By: Ryan Evans
Mike Faria and Buck Blair won the First Division main events at Costa Mesa on Saturday night.
The Scratch Main began with 2000 National Champion Charlie "The Edge" Venegas jumping into the lead from gate four, but the red light quickly came on to stop the race. Bobby Schwartz was penalized on the restart, but that didn't console a very obviously frustrated Venegas. When the riders staged for the second time, Venegas blew through the starting tapes then abandoned his bike in turn two to express his feelings about having the first attempt brought to a halt while he was leading.
The restart was all Faria as the three-time National Champion was able to beat Chris Manchester to turn one and get to the precious inside line. Despite Manchester's constant pressure, Faria remained glued to the pole and took home his fourth 2004 Scratch Main victory at Costa Mesa. Schwartz was third, Eddie Castro finished fourth, and Venegas was credited with fifth.
Sixteen year old Dario Galvin led the first lap of the Handicap Main, but Buck Blair made an inside pass entering turn three the second time to take over the lead. Andy Northrup followed Blair for several laps, but couldn't make up any ground and eventually had to contend with the field behind him. Blair, a Colorado native who moved to Southern California this year, remained in control all the way to the checkered flag to garner the win. Shawn McConnell was second, Manchester finished third, Castro was fourth, and Northrup ended up fifth.
The Support Main Event had a couple added incentives on this particular evening. Dick Kreps not only added money to the purse for the main event, but a perpetual trophy was crafted for the main event winner. Needless to say, the riders were full of anxiety and the result was nearly disaster.
All five main event riders went into turn one aiming for the same spot and caused a massive pileup which took down the entire field. It took several minutes, but all riders returned to their feet and were determined to restart. When the tapes went up again, Brian Starr's bike remained still and ended his race. Meanwhile, Nate Perkins jumped into the lead and quickly left the field behind. Perkins was cruising on lap three when he overslid badly in turn four and allowed 2003 Support Champion John Stunkard to get within striking distance. Perkins was able to compose himself and held on for the final lap to win the main. Stunkard had to settle for second, Hideaki Ota was third, Tony Bracy finished fourth, and Starr got fifth.
In the Support B Main, there was a scramble for the lead on the first lap with Mike Boyle emerging as the leader at the end of lap one. Boyle began receiving heat from Carl Gazafy and the two battled for the lead. Gazafy was able to get by Boyle entering the final corner and beat him to the finish line. Monte McKeon finished third, Keith Mullally was fourth, Kim Stevens finished fifth, and Steve Dziadus was sixth.
RESULTS Support B Consolation (restarted) 102 - Jim Lavender 10 150 - Damon Barry 10 169 - Dan Wensloff 10 308 - Hugh Randolph 10 Support B Main Event 176 - Carl Gazafy 10 198 - Mike Boyle 20 107 - Monte McKeon 20 185 - Keith Mullally 20 136 - Kim Stevens 10 212 - Steve Dziadus 10 Support Consolation 182 - Rudy Laurer 106 - Robert Fiesler 336 - Bill Green 118 - Scott Tidwell Support Last Chance 249 - John Stunkard 163 - Rohn Zellner 214 - Steve Murray 178 - Eloy Medellin Dick Kreps Support Championship Final (restarted) 389 - Nate Perkins 249 - John Stunkard 240 - Hideaki Ota 194 - Tony Bracy 248 - Brian Starr (retired) Handicap Main Event 39 - Buck Blair 20 6 - Shawn McConnell 40 130 - Chris Manchester 50 14 - Eddie Castro 40 166 - Andy Northrup 30 9 - Mike Faria 50 145 - Dario Galvin 10 (fell, remounted) 18 - Justin Boyle 30 (fell) Last Chance 14 - Eddie Castro 18 - Justin Boyle 166 - Andy Northrup 139 - Shaun Harmatiuk Scratch Main Event 9 - Mike Faria 130 - Chris Manchester 11 - Bobby Schwartz (penalty line) 14 - Eddie Castro 43 - Charlie Venegas (tape exclusion)
