By: Ryan Evans
Scott Brant made it three for three in 2003 with another Scratch Main victory at Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino Friday night.
Bobby "Boogaloo" Schwartz, lined up on the pole, and Brant gated evenly and entered turn one together. Schwartz stuck to the pole while Brant chose a mid-track line. Brant found more grip in turn two and surged into the lead on the back straight. Brant established a comfortable lead which came in handy because he hit a hole in turn four that straightened him out and cost him some ground. Brant was able to compose himself and he led all the way to the checkered flag. Eddie Castro pressured Schwartz the last two laps and it paid off when he shot underneath on the final corner to snatch second place. Schwartz was third and Bobby Krips finished fourth. Dukie Ermolenko was fifth, but not after a wild ride in which he lifted coming out of two and was completely vertical. He managed to get the wheel down, but was headed for the berm on the back straight. He hit the berm, rode it out, and received a loud ovation from the crowd.
Billy Lyons started at the tapes in the Handicap Main was the leader after the first lap. Krips went by on the inside on the second lap, but Castro was not far behind. Castro went under Krips to take the lead at the end of the fourth lap. Castro then pulled away to take the win and make it a sweep for the Kelly Dunagan Racing Team. Krips held on to second, Brant finished third, Shaun Harmatiuk was fourth, and Ermolenko finished fifth.
In the Support Main, Neil Facchini jumped into the lead and was making a bid for his second consecutive victory. His hopes were dashed in turn four of the first lap when he fell. Rudy Laurer assumed the lead at that point and cruised to his first victory of 2003. An excellent battle for second ended with Keith Mullally barely holding off Scott Tidwell. Facchini was credited with fourth.
DeWayne Stark led the Support B Main Event into the first corner. His lead was short-lived, though, as Steve Dziadus went ahead on the back straight. Dziadus was able to hold off Stark's challenges until they took the white flag and Stark went into the lead. Dziadus didn't go away quietly as the two riders battled throughout the last lap with Stark narrowly defeating Dziadus for a hard-earned victory. Mike Boyle finished third, Fred Schmitthammer was fourth, Nathan Smelser finished fifth, and newcomer Robert Avels was sixth.
Skyler Greyson jumped into the lead at the start of the Youth Main Event. He led after one lap, but Jason Ramirez went by him in turn two. Greyson retired after the second lap and left Ramirez with a giant lead and an easy victory. Tamara Krips finished second, Dylan Stark was third, Greyson finished fourth, and Dario Galvin was fifth.
RESULTS Support B Consolation 194 - Tony Bracy 20 105 - Michael Hernandez 10 136 - Kim Stevens 10 227 - Mark Robertson 20 111 - Joe Schultz 10 (penalty line) 209 - Greg Vandermore 10 (retired) Support B Main Event 244 - DeWayne Stark 10 212 - Steve Dziadus 20 198 - Mike Boyle 20 223 - Fred Schmitthammer 20 188 - Nathan Smelser 20 (fell) 203 - Robert Avels 10 (fell) Support Consolation 100 - Phil Harmatiuk 228 - Shane Kump (fell, remounted) 264 - Louis Hunt 117 - Billy Braden (fell) Support Consolation 338 - Dave Delbridge 165 - Randy Kreps 339 - Sam Stavros 174 - Tomasz Hampel (non starter) Support Main Event 182 - Rudy Laurer 185 - Keith Mullally 118 - Scott Tidwell 201 - Neil Facchini (fell) Youth Main Event (restarted) 66 - Jason Ramirez 223 - Tamara Krips 19 - Dylan Stark 2 - Skyler Greyson (retired) 145 - Dario Galvin (fell) Handicap Main Event 14 - Eddie Castro 50 24 - Bobby Krips 30 10 - Scott Brant 50 139 - Shaun Harmatiuk 20 15 - Dukie Ermolenko 40 3 - Gary Hicks 50 197 - Justin Boyle 30 321 - Billy Lyons 0 Last Chance 15 - Dukie Ermolenko 3 - Gary Hicks 139 - Shaun Harmatiuk 321 - Billy Lyons (retired) Scratch Main Event 10 - Scott Brant 14 - Eddie Castro 11 - Bobby Schwartz 24 - Bobby Krips 15 - Dukie Ermolenko
