Pearce prevails at Antioch’s Hetrick Memorial

Feature, Modified, Northern SportMod, Stock Car

Andrew Pearce pocketed $1,500 for his Saturday night Friesen Performance IMCA Modified victory at Antioch Speedway’s Hetrick Memorial. (Photo by Katrina Kniss Photography)

By Candice Martin

ANTIOCH, Calif. (Aug. 17, 2024) – A driver with a knack for coming up big at big events did just that again Saturday night at Antioch Speedway.

Andrew Pearce won the 29-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Antioch’s ninth annual Hetrick Memorial, earning $1,500. The checkers flew ahead of Bobby Hogge IV and Kellen Chadwick.

Pearce had a front row start and bolted into the lead at the green flag ahead of Andrew Peckham and Hogge. Pearce build a comfortable lead as Hogge and Peckham battled fiercely for second. Hogge grabbed the position on the fourth circuit.

The yellow flag waved on lap 12. Pearce continued to lead Hogge and Peckham on the restart.

Peckham gave Hogge some serious pressure for the next few circuits, but Hogge kept his cool and held the position. Chadwick made an inside pass in turn two on lap 21 to gain third.

Pearce had built a straightaway advantage by the time the checkered flag flew on his impressive victory. He was already Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible, having won the R. Charles Snyder Salute at Southern Oregon Speedway over the Memorial Weekend.

The Hetrick Memorial pays tribute to Hall of Famer Jerry Hetrick and his wife Mary Ann. Other IMCA winners during the evening were Troy Foulger in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Buddy Kniss in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods.

Foulger was piloting the Kenny Shrader-owned entry in the 20-lapper since his team is getting his own Stock Car ready for the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.

Mitch Machado led the opening lap before spinning, collecting Foulger and Les Friend in the process. Jason Robles motored into the lead ahead of Jason Jennings on the restart.

Foulger moved into third on the fourth lap and made a turn two pass on lap six to grab second from Jennings. A yellow flag waved moments later for a Friend spin.

On the restart, Foulger made a strong move on the inside and emerged with the lead ahead of Jennings. Foulger proceeded to build a straightaway advantage as Robles passed Jennings to gain second on lap 10.

Foulger saw his huge lead wiped out when Jennings spun for a lap 18 yellow flag. However, Foulger led the restart and brought it home to victory ahead of Robles and Machado.

Kniss had tuned up for the Saturday how with an impressive Friday run at Medford, passing 15 cars and earning hard charger honors.

Al Johnson led the opening lap before Tommy Clymens took over. Jason Ryan Jr. made an inside pass to take second from Mark Garner on the fourth lap and Kniss worked his way into third on Lap six. Kniss reeled in the lead duo and made a high pass on the 12th circuit to take the lead from Clymens.

Kniss led a Lap 14 restart ahead of Ryan, and but Ryan spun, collecting Clymens and Dylan Conley. Kniss led the ensuing restart ahead of Shrader and Garner.

Kniss began to pull away from the pack. Despite another yellow flag on lap 21, Kniss again pulled away from Shrader and would bring it home to victory. Third was Ryan.

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