Arrowhead Motor Speedway
San Bernardino, California
2001 Arrowhead Speedway
Arrowhead Speedway
July 11, 2001
From Ryan Evans
Dukie Ermolenko used a little bit of luck to win his first Scratch
Main of the year at Arrowhead Motor Speedway in San Bernardino Wednesday
Night.
The first attempt was over before it started as Shaun Harmatiuk was
excluded for touching the tapes. It was a tough break for Harmatiuk who was
making his first-ever Scratch Main event appearance. On the second try, Bobby Krips, also making his first-ever Scratch Main appearance, and Gary
Hicks gated evenly and entered turn one together. Hicks got the better drive
coming out of turn two and took the lead. Ermolenko passed Krips for second
and it looked as though the finishing order was set until Hicks had a fuel
line come off on the back straight on lap three. Ermolenko was the
benefactor and cruised to the victory. Krips finished second and a dejected
Hicks finished third.
Harmatiuk came from the 10 yard line and was at the front of the field
for the start of the Handicap Main. Harmatiuk held a comfortable lead at the
beginning of the race, but the action was furious behind him. Hicks and
Ermolenko were charging through the field after starting on the 50 yard line.
Hicks took over second on the third lap and quickly closed on Harmatiuk.
Hicks made his move entering turn three on lap four and went under Harmatiuk
for the lead. Things got worse for Harmatiuk as he fell in turn two on the
next lap. Hicks went on to record his third San Bernardino Handicap Main
victory of the year, Ermolenko finished second, Charlie Cooley, in his 2001
debut, finished third, Bobby Krips finished fourth, Northern California rider
and Junior National Champion Bryan Yarrow finished fifth, while Harmatiuk was
credited with sixth.
In the Second Division Main Rick Valdez got the best start of the
three riders starting at the tapes, but he had to contend with Chad Newlee
right away. Valdez did his best to hold the lead, but Newlee was relentless
and made the pass. Matt Browne, who drove down from Northern California,
weaved his way through the field and into second. Browne was within striking
distance on the last lap, but Newlee thwarted his attempt for the lead in the
last corner and recorded the victory. Browne was second, Mike Lupo was
third, Valdez was fourth, Dave Delbridge was fifth, and Shane Kump was sixth.
Second Division B used a Scratch format for the evening and it was Billy Braden who enjoyed it most as he won his second main event in three
weeks. Braden started from the pole and rode four smooth laps to earn the
victory. Scott Tidwell was second, Jeremiah LeBlanc was third, and Kim
Stevens was fourth.
In addition to Yarrow and Browne, Jonathan Curry and Greg Hooten Jr. also came down from the Northern California. The four young riders made the
trip together. All four had positive things to say about the track and all
of them expressed interest in returning next week. It was great to see their
enthusiasm and is always good to have riders making trips down south to race.
RESULTS
Second Division B Consolation (Scratch)
310 - K.G. Fairbarn
512 - Steve Dziadus
350 - Kodiak Calkin
227 - Mark Robertson
Second Division B Main Event (Scratch)
117 - Billy Braden
118 - Scott Tidwell
137 - Jeremiah LeBlanc
197 - Kim Stevens
Second Division Consolation
174 - Tomasz Hampel 0
106 - Robert Fiesler 10
178 - Eloy Medellin 0
182 - Rudy Laurer 20
148 - Chris Metoyer 10
165 - Randy Kreps 10
103 - Brent Smith 10
Second Division Main Event
123 - Chad Newlee 0
211n - Matt Browne 20
162 - Mike Lupo 30
293 - Rick Valdez 0
338 - Dave Delbridge 20
228 - >Shane Kump 0
Juniors
12n - Greg Hooten Jr.
3 - Justin Boyle
Handicap Main Event
3 - Gary Hicks 50
15 - Dukie Ermolenko 50
16 - Charlie Cooley 20
223 - Bobby Krips 20
854n - Bryan Yarrow 20
139 - Shaun Harmatiuk 10 (fell)
Scratch Consolation
854n - Bryan Yarrow
31n - Jonathan Curry
173 - Jeff Blaydes
16 - Charlie Cooley
Scratch Main Event
15 - Dukie Ermolenko
223 - Bobby Krips
3 - Gary Hicks (retired)
139 - Shaun Harmatiuk (tape exclusion)
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