He leads the final 21 laps and outlasts childhood hero Saldana at Antioch Speedway
ANTIOCH, Calif. – April 5, 2013 – The offseason, weekdays, every night before falling asleep. There is a lot of time spent dreaming and for a young sprint car driver, dreams are the gateway for perseverance.
On Friday at Antioch Speedway, Shane Golobic’s dreams were nothing like reality.
Golobic passed polesitter Jonathan Allard in thick traffic on lap 10 and held off Joey Saldana – Golobic’s favorite World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series driver – to capture his first career victory, which left him talking almost as fast as he drove after an emotional celebration on the frontstretch.
“It doesn’t compare,” Golobic said as a smile engulfed his face. “I always knew it’d be pretty awesome to win one. I didn’t know if I was ever going to get the chance. There’s some guys who win a lot of races and don’t ever get to win an Outlaws race, so to be able to do it is awesome.
“I couldn’t be happier right now. We beat the best. The Outlaws are the best and we beat them. It’s just surreal to even think that we did it.”
Allard took the early advantage at the start of the 30-lap feature with Golobic in tow. Golobic twice pulled side by side with Allard in turns one and two only to see Allard’s momentum help him maintain the lead.
The duo reached traffic on Lap 7 and Golobic nearly made it three wide exiting turn two as he and Allard lapped Chad Kemenah, who had to start at the back of the field after going to the work area to change an MSD box before the green flag.
However, Golobic thought better and backed off. Three laps later, Golobic powered around Allard in turns three and four to gain the lead amidst a handful of cars in traffic.
“In traffic it’s almost better to be running second,” Golobic said. “He just kinda got hung up behind a lapped car and I kinda saw that and went to the top and got him. We got out front and started working traffic.”
Allard dropped to fifth in two laps with Saldana picking up the pressure on Golobic. With about 10 laps remaining, Golobic struggled to lap Dominic Scelzi, who started the feature as the alternate when Kerry Madsen was unable to take the green flag because of a broken roll pin in the magneto.
“I knew Saldana was coming pretty hard toward the end,” Golobic said. “He’s been my favorite Outlaw for a lot of years, so for him to run second to me, it’s crazy.”
Saldana closed to within two car lengths, but Golobic was effective enough at picking his way through traffic and after clearing Scelzi with a handful of laps remaining, Golobic pulled away.
“I thought we had a shot there, but lapped traffic was tough,” Saldana said. “I screwed up on one of them lapped cars and it cost me a shot at winning.
“(Golobic’s) been running extremely strong. This is the style of racing that he likes and he did a great job tonight. He stayed focused with his car the whole night and ran a great race.”
Cody Darrah passed Californian Tim Kaeding, who won the last World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series event at Antioch Speedway, for third place with three laps remaining.
“We were a little free when we were out in the open, but in lapped traffic I felt like we really had an advantage,” Darrah said. “I love this race track. It’s aggressive, especially tonight. It’s one of those race tracks where you do the opposite that you do at every other place.”
Kaeding finished fourth and NASCAR sensation Kyle Larson ended fifth.
Sammy Swindell was sixth, Allard seventh, Donny Schatz eighth, Kyle Hirst ninth and championship points leader Daryn Pittman rounded out the top 10.
Scelzi earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after maneuvering from 24th to 18th.
Antioch Speedway Notebook
NOTES – Daryn Pittman established quick time in qualifying for the third race this season. … Cody Darrah claimed his second heat race win, Shane Golobic his first, Jason Meyers his first and Sammy Swindell his second of the year. … The dash draw was an eight. … Jonathan Allard became the first two-time dash winner of the season. … Craig Dollansky won his first Last Chance Showdown of the year. … Golobic is the 10th different feature winner in 12 races this season. … Golobic is also the 111th World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series feature winner.
