From Ryan Evans
sideways31@aol.com
Charlie Venegas combined luck and skill to become the first double main event winner of 2000 at Costa Mesa.
In the Scratch Main Gary Hicks made the start and was well on his way to making it three for three in Scratch Main victories this season. However, on the second lap he broke a chain coming out of turn two and Hicks's misfortune was Venegas's good luck. Venegas then cruised to an easy victory over Brad Oxley, Bobby Schwartz, and Randy DiFrancesco. For Charlie it had to be a satisfying victory as prior to the start of the main he vented his frustration of unlucky gate draws by stating, "Just call me 'Gate Five Charlie'."
The Handicap Main began with Gary Ackroyd and DiFrancesco beating fellow 40 yard rider Ryan Fisher to turn one. They didn't exit the corner in that order because Ackroyd and DiFrancesco bumped each other forcing DiFrancesco down and Ackroyd wide. Sixteen year old Fisher took advantage and blasted underneath both riders. Ackroyd and Fisher were side by side down the back straight, but Fisher had the inside line and took command of the lead. Venegas, benefitting from a great start from the 60 yard line, passed Ackroyd and was in second on lap two. Fisher, however, seemed to have an insurmountable lead. Venegas slowly chipped away at Fisher and on lap five he was on his back wheel. Fisher drifted wide coming out of turn four at the close of lap five and Venegas made him pay for his mistake and took the lead. Venegas stretched his lead all the way to the finish for his second consecutive Handicap Main Event victory. Fisher finished second, Hicks finished third, and Shawn McConnell was fourth.
John DeFries returned to Costa Mesa and was victorious in the Support Main Event. Phil Harmatiuk led the field into turn one from the 10 yard line and held the lead for one lap before Dave Delbridge managed to get by. Delbridge held the lead until DeFries, after fighting through traffic, passed him at the end of lap four. DeFries was first to the line, followed by Bentley Barrett and Mark Hitchcock. DeFries competed regularly in Southern California for several years prior to moving to Utah last year.
Chad Newlee was victorious in the Support B main. For Newlee it was a great time to finally see his luck change at Costa Mesa. Newlee's past experiences at Costa Mesa have not been good. In his debut last year, he went over the wall in turn four, breaking his leg, and he missed the entire season. Last week, in his return, he met up with the turn four wall again. Brent Smith finished second and Eloy Medellin finished third.
The evening had a scary incident involving Mike Mattocks. At the completion of his Scratch Heat, Mattocks lifted just before crossing the finish line and clipped Gary Ackroyd's foot. This sent him out of control and he hit the turn one wall very hard with his back taking the brunt of the impact. Mattocks was knocked unconscious and was attended to by the medical staff for about ten minutes. He was taken out on a stretcher and transported to a local hospital. It was later reported that he had only suffered a separated shoulder. Certainly a minor injury considering how bad it could have been.
RESULTS Support B Consolation 147 - Winston Williams 10 317 - Craig Mumma 10 196 - Rod Lenz 20 231 - Pat Dwyer 20 153 - Craig Muzio 10 135 - Kerry Connor 10 Support B Main 123 - Chad Newlee 10 103 - Brent Smith 20 178 - Eloy Medellin 20 141 - Tom Collier 20 331 - Peter Curtis 10 168 - Howard Larson 20 Support Consolation 200 - Gerry Duttweiler 10 226 - Sean Larned 20 114 - Paul Hitchcock 10 182 - Rudy Laurer 30 211 - Doug Lupo 10 234 - Frank Pecce 20 Support Main 316 - John DeFries 30 300 - Bentley Barrett 30 177 - Mark Hitchcock 20 338 - Dave Delbridge 20 243 - Sean McDougall 30 100 - Phil Harmatiuk 10 Scratch Main 43 - Charlie Venegas 60 36 - Ryan Fisher 40 3 - Gary Hicks 60 6 - Shawn McConnell 60 1 - Brad Oxley 60 15 - Dukie Ermolenko 50 8 - Gary Ackroyd 40 12 - Randy DiFrancesco 40 (fell, remounted) Scratch Main 43 - Charlie Venegas 1 - Brad Oxley 11 - Bobby Schwartz 12 - Randy DiFrancesco 3 - Gary Hicks Ryan Evans sideways31@aol.com
Hello everyone I finally got to go to the races yesterday and get my speedway fix I not going to give results because Ryan does a good job at that.There was a older gentlemen sitting next to me that hadnt been to the races in years and he said that alot of the same riders were still racing but a few were missing Ott,Collins,Lucero,Christian just to name a few.He asked me whats happened to the outside of the track !!!! he said these guys used to pass on the outside now no one goes there anymore .At that time came out Eddie Castro and I showed him what happens when you try to go outside at CM .He later said that they have taken the exitment out of the racing .I would have to agree with him.If CM is closing at the end of the season I would like to ask Brad to please prepare the track to have an outside so we can really see some awesome racing .
On another note I have noticed that a couple of riders are running weight on the bottom of the seats for added traction up to 20lbs.
Ryan Fisher will be missed as he heads back to AUBURN next week .He was deffinately a top contender last night winning his handicap heat and semi then also coming back to win his scratch heat.Gate problems kept him out of the scratch main. TMGracing TMGracing@aol.com
It was a pretty good night of racing was'nt it! But you are right not enough dirt on the outside. I just thought I would share, for anyone concerned that Michael Mattocks has a multiple broken clavical (collarbone). He also has part of the broken bone floating in there so an orthopedic specialist will determine if they have to put a pin it or not. Jim spoke to his mom and I spoke to his wife and he is in good spirits. Kinda bummed it happened at the beginning of the season though.
See ya at the races, Kymber TeamEstes@rampageusa.com
