Industry Hills Speedway
The Grand Industry Hills Expo Center
City of Industry, California

Speedway
July 20, 2005 - Industry Hills Speedway
By: Ryan Evans

Charlie "The Edge" Venegas swept the program en route to his second straight main event victory and sixth overall of 2005 at The Grand in Industry Hills.

With the formidable trio of Eddie Castro, Scott Brant, and Shawn McConnell lined up inside of him, the chances of Venegas winning from gate four appeared to be slim. Venegas was up to the task, though, and trapped the field as they approached turn one. Venegas exited turn two a little wide and left the door open for Brant to possibly get by, but Venegas was able to get to the inside and hold the lead as they entered turn three. Brant chased Venegas and was within striking distance the whole race, but couldn't find way past him. Venegas was first to the checkered flag, Brant was second, Castro finished third, and McConnell was fourth.

Venegas won the first heat race and provided a glimpse of the rest of his evening. Neil Facchini defeated Shaun Harmatiuk in the next heat. McConnell and Brant raced side-by-side the entire race with McConnell nudging ahead at the line for the win. The race brought the crowd to its feet. The next heat had Brad Sauer jump into the lead before being passed for the lead and the eventual win by "Cowboy" Bobby Krips. Bobby Schwartz completed the first round with a win over Denny Scopellite.

Venegas began round two the same was as round one, with a victory. Brant defeated Krips for his first win of the evening. Jimmy Fishback held off Castro to win race 15.

Race 16 provided one of the scariest incidents seen at The Grand. Dario Galvin led the race for nearly laps before lifting in turn four and dismounting before hitting the wall. Galvin came to a rest against the hay bale, but his bike ricocheted off the wall and back toward the racing line. The bike darted behind Harmatiuk and into the path of Brian Starr who hit the wayward machine and flipped over his own handlebars and landed hard on the track. Scopellite was able to get by Starr but his evasive action took him toward the starting gate. He was able to avoid the gate, but collected starter Mike Reed in the process and both went down.

Galvin was first to his feet. After a couple minutes Scopellite was on his feet and gingerly walking to the pits. Despite a lot of concern from everyone in attendance, Reed was able to walk away, but was understandably finished with his duties for the evening. To the relief of everyone, Starr was able to get himself upright and be assisted off the track.

Round three began with Brant winning his second straight race. Schwartz earned his second win while simultaneously handing McConnell his first defeat. Castro made an awesome outside pass around Buck Blair to win race 25. Venegas made it three for three when he beat Robbie Sauer in the next race. Fishback made a beautiful cutback move on John Stunkard to take the lead and then win the final heat race.

Venegas ran away with the first semi with McConnell following him to main by holding off Fishback's valiant efforts to get past. Brant won the second semi with Castro finishing second to complete the main event field. Blair used a good start to win the Consolation.

Mark Baldwin used gate one to his advantage and took the lead at the start of the Second Division Main Event. Baldwin led for nearly two laps, but paid for his wide line when Steve Murray passed him for the lead coming out of turn four. Baldwin didn't give up and made his move as they entered turn one the final time. He came up empty when he nearly hit the wall. Murray appeared to have the race in the bag when he inexplicable slowed in turn four and went wide. Baldwin, who charged down the back straight headed for an apparent second place, was right there to capitalize on Murray's mistake and beat him to the line for the win. Rudy Laurer finished third and Eloy Medellin was fourth.

In just his second week in speedway, Matt McBride led all four laps to collect his first Third Division Main Event victory. Last week's winner, Troy Robinson finished second, Kerry Sorensen was third, Damon Barry finished fourth, Mark Skeels was fifth, and Mike Bershee was sixth.

In one of the evening's best races, Rocco Scopellite passed Braydan Galvin on the outside of turn three and held him off on the final lap to win the Pee Wee Main. Krystal Cramer defeated Russell Green for her eighth Youth Main victory of the season.