CONTINGENCY WINNERS – Penske Shocks ($100 certificate): Jonathan Allard; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; Comp Cams ($50 certificate): Joey Saldana; STP ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; Bruce High Performance Transporters ($50 cash and $200 certificate): Sammy Swindell; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Sammy Swindell; UNOH ($50 cash): Sammy Swindell; American Racing Custom Wheels ($50 cash): Jonathan Allard; VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash): Donny Schatz; Edelbrock ($50 cash): Paul McMahan; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Daryn Pittman; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Paul McMahan; Bruce High Performance Transporters ($200 certificate): Kraig Kinser; Superflow ($50 cash): Kraig Kinser; JE Pistons (set of rings): Craig Dollansky; Klotz Synthetic Lubricants ($50 cash): Craig Dollansky; JE Pistons (set of rings): Jason Sides; Bruce High Performance Transporters ($200 certificate): Chad Kemenah; MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Greg Wilson; Armor All (case of product): Jonathan Allard; KSE Racing Products ($100 certificate): Kyle Hirst.
WINNERS – Tim Kaeding – 2 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 15 and The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 7); Daryn Pittman – 2 (Tucson International Raceway on March 9 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 15); Craig Dollansky – 1 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 16); Shane Golobic – 1 (Antioch Speedway on April 5); Kyle Larson – 1 (Stockton 99 Dirt Track on March 22); Danny Lasoski – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 17); Paul McMahan – 1 (Silver Dollar Speedway on March 23); Terry McCarl – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 16); Donny Schatz – 1 (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 6) and Sammy Swindell – 1 (Merced Speedway on March 29).
TIME TRIALS – Daryn Pittman was the fastest qualifier around the 3/8-mile oval with a time of 11.706 seconds to earn five championship points. Also earning points were Kyle Larson (4 points), Tim Kaeding (3), Sammy Swindell (2) and Kraig Kinser (1).
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Antioch Speedway Statistical Report; Antioch, Calif.; April 5, 2013
A-Main – (30 Laps) – 1. 121-Shane Golobic [2] [$10,000]; 2. 71M-Joey Saldana [4] [$5,500]; 3. 4-Cody Darrah [6] [$3,200]; 4. 83-Tim Kaeding [5] [$2,800]; 5. 57-Kyle Larson [7] [$2,500]; 6. 1-Sammy Swindell [3] [$2,300]; 7. O-Jonathan Allard [1] [$2,200]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz [10] [$2,100]; 9. 83JR-Kyle Hirst [14] [$2,050]; 10. 9-Daryn Pittman [9] [$2,000]; 11. 21M-Jason Meyers [8] [$1,500]; 12. 51-Paul McMahan [12] [$1,200]; 13. 24-Rico Abreu [15] [$1,100]; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser [11] [$1,050]; 15. 6-David Gravel [16] [$1,000]; 16. 77-Jac Haudenschild [17] [$900]; 17. 7-Craig Dollansky [21] [$800]; 18. 41-Dominic Scelzi [24] [$800]; 19. 11-Steve Kinser [19] [$800]; 20. 33E-Evan Suggs [22] [$800]; 21. 7S-Jason Sides [18] [$800]; 22. 88-Terry McCarl [23] [$800]; 23. 63-Chad Kemenah [13] [$800]; 24. W20-Greg Wilson [20] [$800]. Lap Leaders: 0-Jonathan Allard 1-9; 121-Shane Golobic 10-30. KSE Hard Charger Award: 41-Dominic Scelzi [+6].
