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From Ryan Evans sideways31@aol.com
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Get your Videos from
For a complete video of this night's racing, or other events of the last twenty years, contact RAZ Video.
There is never a bad seat with a RAZ Video (626) 449-1175
|
Andy "The Enforcer" Northrup stopped Charlie Venegas' winning streak at three with a hard earned Scratch Main Event victory at Costa Mesa. Northrup and Venegas were lined up in gates three and four, respectively, and it was "The Edge" who was first to turn one. Venegas couldn't stay on the inside groove and when he drifted wide Northrup used the low line to take the lead. Venegas battled valiantly on the outside for a lap but couldn't find the grip necessary to regain the lead. This allowed the rest of the field to pass Venegas as well. Dukie Ermolenko tried in vain to catch Northrup, but the man who is a police officer by day, stretched his lead all the way to the checkered flag. Shawn McConnell finished third, Chris Manchester finished fourth, and Venegas finished fifth.
The Handicap Main featured all back yardage riders as there were two riders on the 40 yard line, three on the 50, and three on the 60. Jim Estes beat Manchester off the 40 yard line and led into turn one followed by Northrup from the 50, and Venegas from the 60, but the referee determined that Venegas had too good of a start and ordered a restart with Venegas lining up on the 80 yard line. This time it was Manchester who led the field into turn one with Estes in tow. Manchester quickly opened up ground on Estes because Estes was busy fighting off the very determined Northrup who was seeking a double main event victory. Estes withstood the challenge for 4 laps but as he entered turn three Northrup bumped him off the line and took over second in a move that should've brought out a red, but the referee allowed the race to continue. McConnell capitalized and took over second, but he wasn't going to catch Manchester who was long gone and looking very much like the former Overseas Champion that fans remember. "Fast" Eddie Castro finished third, Randy DiFrancesco finished fourth, and Estes finished fifth.
Randy Skinner made an auspicious return to action by capturing the Support Main Event. Skinner, who has missed the first two months of the season because of an off-season injury, didn't show any signs of rust with a smooth performance to win the main. Paul Hitchcock was second, Sean Larned was third, and Danny Holt was fourth.
The Support B Main Event was undoubtedly the most action-packed race of the evening with several lead changes, none of which due to a rider falling, and passing throughout the field. The last two laps saw first-year rider Randy Kreps, Johnny Lupo, and longtime veteran Bill Green swap the lead several times. Green led as they went into turn three the final time but drifted wide. Kreps and Lupo made the same mistake and as the trio exited the turn a three-man drag race saw Green come out victorious by inches. Lupo was credited with second and Kreps with third.
The Support B Consolation had one of the wildest and scariest crashes seen at the legendary Costa Mesa oval. When the riders entered turn one Eloy Medellin fell down and Ed Martinez was left with absolutely nowhere to go. Martinez used the prone Medellin as a ramp and jumped several feet into the air and straight toward the turn two wall. Fortunately, Martinez was able to get the bike down and avoid a disaster. Martinez was down for several minutes but got up on his own and participated in the restart.
Crystal Kramer continued to show her fellow juniors that she was one lady who will not be messed with as she rode to victory in both Junior heats. In the second heat, Skyler Greyson put up a challenge, but Kramer held him back to secure the victory.
This coming week features two races on the Southern California speedway schedule as the riders return to the Ventura Raceway Friday Night. "The Commotion by the Ocean" is a 1/5-mile banked oval that will provide exciting, high-speed racing. That is followed by the annual 25-lap main event at Costa Mesa on Saturday Night.
RESULTS Support B Consolation 198 - Mike Boyle 20 153 - Craig Muzio 10 269 - Ed Martinez 20 178 - Eloy Medellin 20 147 - Winston Williams 20 160 - Jeremy Toepfer 10 Support B Main 336 - Bill Green 20 125 - Johnny Lupo 20 165 - Randy Kreps 10 211 - Doug Lupo 20 107 - Monte McKeon 10 168 - Howard Larson 10 Support Main 383 - Randy Skinner 114 - Paul Hitchcock 226 - Sean Larned 220 - Danny Holt Junior Heat #1 27 - Krystal Cramer 2 - Skyler Greyson 99 - Miles Calvin 198 - Justin Boyle (fell) Junior Heat #2 27 - Krystal Cramer 2 - Skyler Greyson 99 - Miles Calvin 198 - Justin Boyle (non-starter) Handicap Main 130 - Chris Manchester 40 6 - Shawn McConnell 60 14 - Eddie Castro 50 12 - Randy DiFrancesco 50 56 - Jim Estes 40 11 - Bobby Schwartz 60 166 - Andy Northrup 50 43 - Charlie Venegas 60 (penalty line) (retired) Scratch Main 166 - Andy Northrup 15 - Dukie Ermolenko 6 - Shawn McConnell 130 - Chris Manchester 43 - Charlie Venegas Ryan Evans sideways31@aol.com
