By: Ryan Evans
Dukie Ermolenko rode a flawless race to capture the Scratch Main Event at Arrowhead Motor Speedway in San Bernardino.
Ermolenko lined up on the pole and jumped into the lead entering turn one. Josh Larsen made a big run around the outside, but as he pulled alongside Ermolenko the two riders made contact and Larsen tumbled down the back straight. Referee Steve Lucero ordered a complete restart.
On the restart, Ermolenko was the first rider into turn one again and this time he was unchallenged on the back straight. Gary Hicks, who had won the previous two Scratch Mains at Arrowhead chased Ermolenko while also battling Larsen who continuously attempted to go around Hicks. Larsen was unable to find enough traction to get into second and Hicks's attempts to extend his winning streak suffered the same fate. Ermolenko took the victory ahead of Hicks, Larsen, and "Fast" Eddie Castro.
The much-improved "Cowboy" Bobby Krips took the early lead in the Handicap Main, but he would soon come under immense pressure as four riders started from the 50 yard line. Hicks was the first of the back-yardage contingent to get to turn one and he quickly turned up the heat on John DeFries. Hicks disposed of DeFries and set his sights on Krips. Hicks took the lead on lap five and was never challenged as he took his first Handicap Main Event of the season. Larsen beat Krips to the line by inches for second, Castro was fourth, Ermolenko was fifth, and DeFries was sixth.
Doug Benjamin, winner of last week's Second Division B Main Event, jumped to the early lead in the Second Division Main Event and was never challenged as he went on to record a main event victory for the second week in a row. Rick Valdez made a nice pass in the last corner to get second, Billy Braden was third, Eloy Medellin was fourth, Rudy Laurer was fifth, and Chad Newlee was sixth.
After second by inches last week, Geoff Herkner made no mistakes and dominated the Second Division B Main Event to record his first main event victory. Ed Martinez finished second, Neil Facchini was third, James Herr was fourth, Steve Nelson finished fifth, and Brian Hunt was sixth.
RESULTS Second Division B Consolation 127 - Mike Fontaine 0 212 - Steve Dziadus 0 350 - Kodiak Calkin 0 Second Division B Main Event 208 - Geoff Herkner 0 269 - Ed Martinez 10 201 - Neil Facchini 0 167 - James Herr 0 202 - Steve Nelson 0 332 - Brian Hunt 10 Second Division Consolation 118 - Scott Tidwell 0 165 - Randy Kreps 10 52 - Marvin Sonnier 30 126 - Doug Lupo 0 147 - Winston Williams 10 158 - Terry McCurdy 20 174 - Tomasz Hampel 10 106 - Robert Fiesler 10 (non starter) Handicap Main Event 3 - Gary Hicks 50 2 - Josh Larsen 50 223 - Bobby Krips 20 14 - Eddie Castro 50 15 - Dukie Ermolenko 50 316 - John DeFries 20 Scratch Consolation 11 - Bobby Schwartz 223 - Bobby Krips 316 - John DeFries 12 - Randy DiFrancesco (non starter) Scratch Main Event (restarted) 15 - Dukie Ermolenko 3 - Gary Hicks 2 - Josh Larsen 14 - Eddie Castro