For the second consecutive week a former speedway champion was spectating at The Grand. Two-time World Champion Bruce Penhall was among the ever-growing crowd and, when interviewed by track announcer Bruce Flanders, paid several positive opinions about what he was witnessing at The Grand.

RESULTS

Pee Wee Main Event
  7 - Rocco Scopellite
  1 - Braydan Galvin
14 - Austin Santana

Youth Main Event
13 - Krystal Cramer
18 - Russell Green

Third Division Consolation
101 - Wayne Isaac
102 - Jim Lavender
132 - Justin Hassan

Third Division Main Event
140 - Matt McBride    0
390 - Troy Robinson        10
280 - Kerry Sorensen           10
150 - Damon Barry         10
151 - Mark Skeels          10 (fell, remounted)
391 - Mike Bershee        0     (fell)

Second Division Consolation
338 - Dave Delbridge
269 - Ed Martinez
309 - Vince Giamformaggio

Second Division Consolation
212 - Steve Dziadus, Sr.
136 - Kim Stevens
336 - Bill Green               (fell, remounted)

Second Division Semi
214 - Steve Murray
115 - Mark Baldwin
163 - Rohn Zellner
117 - Billy Braden                  (engine failure)

Second Division Semi
178 - Eloy Medellin
182 - Rudy Laurer
272 - Steve Dziadus, Jr.
237 - Tommy Kistler              (non starter)

Second Division Main Event
115 - Mark Baldwin
214 - Steve Murray
182 - Rudy Laurer
178 - Eloy Medellin

First Division Scoring 1     2    3           T
  6 - Shawn McConnell          3     3    2           8
10 - Scott Brant               2    3    3           8
11 - Bobby Schwartz           3     2    3           8
14 - Eddie Castro              2    2    3           7
17 - Robbie Sauer              0    0    2           2
21 - Brad Sauer               1     0    1           2
24 - Bobby Krips               3    2    1           6
25 - Jimmy Fishback            1     3    3           7
37 - Denny Scopellite          2     1    N          3
39 - Buck Blair                2     2    2           6
43 - Charlie Venegas           3     3    3           9
45 - Dario Galvin              0    Fx  R          0
120 - Skyler Greyson            1     1    1           3
139 - Shaun Harmatiuk          2     3    0           5
201 - Neil Facchini             3    1    2           6
248 - Brian Starr               1     2    N          3
249 - John Stunkard             0    1    1           2
256 - Tim Gomez                 1    1    2           4
301 - Dale Facchini             0    0    1           1

Race Results
3: Venegas, Castro, Starr, Stunkard (fell, remounted)
4: N.Facchini, Harmatiuk, Fishback (tape penalty)
5: McConnell, Brant, Gomez, D.Facchini
6: (restarted twice) Krips, Blair, B.Sauer, Galvin
7: Schwartz, Scopellite, Greyson, R.Sauer
13: Venegas, Schwartz, Gomez, B.Sauer (tape penalty)
14: (restarted) Brant, Krips (penalty line), Stunkard
15: Fishback, Castro, Greyson, D.Facchini
16: (awarded) Harmatiuk, Starr, Scopellite, Galvin (excluded)
17: McConnell, Blair, N.Facchini, R.Sauer
23: Brant, N.Facchini, B.Sauer, Scopellite (non starter)
24: Schwartz, McConnell, Krips, Starr (non starter)
25: Castro, Blair, Greyson, Harmatiuk
26: Venegas, R.Sauer, D.Facchini
27: Fishback, Gomez, Stunkard, Galvin (retired)
Runoff: (restarted) Blair, N.Facchini, Krips (penalty line)
Semi #1: Venegas, McConnell, Fishback, N.Facchini
Semi #2: Brant, Castro, Blair, Schwartz

First Division Consolation
39 - Buck Blair
25 - Jimmy Fishback
11 - Bobby Schwartz
201 - Neil Facchini

First Division Main Event
43 - Charlie Venegas
10 - Scott Brant
14 - Eddie Castro
  6 - Shawn McConnell          (retired)