Costa Mesa Speedway
Orange County Fairgrounds
Costa Mesa, California
FOX NIGHT
September 11, 2004 - Costa Mesa
By: Ryan Evans
Mike Faria won the Scratch Main for the fifth time at Costa Mesa this season and Buck Blair captured his second Handicap Main of 2004 at the world famous oval on Saturday.
The action in the Scratch Main began before the tapes went up when former National Champion Charlie "The Edge" Venegas was penalized for touching the tapes. After the riders staged again, Faria trapped the field from gate five and secured the inside line and the lead. The three-time National Champion's grasp of the lead was never in doubt as he raced away with the main event. Bobby Schwartz finished second, Eddie Castro was third, Venegas finished fourth, and Randy DiFrancesco was fifth.
The Handicap Main began without 20 yard rider Justin Boyle who was involved in a crash in the Last Chance Race. This left three riders on the 30 to battle an important drag race to the first turn. Colorado native Buck Blair beat Andy Northrup and DiFrancesco to turn one and took the lead. Northrup emerged from the battle in second place and hoped to catch Blair. His hopes were never realized as Blair rode a fast and smooth eight laps to win the main. Northrup remained in second the entire race, Shawn McConnell was third, Castro finished fourth, and Faria was fifth.
Hideaki Ota jumped into the lead from gate four at the start of the Support Main Event with hopes of winning his first main of the season. Those hopes were ended on the second lap when Steve Murray took over the lead. Sixteen year old Skyler Greyson went by Ota as well and had visions of taking the lead. Murray never allowed Greyson an opportunity and he took his fourth main event win at Costa Mesa this season. Greyson had to settle for second, Ota hung to third, Carl Gazafy was fourth, and Rudy Laurer finished fifth.
Mark Sincavage won the three-rider battle of front yardage riders to take the lead in the Support B Main Event. His lead didn't last long because Robert Fiesler blasted underneath at the end of the first lap. Fiesler, a sergeant for the Los Angeles Police Department, never looked back as he scored a comfortable victory. Steve Dziadus was second, Sincavage finished third, Kim Stevens was fourth, Jim Lavender finished fifth, and Mike Boyle was sixth.
Jason Ramirez, who recently finished third in the Youth National Championship, won both heats and was well on his way to victory in the Youth Main when he fell on the third lap. Austin Novratil was in the right place at the right time as he took over the lead and held it to the checkered flag. Ricky Valdez was second, Joey Holt finished third, and Ramirez was fourth.
RESULTS
Youth Speedway
8 - Austin Novratil
5 - Ricky Valdez
114 - Joey Holt
66 - Jason Ramirez (fell, remounted)
Support B Consolation
185 - Keith Mullally 20
169 - Dan Wensloff 10
223 - Fred Schmitthammer 20
308 - Hugh Randolph 10
150 - Damon Barry 10 (fell)
Support B Main Event
106 - Robert Fiesler 20
212 - Steve Dziadus 20
213 - Mark Sincavage 10
136 - Kim Stevens 10
102 - Jim Lavender 10
198 - Mike Boyle 20 (fell)
Support Last Chance
182 - Rudy Laurer
107 - Monte McKeon
178 - Eloy Medellin
248 - Brian Starr (fell)
Support Main Event
214 - Steve Murray
120 - Skyler Greyson
240 - Hideaki Ota
176 - Carl Gazafy
182 - Rudy Laurer
Handicap Main Event
39 - Buck Blair 30
166 - Andy Northrup 30
6 - Shawn McConnell 40
14 - Eddie Castro 40
9 - Mike Faria 50
11 - Bobby Schwartz 40
12 - Randy DiFrancesco 30 (fell)
18 - Justin Boyle 20 (non starter)
Last Chance (awarded)
11 - Bobby Schwartz
8n - Bryan Yarrow
166 - Andy Northrup
18 - Justin Boyle (fell)
Scratch Main Event
9 - Mike Faria
11 - Bobby Schwartz
14 - Eddie Castro
43 - Charlie Venegas (tape penalty)
12 - Randy DiFrancesco
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