Matt Streeter
4. 32 Alex Schutte
5. M1 Billy Macedo
6. 14 Jeff Kindt
7. 41 David Press
8. 55 Danny Malfatti
9. 83 Austin Liggett
10. 23 Tyler Henriquez
11. 17 Colton Slack
12. 44 Rick Panfili

08/13/11 Antioch Speedway Limited Late Models

Main Event:
1. 33 Melissa Hansen
2. 15 Larry Damitz
3. 99 Jim Freethy
4. 2 Mike Gustafson
5. 83 Michelle Newman
6. 4R Ken Rhoades
7. 65 Lori Brown
8. 05 Mike Hynes
9. 7 Fred Ryland
10. 33B Chester Kniss


08/13/11 Antioch Speedway Dwarf Cars

Main Event:
1. 11 Tony Carmignani
2. 96 Nick Squatritto
3. 64 Tom Brown
4. 3 Duane Jordan
5. 12 Butch Liston
6. 00 Mike Corsaro
7. 4 Joe Trammel
8. 10 Ed Maurer
9. 34x Pat Urdahl
10. 55 Jerry Doty
11. 45 Ricardo Rivera
12. 22 Travis Dutra
13. 0 Charlie Correia
14. 3s Chuck Golden

08/13/11 Antioch Speedway Hobby Stocks

Main Event:
1. 13 Nick Viscusi
2. 03 Cole Oreta
3. 33 Brad Myers
4. 04 Dan Smith
5. 10 Devon DelDosso
6. 7 Patti Ryland
7. 88 Robbie Senn
8. 28 Cody Davis
9. 99 Jim Freethy
10. 14 Paul Mulder
11. 5 Dana Andresen
12. 26 Brian Beard
13. 39 Austin Fernandes

08/13/11 Antioch Speedway Mini Trux

Main Event:
1. 4 Ray Bunn
2. 45 Jon Haney
3. 11D Danny Wagner
4. 66 Pete Paulsen
5. 39 Junior Garcia
6. 11 Ken Radabaugh
7. 51 Mike Harmon
8. 66X Jessica Jones