Costa Mesa Speedway
Orange County Fairgrounds - Costa Mesa, CA
2001 29th Annual Fair Derby
Costa Mesa Speedway
July 14, 2001
From Ryan Evans
Josh Larsen scored his second major victory in as many weeks by capturing his first Fair Derby Championship in front of a large crowd at the 29th annual Fair Derby in Costa Mesa Saturday Night.
The field for the main event couldn't have been any stronger. Larsen, Gary Hicks, and Chris Manchester were each vying for their first Fair Derby title, while Mike Faria was seeking his fifth title, and Bobby Schwartz was trying to capture an unprecedented sixth title. From the inside to the outside it was Hicks on the pole, Faria in gate two, Larsen in three, Schwartz was slotted into four, and Manchester was on the outside.
It was Hicks and Larsen out first with Hicks gaining the advantage coming out of turn two. Hicks rode the low line while Larsen tried the outside. As they entered turn one the second time Larsen was alongside Hicks. Larsen tried to go around Hicks on the back straight only to be pinched along the wall. Hicks entered turn three wide, and then lifted in turn four sending him straight and allowing Larsen to cross underneath and inherit the lead. Hicks' mistake forced him back to fourth as Faria and Schwartz went by as well. Larsen raced away for the victory with Faria finishing second, Schwartz finished third, Hicks was fourth, and Manchester was fifth. The ecstatic Larsen celebrated jubilantly while receiving a large ovation from the crowd for an outstanding effort.
Kitt Nay and Mark Adams started on the 20 and were at the front of the 8-man Handicap Main Event. "Fast" Eddie Castro was right behind them on the 30 and was a major threat after easily winning his heat and semi. Nay beat Adams to turn one and when Adams went wide he forced Castro to change his line in turn one and he drifted to the back of the field. Nay began pulling away from Adams who was getting all he could handle from behind. On the third lap Randy DiFrancesco passed Adams for second with Hicks immediately behind him. Nay's lead was about 30 yards and it seemed inevitable that the field would at least make it interesting in the last five laps, but DiFrancesco was feeling the heat from Hicks and couldn't go after the lead. Nay rode a smooth and fast race to earn his second Handicap Main victory in three weeks. DiFrancesco held on to second while Shawn McConnell passed Hicks for third.
The Denim Doctor Challenge featured Hicks, Larsen, McConnell, Manchester, and Dukie Ermolenko. Ermolenko was eliminated first and then Manchester. Hicks, Larsen, and McConnell had a hotly contested one-lap battle with McConnell getting eliminated. Hicks was on the pole and Larsen was in two for the two lap final. Both riders entered turn one at the same time and as they exited turn two Hicks gained a slight advantage with Larsen trying to pass on the outside. Hicks pinched Larsen on the back straight to secure the lead but as he exited turn four he left Larsen some room on the inside and Larsen made his move on the front straight. Larsen went inside of Hicks going into turn one and seized the lead. Hicks tried to recover on the outside in turn two but Larsen held him back to take the win in the best match race Costa Mesa has seen in years and also receiving a much-deserved standing ovation from the appreciative crowd.
David Lynch used the pole to his advantage by getting the lead in turn one of the Support Main. Sean McDougall was on Lynch's tail throughout the first lap with "Cowboy" Bobby Krips in third. Lynch kept McDougall at bay and Krips suffered a mechanical problem on lap three eliminating him from contention. McDougall stayed close but couldn't force a mistake as Lynch took his third main event of the year. Gerry Duttweiler finished third, last year's Support Fair Derby winner, Bentley Barrett, was fourth, with Krips getting credited with fifth.
There won't be any racing at Costa Mesa the next two weeks due to the Orange County Fair. Racing will return to the world famous race track on August 4 with the Stanley Exhaust Tech Motorcycle Demolition Derby.
RESULTS
Support Consolation
100 - Phil Harmatiuk
106 - Robert Fiesler
338 - Dave Delbridge (fell, remounted)
316 - John DeFries (non starter)
Support Main Event
131 - David Lynch
243 - Sean McDougall
200 - Gerry Duttweiler
300 - Bentley Barrett
223 - Bobby Krips (engine failure)
Denim Doctor Challenge
4 - Josh Larsen
3 - Gary Hicks
6 - Shawn McConnell
130 - Chris Manchester
15 - Dukie Ermolenko
Handicap Main Event
216 - Kitt Nay 20
12 - Randy DiFrancesco 40
6 - Shawn McConnell 40
3 - Gary Hicks 50
11 - Bobby Schwartz 50
15 - Dukie Ermolenko 40 (fell, remounted)
14 - Eddie Castro 30 (fell, remounted)
23 - Mark Adams 20 (fell, remounted)
Fair Derby Main Event
4 - Josh Larsen
9 - Mike Faria
11 - Bobby Schwartz
3 - Gary Hicks
130 - Chris Manchester
PAST FAIR DERBY CHAMPIONS
1970 - Bill Cody 1986 - Mike Faria
1971 - Rick Woods 1987 - Mike Faria
1972 - Sonny Nutter 1988 - Shawn McConnell
1973-74 - not contested 1989 - Steve Lucero
1975 - Mike Curoso 1990 - Bobby Schwartz
1976 - Bruce Penhall 1991 - Phil Collins
1977 - not contested 1992 - Mike Faria
1978 - Bobby Schwartz 1993 - Bobby Schwartz
1979 - Alan Christian 1994 - Bobby Schwartz
1980 - Mike Muntean (handicap race) 1995 - Steve Lucero
1981 - Lance King 1996 - Robert Pfetzing
1982 - Mike Bast 1997 - Shawn McConnell
1983 - Kelly Moran 1998 - Bobby Schwartz
1984 - John Sandona 1999 - Mike Faria
1985 - Robert Pfetzing 2000 - Charlie Venegas
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