Salinas’ Hogge sweeps Delta-Valley Classic in Merced, Antioch

Bobby Hogge IV of Salinas repeated history in taking both legs of the fourth annual Delta-Valley Classic at Antioch and Merced speedways, collecting $4,000 in winnings and a $500 bonus. Hogge accomplished the same unlikely feat three years earlier.

Challenged by 16-year-old Ethan Dotson of Bakersfield, the veteran Hogge searched for the right groove to maintain the lead at Merced Speedway. Winton’s Paul Stone, who finished third at Merced and second at Antioch, chased Dotson across the finish line.

“Ethan is a true racer – he left me room to race him clean. He’s very impressive for his age,” Hogge said in Victory Lane. “As the track became slicker and slicker, I tried to stay in the same ruts lap after lap to maintain traction.”

The Delta-Valley Classic closes the International Motor Contest Association season for Modified and SportMod cars.

Earlier this summer, Dotson pulled off an upset, winning the IMCA Harris Clash in Iowa. He was the first Californian to win the race.

The soft-spoken Dotson was modest after the race.

“I came close to passing him a few times – once I almost did it on a restart,” he said. “Bobby was just a little bit better than I could be tonight.”

The event began Saturday night at Antioch, where Stone got behind Hogge just before the finish.

“I wasn’t surprised to see Paul (Stone) there,” Hogge said. “I could see him hounding Brian Cass on the bottom, so I went to the bottom and that was the place to be.”

Stone, who worked his way to the front, had a smooth drive at Antioch but had to survive a couple of skirmishes at Merced.

“I tried not to over-drive, because I needed to be there at the end,” Stone said of his Antioch performance. “From starting 13th to finishing second wasn’t a bad run.”

Merced action saw Stone narrowly avoid serious damage from spinning cars. He brushed the fourth-turn wall early in the race.

“I started too far back,” Stone said. “It was a hornet’s nest back there. My front end was a little messed up – that would make it hard to catch a top driver like Bobby.”

At Antioch, it was Duane Cleveland and Ryan McDaniel of Chico and Troy Foulger of Martinez completing the top five behind Hogge and Stone in the 22-car field.

Merced saw Stone and twins Kyle and Alex Wilson of Salinas complete the top five behind Hogge and Dotson.

Winners in the other divisions at Antioch included Vallejo’s Larry Damitz in the Limited Late Model Northern All Stars, Fred Ryland of Brentwood in IMCA SportMod and Concord’s Jordan Swank in the Hobby Stock division.

Merced winners included Turlock’s Chris Falkenberg in IMCA SportMod, Cody Parker of Merced in Hobby Stock and Roy Hart Jr. in the Limited Late Model Northern All Stars.

The 2015 season has concluded at Antioch and Merced speedways. The 2016 schedule will be posted in November.

This story was originally published September 28, 2015 at 5:59 PM with the headline "Salinas’ Hogge sweeps Delta-Valley Classic in Merced, Antioch."