By: Ryan Evans
Gary Hicks captured top honors in the Scratch Main for the second consecutive week at Arrowhead Motor Speedway in San Bernardino.
The lineup for the Scratch Main featured Scott Brant on the pole, Dukie Ermolenko in gate two, "Cowboy" Bobby Krips in gate three, and Hicks on the outside. Hicks trapped the field entering turn one and held the lead after one lap. Brant managed to stay close and ventured to the outside looking for enough traction to get by Hicks. Despite Brant's best effort, Hicks held the lead all the way to the finish. Brant maintained second, Ermolenko was third, and Krips was fourth.
Northern California's Chris Kerr started in the front of the field in the Handicap Main and quickly established a comfortable lead. For four laps it looked as though nobody would catch the young rider. Fellow Northern California native Tommy Hedden managed to close some ground on the fifth lap. As they took the white flag Hedden was on Kerr's back tire. Entering the last turn Hedden made one last attempt to pass Kerr on the outside. Hedden found enough grip and completed the pass just before the finish line much to the delight of the crowd who saluted Hedden with a rousing ovation. Brant finished third, Josh Larsen was fourth, Shaun Harmatiuk was fifth, and Randy DiFrancesco was sixth.
Rick Valdez quickly established a comfortable lead in the Second Division Main Event. Valdez held the lead after two laps when a pileup in turn one brought out the red flag. Chad Newlee was deemed the cause of the crash and was forced to start at the rear of the staggered restart. The restart would begin with three laps remaining.
Valdez started at the front of the field in the restart with Northern California's Billy Hiles, who traveled with Kerr for the meeting, starting 10 yards behind him. Despite the fact that Hiles is a back-yardage rider, Valdez was not intimidated and quickly showed Hiles that he would have to earn the victory. Hiles stalked Valdez for three laps, and despite one slight bobble, Valdez never showed any signs of cracking under the pressure as held off Hiles to take the victory. Randy Kreps was third, Marvin Sonnier finished fourth, Chad Newlee was fifth, and Rudy Laurer was sixth.
Geoff Herkner, who was competing in just his second speedway meeting assumed the lead in the Second Division B Main Event. Herkner held the lead for the first three laps before Doug Benjamin, who returned to speedway at the end of last season after a decade away from the sport, made a challenge for the lead. Benjamin made his move in the last corner when he swept around the outside. The riders crossed the line just inches apart and the ruling went in favor of Benjamin. A disappointed Herkner had to settle for second, Brian Hunt finished third, Michael Novratil was fourth, Mike Boyle was fifth, and Steve Nelson was sixth.
RESULTS Second Division B Consolation (restarted) 269 - Ed Martinez 10 212 - Steve Dziadus 0 350 - Kodiak Calkin 0 (penalty line) 201 - Neil Facchini 0 Second Division B Main Event 128 - Doug Benjamin 10 208 - Geoff Herkner 0 332 - Brian Hunt 0 181 - Michael Novratil 10 198 - Mike Boyle 10 202 - Steve Nelson 0 Second Division Consolation 117 - Billy Braden 0 158 - Terry McCurdy 20 118 - Scott Tidwell 0 (fell, remounted) Second Division Consolation 178 - Eloy Medellin 0 173 - Jeff Blaydes 30 106 - Robert Fiesler 10 126 - Doug Lupo 0 239 - Philip Williams 10 174 - Tomasz Hampel 10 Second Division Main Event (restarted) 293 - Rick Valdez 0 44n - Billy Hiles 30 165 - Randy Kreps 10 52 - Marvin Sonnier 30 123 - Chad Newlee 10 (retired) 182 - Rudy Laurer 30 (non starter - restart) Junior Main Event 142 - Ricky Wells 20 1 - T.J. Fowler 40 3 - Justin Boyle 40 (non starter) Handicap Main Event 40n - Tommy Hedden 30 27n - Chris Kerr 0 10 - Scott Brant 50 4 - Josh Larsen 50 139 - Shaun Harmatiuk 10 12 - Randy DiFrancesco 30 (engine failure) Scratch Consolation 14 - Eddie Castro 11 - Bobby Schwartz 12 - Randy DiFrancesco 6 - Shawn McConnell Scratch Main Event 3 - Gary Hicks 10 - Scott Brant 15 - Dukie Ermolenko 223 - Bobby Krips
