By: Ryan Evans
Bryan Yarrow won his second Handicap Main of the season and Mike Faria captured his fifth Scratch Main at Costa Mesa Saturday night.
Faria drew the pole for the main event with Josh Larsen immediately to his right in gate two. The two riders had a spectacular battle in their semi which Faria won after the lead was swapped several times. Larsen was off the line first followed by Faria as they went into turn one while National Champion Chris Manchester was trying to sweep around the field on the outside. Larsen held the lead on the back straight and into turn three as Manchester couldn't muster enough traction to take the lead. Manchester wasn't going away, however and as the riders entered turn one the second time Manchester was still on the wide line while Faria was trying to take the lead on the inside. Larsen was put in the precarious position of choosing which line to protect, but he managed to hold both riders off through two laps. Manchester began to fade, but Faria kept the pressure on Larsen as they took the white flag. Faria made a last attempt as they entered turn three but Larsen held him back. As the two riders exited the last corner Faria made a run on the inside to make it close at the finish line. Larsen, and many others in attendance, felt as if he had won, but the scorekeepers saw it differently and awarded the race to Faria. Scott Brant finished third, Manchester was fourth, and Bobby Schwartz was fifth after experiencing an engine failure at the starting line.
Yarrow's 20 yard handicap placed him at the front of the field in the Handicap Main and that is exactly where he remained as the 2000 Junior National Champion remained poised and put together eight perfect laps to win. Yarrow never allowed anyone to get close enough to seriously threaten his lead. Dukie Ermolenko, out of action for many weeks, finished second, Brant, who won the last two Handicap Mains, was third, Shawn McConnell finished fourth, and Larsen was fifth.
Support Division points leader John Stunkard used the pole position to his advantage as he jumped into the lead. John DeFries, who has dominated the Support Division when programmed there, missed the start badly and was mired in fourth after the first lap. Stunkard was riding steady at the front while DeFries moved through the pack. DeFries moved into second and was chasing Stunkard as they finished the third lap. Stunkard wasn't bothered by the hard-charging DeFries, though, and held him off to earn the win. Rudy Laurer was third, Rod Lenz finished fourth, and Billy Braden was fifth.
Steve Murray jumped into the lead at the start of the Support B Main Event. Murray put together four smooth laps and ran away with the victory. Tom Rossano was second, Bryan Baichtal was third, Greg Vandemore finished fourth, Mark Robertson was fifth, and Kim Stevens finished sixth.
Dario Galvin took the lead at the start of the Junior Main Event. Galvin held the lead for two laps before going wide and allowing Krystal Cramer to take the lead. The young lady never looked back from there as she cruised to the victory. Galvin held on to second, Ricky Wells was third, and Jason Ramirez was fourth.
RESULTS Support B Consolation 181 - Michael Novratil 20 102 - Jim Lavender 10 178 - Eloy Medellin 20 103 - Brent Smith 20 212 - Steve Dziadus 10 244 - DeWayne Stark 10 Support B Main Event 214 - Steve Murray 10 296 - Tom Rossano 20 112 - Bryan Baichtal 20 209 - Greg Vandemore 10 227 - Mark Robertson 10 197 - Kim Stevens 10 Support Consolation 163 - Rohn Zellner 175 - John Vandermeulen 228 - Shane Kump Support Consolation 118 - Scott Tidwell 165 - Randy Kreps 106 - Robert Fiesler 133 - Craig Collier Support Consolation 131 - David Lynch 240 - Hideaki Ota 239 - Philip Williams 148 - Chris Metoyer Support Last Chance 182 - Rudy Laurer 180 - Malcolm Roe 269 - Ed Martinez (fell, remounted) 338 - Dave Delbridge (fell, excluded) Junior Main Event 27 - Krystal Cramer 10 5 - Dario Galvin 0 142 - Ricky Wells 10 66 - Jason Ramirez 0 2 - Skyler Greyson 10 (non starter) Handicap Main Event 8n - Bryan Yarrow 20 15 - Dukie Ermolenko 30 10 - Scott Brant 40 6 - Shawn McConnell 40 2 - Josh Larsen 50 166 - Andy Northrup 30 12 - Randy DiFrancesco 30 9 - Mike Faria 50 (retired) Last Chance 1 - Chris Manchester 3 - Gary Hicks 166 - Andy Northrup 6 - Shawn McConnell Scratch Main Event 9 - Mike Faria 2 - Josh Larsen 10 - Scott Brant 1 - Chris Manchester 11 - Bobby Schwartz (engine failure)
