Costa Mesa Speedway
Orange County Fairgrounds
Costa Mesa, California
Season Opener
May 12, 2007 - Costa Mesa
By: Ryan Evans
Former Youth National Champion Bryan Yarrow took home the Scratch Main event at the 2007 Season Opener at the world famous bullring in Costa Mesa.
Yarrow drew gate two made it work as he led the field into turn one. Shawn McConnell tried to blast underneath his younger opponent but couldn't find enough traction to get by. Yarrow planted his rear tire on the groove and never flinched under the pressure. Yarrow led all four laps to win his first main event of the year, McConnell finished second, Bobby Schwartz was third, Randy DiFrancesco finished fourth, and Josh Larsen was fifth.
Brian Starr led the eight-rider Handicap Main field into turn one. He was pressured by 15 year old former Youth National Champion Ricky Wells. Starr drifted off the inside line on the second lap, but Wells wasn't close enough to make him pay for his mistake. By the third lap Wells had to contend with McConnell just to hold onto his position. With Wells preoccupied with McConnell Starr kept a comfortable distance and led all the way to the checkered flag. Wells held on for second, McConnell finished third, Larsen was fourth, and "Fast" Eddie Castro finished fifth.
Eloy Medellin turned in an excellent performance to win the Support Main Event. Mike "Spiderman" Bloom finished second, Randy Skinner was third, and Rudy Laurer finished fourth.
The Support B Main Event required three attempts and on the third try Blake Bowen was quick to take the lead. Bowen began feeling the heat from fellow teenager Philip Harmatiuk. Harmatiuk patiently waited for his opportunity and then took the lead at the end of lap two. Bowen lost any chance of a counterstrike when he fell in turn two. Harmatiuk cruised the rest of the way for the win. Damon Barry was second, Bowen remounted and finished third, Scott York was fourth, Dan Wensloff finished fifth, and Mark Lane was sixth.
Current California State Youth Champion Jason Ramirez showed why he holds that title by winning the Youth First Division Main Event. Joey Holt finished second and Chad Hoyt was third.
Brad Pappalardo held off a fierce challenge from Braydan Galvin to capture the Youth Second Division Main Event. Galvin had to settle for second, Rocco Scopellite was third, and Major Davis finished fourth.
Saturday nights event is the Orange County Harley Davidson Blow Out. The event will feature a custom bike show, a Harley Davidson bike display, and Harley races.
RESULTS
Youth Second Division Main Event
611 - Brad Pappalardo
2 - Braydan Galvin
9 - Rocco Scopellite
999 - Major Davis
Youth First Division Main Event
66 - Jason Ramirez
4 - Joey Holt
154 - Chad Hoyt
Support B Consolation
303 - Bill Carr 10
308 - Hugh Randolph 10 (penalty line)
157 - Tony DeAlmeida 10
312 - Steve Ousley 20 (fell)
288 - Rick Fritch 10 (non starter)
Support B Consolation
313 - Robert Glamuzina 10
170 - Yoshi Sato 10
102 - Jim Lavender 20
198 - Mike Boyle 20
172 - Jim Painter 20
300 - Jason Dupuy 10
Support B Main Event (restarted twice)
149 - Philip Harmatiuk 20
150 - Damon Barry 20
187 - Blake Bowen 20 (fell, remounted)
155 - Scott York 10 (penalty line)
169 - Dan Wensloff 10
326 - Mark Lane 20 (penalty line) (fell)
Support Consolation
117 - Billy Braden
161 - Hector Quevedo
212 - Steve Dziadus
176 - Carl Gazafy
106 - Robert Fiesler
Support Consolation
309 - Vince Giamformaggio
147 - Rick Farron
118 - Scott Tidwell
107 - Monte McKeon
113 - Mike McCarthy (fell)
Support Main Event
178 - Eloy Medellin
22 - Mike Bloom
383 - Randy Skinner (tape penalty)
182 - Rudy Laurer
Handicap Main Event
248 - Brian Starr 10
142 - Ricky Wells 20
6 - Shawn McConnell 40
2 - Josh Larsen 50
14 - Eddie Castro 40
39 - Buck Blair 30
12 - Randy DiFrancesco 30 (penalty line)
13 - Nate Perkins 30 (fell)
Last Chance
2 - Josh Larsen
39 - Buck Blair
1 - Charlie Venegas (fell)
139 - Shaun Harmatiuk (fell)
Scratch Main Event
8 - Bryan Yarrow
6 - Shawn McConnell
11 - Bobby Schwartz
12 - Randy DiFrancesco
2 - Josh Larsen (fell, remounted)
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