Arrowhead Motor Speedway
ORANGE SHOW EVENT CENTER - SAN BERNARDINO CALIFORNIA
2000 Season Opener
Arrowhead Motor Speedway
November 18, 2000
From Ryan Evans
Current U.S. National Champion Greg Hancock showcased his talent by sweeping the
scratch side of the program, including the Scratch Main, at the Orange Show Fairgrounds
in San Bernardino Saturday.
Hancock was joined in the Scratch Main by "Fast" Eddie Castro, 17 year old Ryan Fisher,
and Hancock's Coventry teammate Stuart Robson. Hancock, Castro, and Fisher were
ready to go, but Robson was delayed due to the fact that his bike had just been ridden in
the previous race by fellow Scottish rider David Meldrum. The other riders drew their
positions first, but left Robson with the pole.
Hancock gated beautifully from gate three and immediately planted himself on the inside
line. Robson was right on the former World Champion's back tire, but Fisher was
challenging on the outside. Hancock looked picture perfect despite Robson's constant
presence behind him. Fisher continued on the outside but was losing ground to the leaders
and began feeling pressure from Castro. Castro passed Fisher for third, but wasn't close
enough to put up a fight for second. Hancock took the win ahead of his Bees teammate
Robson giving the fans a glimpse of what a Coventry 5-1 at Brandon looks like. Castro
held on to third while Fisher finished fourth.
Mark Adams started in front of the field on the 20 yard line and immediately led the
Handicap Main. Eddie Castro got the jump on fellow 40 yard riders David Meldrum,
Stuart Robson, and Ryan Fisher and quickly dispatched 30 yard rider Ian Ferris to take
second. Adams led after one lap and as he was completing lap two, Ferris went down
forcing a restart.
The staggered restart would have Adams again in front and Castro 10 yards behind him
and since only one lap was completed, the restart would be seven laps.
Adams led the field into turn one and Castro immediately put the heat on him, while Fisher
was running a close third. Adams held Castro back for two laps, but drifted wide coming
out of turn four and the diminutive veteran rider took the lead. Fisher and Billy Janniro were able to get past Adams as well. Janniro and Fisher waged a tough battle for second
with Janniro getting the best of the former 3-time Junior Champion. Castro took a
comfortable win ahead of Janniro, and Greg Hancock also passed Fisher to take third.
Bill McCarley was so impressive in winning his Second Division Heat from the 30 yard
line that referee Steve Lucero (yes, that Steve Lucero!) placed him on the 40 yard line in
the main event. 40 yards proved to be not enough either as McCarley tore through the
field to take an easy victory. Billy Lyons finished second, Dave Delbridge was third, and
Northern California rider Mark Thomas was fourth.
Northern California rider Ron Woodsford made his trip down south a successful one by
capturing the Second Division B Main Event. Speedway newcomer Shane Kump was
second, Randy Kreps was third, and Howard Larson was fourth.
The meeting was the second of a three week series being promoted by Charlie Venegas.
Operating as Edge Promotions, Venegas is hoping to establish another venue in Southern
California to host speedway racing. Venegas is hoping to use this series as barometer to
measure the viability of speedway in San Bernardino.
Venegas has been receiving support not only from Southern California riders, but riders
from outside the area as well. There were six riders from Northern California and Ken
Pieper and Chuck Johanson traveled from Colorado to compete as well.
The riders who made the longest journey were David Meldrum and Scott Robson, both
from Scotland. Meldrum transferred out of his Handicap Heat, but was unable to transfer
to the Handicap Main. He also transferred from his Scratch Heat, but was forced to
compete in the Scratch Consolation after finishing fourth in his semi. In the Consolation,
the Berwick Bandit finished second to Billy Janniro.
Robson experienced a little bit more success. He won his Handicap Heat and finished fifth
in the Handicap Main. He also won his Scratch Heat and Scratch Semi before being
defeated by Coventry teammate Greg Hancock in the Scratch Main.
Both riders said that they really enjoyed riding the smaller, American-type race track. The
track measured approximately 245 yards and Robson said that it was a smaller version of
Eastbourne.
Robson was expecting to fly home on Sunday and, therefore, will miss the final race of the
series but Meldrum will compete Saturday. Both riders have been staying with Hancock
and have enjoyed their stay in Southern California. This wasn't there first trip to the United
States, however, as both have competed in the ice speedway series in the past.
RESULTS
Second Division B Main Event
111n - Ron Woodsford 10
228 - Shane Kump 10
165 - Randy Kreps 20
168 - Howard Larson 20
174 - Tomasz Hampel 10
147 - Winston Williams 20 (fell)
Second Division Consolation
182 - Rudy Laurer 20
177 - Mark Hitchcock 20
103 - Brent Smith 10
234 - Frank Pecce 20
200 - Gerry Duttweiler 30
131 - David Lynch 30
Second Division Main Event
120 - Bill McCarley 40
321 - Billy Lyons 30
338 - Dave Delbridge 20
123n - Mark Thomas 10
178 - Eloy Medellin 20
45c - Chuck Johanson 10 (non-starter)
Handicap Main Event
14 - Eddie Castro 40
14n - Billy Janniro 50
1 - Greg Hancock 50
36 - Ryan Fisher 40
9 - Stuart Robson 40
11 - Bobby Schwartz 50
36n - Ian Ferris 30
223 - Mark Adams 20 (fell)
Scratch Consolation
14n - Billy Janniro
2 - David Meldrum
223 - Mark Adams
16 - Charlie Cooley
Scratch Main Event
1 - Greg Hancock
9 - Stuart Robson
14 - Eddie Castro
36 - Ryan Fisher
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