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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
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Charlie "The Edge" Venegas capped his second double main event evening of the season by winning the 28th Annual Fair Derby at Costa Mesa. Venegas, starting from the pole, was inside the Fair Derby's only two four-time winners, Bobby Schwartz in gate two and defending Fair Derby Champion Mike Faria in gate three. Chris Manchester and Dukie Ermolenko rounded out the main event.
Venegas, Schwartz, and Faria battled as they entered turn one. Faria was pushed wide and left Venegas and Schwartz to battle for the lead as they raced down the back straight. Schwartz held a slight advantage on the outside line but not enough to get on the pole. They finished lap one side-by-side but the second time through turns one and two Schwartz remained outside and Venegas used the inside line to secure the lead that he would never relinquish. Manchester and Faria also went under Schwartz for second and third, respectively. Venegas jubilantly crossed the line for his first Fair Derby Championship ahead of Manchester, Faria, Schwartz, and Ermolenko.
Venegas didn't rest on his laurels, however, as the Handicap Main was still to be contested. Brian Thompson was alone at the tapes with his nearest competitor 40 yards back. Originally, there were five riders on the 50, but a series of rollers subsequently banished Manchester, Randy DiFrancesco, and Gary Hicks to the penalty line behind Venegas, who was starting on the 60.
Thompson led the field through the first lap with Eddie Castro quickly hunting him down. Venegas, whose tough task was made easier by the penalties, charged through the field and into third behind Castro. Venegas tried the outside the second time through turn three but Castro and Josh Larsen came together forcing a red flag.
The staggered restart began on the start of lap two with Thompson in front, Castro on the 10, and Venegas on the 20. Thompson led again but this time he wasn't afforded as much breathing room. Castro immediately set after him but had to contend with Venegas breathing down his neck. Venegas went under Castro on lap four and made quick work of Thompson to take the lead on lap five. Ermolenko managed to follow the path paved by Venegas to take second but couldn't reel him in. Venegas was the winner ahead of Ermolenko, Larsen was third, Hicks was fourth, and Manchester was fifth.
The Support Main began with Bentley Barrett being penalized 20 yards for touching the tapes. On the second attempt Tim Tucker trapped from the outside to take the lead ahead of Gerry Duttweiler and Sean McDougall. Barrett immediately began making up ground and was in second at the close of lap two. Tucker looked as if he would take the victory but Barrett kept the heat on and was on Tucker's back tire as they entered the final corner. Both riders went wide and were left to drag race to the finish with Barrett taking a narrow victory over Tucker.
Although Faria was making his first appearance at Costa Mesa in 2000 he didn't have any problems getting reacquainted with the world famous venue. He transferred from the 60 yard line in his handicap heat but appeared to suffer a mechanical problem in his semi that relegated him to the consolation. He won his scratch heat and semi before running into the "Edge Express" in the Fair Derby Main.
The Fair Derby has used a variety of programs over the years including all-scratch formats or formats with handicap and a couple rounds of scratch competition to determine the field for the main event. In 1980, the Handicap Main determined the champion. This year, the standard program was used with the Scratch Main determining the Fair Derby Champion. The only deviation from the standard program was the use of eight-man semi finals and, for the first time since 1986, there was a Handicap Consolation.
Since a round-robin system wasn't used there was some cutthroat action during the scratch heats that provided some good racing. Schwartz found himself third and out of a transfer after the first lap of his heat but put in an excellent outside ride to pass DiFrancesco and claw his way into a semifinal berth. Hicks was securely in second in his heat but fell on the final corner when his primary chain broke thus eliminating him from contention. Costa Mesa will be closed on July 22 and July 29 due to the Orange County Fair but speedway will resume on Saturday, August 5.
RESULTS Support Consolation #1 131 - David Lynch 226 - Sean Larned 182 - Rudy Laurer (tape penalty) 162 - Mike Lupo (fell, excluded) Support Consolation #2 234 - Frank Pecce 114 - Paul Hitchcock 198 - Mike Boyle 208n - Chuck Lane (fell) Support Main 300 - Bentley Barrett (tape penalty) 215 - Tim Tucker 200 - Gerry Duttweiler 243 - Sean McDougall Handicap Consolation (6 laps) 6 - Shawn McConnell 60 1 - Brad Oxley 60 9n - Mike Faria 60 (penalty line) 119 - Brad Sauer 0 11 - Bobby Schwartz 60 8 - Gary Ackroyd 40 47 - Johnny Walker 10 166 - Andy Northrup 50 (non-starter) Handicap Main 43 - Charlie Venegas 60 15 - Dukie Ermolenko 50 4 - Josh Larsen 50 3 - Gary Hicks 50 (penalty line) 130 - Chris Manchester 50 (penalty line) 12 - Randy DiFrancesco 50 (penalty line) 57 - Brian Thompson 0 14 - Eddie Castro 40 (engine failure) Fair Derby Championship 43 - Charlie Venegas 130 - Chris Manchester 9n - Mike Faria 11 - Bobby Schwartz 15 - Dukie Ermolenko PAST FAIR DERBY CHAMPIONS 1970 - Bill Cody 1971 - Rick Woods 1972 - Sonny Nutter 1973-74 - not contested 1975 - Mike Curoso 1976 - Bruce Penhall 1977 - not contested 1978 - Bobby Schwartz 1979 - Alan Christian 1980 - Mike Muntean (handicap race) 1981 - Lance King 1982 - Mike Bast 1983 - Kelly Moran 1984 - John Sandona 1985 - Robert Pfetzing 1986 - Mike Faria 1987 - Mike Faria 1988 - Shawn McConnell 1989 - Steve Lucero 1990 - Bobby Schwartz 1991 - Phil Collins 1992 - Mike Faria 1993 - Bobby Schwartz 1994 - Bobby Schwartz 1995 - Steve Lucero 1996 - Robert Pfetzing 1997 - Shawn McConnell 1998 - Bobby Schwartz 1999 - Mike Faria Ryan Evans sideways31@aol.com