Qualifying – 1. 9-Daryn Pittman, 11.706; 2. 57-Kyle Larson, 11.753; 3. 83-Tim Kaeding, 11.753; 4. 1-Sammy Swindell, 11.797; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 11.852; 6. 51-Paul McMahan, 11.878; 7. 63-Chad Kemenah, 11.882; 8. 83JR-Kyle Hirst, 11.888; 9. 4-Cody Darrah, 11.891; 10. 71M-Joey Saldana, 11.921; 11. 24-Rico Abreu, 11.940; 12. 6-David Gravel, 11.954; 13. O-Jonathan Allard, 11.964; 14. 121-Shane Golobic, 12.003; 15. 21M-Jason Meyers, 12.011; 16. 15-Donny Schatz, 12.018; 17. 77-Jac Haudenschild, 12.048; 18. 7S-Jason Sides, 12.061; 19. 11-Steve Kinser, 12.061; 20. 29-Kerry Madsen, 12.096; 21. 7-Craig Dollansky, 12.096; 22. 21X-Carson Macedo, 12.141; 23. W20-Greg Wilson, 12.144; 24. 41-Dominic Scelzi, 12.162; 25. 88-Terry McCarl, 12.172; 26. 33E-Evan Suggs, 12.183; 27. 21-Brian Brown, 12.208; 28. 25-Bobby McMahan, 12.267; 29. 44W-Austen Wheatley, 12.329; 30. OO-Jason Statler, 12.362; 31. 26M-Sean McMahan, 12.629; 32. 26-Billy Aton, 12.650; 33. 15X-Pat Harvey Jr., 12.923; 34. 52-Dusty Green, 13.487; 35. 77X-Wayne Johnson, No Time.
Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 4-Cody Darrah [2]; 2. O-Jonathan Allard [1]; 3. 9-Daryn Pittman [4]; 4. 77-Jac Haudenschild [5]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [3]; 6. 7-Craig Dollansky [6]; 7. 88-Terry McCarl [7]; 8. 44W-Austen Wheatley [8]; 9. 15X-Pat Harvey Jr. [9].
Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 121-Shane Golobic [1]; 2. 71M-Joey Saldana [2]; 3. 51-Paul McMahan [3]; 4. 7S-Jason Sides [5]; 5. 57-Kyle Larson [4]; 6. 33E-Evan Suggs [7]; 7. 21X-Carson Macedo [6]; 8. OO-Jason Statler [8]; 9. 52-Dusty Green [9].
Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 21M-Jason Meyers [1]; 2. 83-Tim Kaeding [4]; 3. 24-Rico Abreu [2]; 4. 63-Chad Kemenah [3]; 5. 11-Steve Kinser [5]; 6. W20-Greg Wilson [6]; 7. 21-Brian Brown [7]; 8. 26M-Sean McMahan [8]; 9. 77X-Wayne Johnson [9].
Heat 4 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 1-Sammy Swindell [4]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [1]; 3. 6-David Gravel [2]; 4. 83JR-Kyle Hirst [3]; 5. 29-Kerry Madsen [5]; 6. 41-Dominic Scelzi [6]; 7. 25-Bobby McMahan [7]; 8. 26-Billy Aton [8].
Dash – (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 10 starting positions of A-feature) – 1. O-Jonathan Allard [2]; 2. 121-Shane Golobic [1]; 3. 1-Sammy Swindell [5]; 4. 71M-Joey Saldana [3]; 5. 83-Tim Kaeding [6]; 6. 4-Cody Darrah [4]; 7. 57-Kyle Larson [7]; 8. 21M-Jason Meyers [9]; 9. 9-Daryn Pittman [8]; 10. 15-Donny Schatz [10].
B-Main – (12 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 7-Craig Dollansky [1] [-]; 2. W20-Greg Wilson [3] [-]; 3. 33E-Evan Suggs [6] [-]; 4. 88-Terry McCarl [5] [-]; 5. 29-Kerry Madsen [4] [$200]; 6. 25-Bobby McMahan [8] [$180]; 7. 44W-Austen Wheatley [9] [$175]; 8. OO-Jason Statler [10] [$160]; 9. 26M-Sean McMahan [11] [$150]; 10. 15X-Pat Harvey Jr. [13] [$150]; 11. 52-Dusty Green [14] [$150]; 12. 21X-Carson Macedo [2] [$150]; 13. 21-Brian Brown [7] [$150]; 14. 26-Billy Aton [12] [$150]; 15. 77X-Wayne Johnson [15] [$150].
Note: Dominic Scelzi finished 5th in the B-Main, but was added to the field as the first alternate when Kerry Madsen was unable to start the A-Main. Madsen was paid as the first non-transfer car from the B-Main.