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Costa Mesa Speedway
Orange County Fairgrounds
Costa Mesa, California
Mission Motorsports John Matherson Cup
September 6, 2008 - Costa Mesa
By: Ryan Evans
Shawn “Mad Dog” McConnell’s blazing hot winning streak continued with another come-from-behind victory in the Scratch Main Event on Mission Motorsports John Matherson Cup Night at Costa Mesa.
Former National Champion “Flyin” Mike Faria got the best start, but was under immediate pressure from Jimmy Fishback on the inside and Bobby Schwartz on the outside. Faria pulled ahead for the lead, but then McConnell began to chase him down. McConnell came within inches of bumping the leader the second time entering turn three. His pressure paid off on the front straight as he blasted underneath Faria for the lead. McConnell was never challenged and led the final two laps for the win. Faria was second, Schwartz finished third, Ricky Wells was fourth, and Fishback finished fifth.
The heats commenced with McConnell getting his first win. Faria beat Jason Ramirez in the second heat. Fishback defeated Schwartz in the next heat. Wells finished round one with his first victory.
Round two began with McConnell beating Neil Facchini for his second win. Faria defeated Robbie Sauer for his second straight win. Schwartz was awarded the victory in the next heat. The second round ended with Wells getting a victory ahead of Fishback.
McConnell started the final round with a win over Fishback. Faria remained perfect with his third victory. Schwartz beat Greg Ayers for his second win. Wells ended the heats with a win over Brad Sauer. Neil Facchini, Robbie Sauer, and Greg Ayers finished one-two-three in a four-rider runoff to fill out the semis.
Faria was an easy winner in the first semi with Wells getting the second transfer to the main. McConnell won the second semi and followed into the main by Fishback. Schwartz easily won the Last Chance to book the final place in the main.
Billy Braden put together four smooth laps to win the Support Main Event for the first time this season. Rudy Laurer finished second, Ryan Tovatt was third, Damon Barry finished fourth, and Vince Giamformaggio was fifth.
Jonni Jade led the Support B Main Event before second-generation rider Tyson Burmeister took the lead on the third lap. Burmeister led the rest of the way to cap his auspicious speedway debut with a main-event victory. Jade held on to second, Tom Bostic finished third, Norman Graham was fourth, Mike Schultz finished fifth, and Dan Wensloff was sixth.
Joey Holt led all four laps en route to victory in the Youth Main Event. River McDougall finished second, Nicky Reimer was third, and Samuel Ramirez was fourth.
Next Saturday is the Warren Russell Cup and the final Amateur Afternoon event of the season.
RESULTS
Youth Main Event (restarted)
4 – Joey Holt
43 – River McDougall (penalty line)
41 – Nicky Reimer
22 – Mike Bloom
9 – Rocco Scopellite (non starter)
Support B Consolation
198 – Mike Boyle 0
371 – Gary Greenwood 0
252 – Jeff Remington 0
102 – Jim Lavender 10
124 – Paul Thornton 10
399 – Jeff Shaffer 10 (non starter)
Support B Main Event
184 – Tyson Burmeister 0
266 – Jonni Jade 0
222 – Tom Bostic 10
129 – Norman Graham 0
292 – Mike Schultz 10
169 – Dan Wensloff 10
Support Consolation
77 – Bryan Buffington
172 – Jim Painter
177 – Steve Bowen
107 – Monte McKeon
Support Last Chance
182 – Rudy Laurer
147 – Rick Farron
149 – Phillip Harmatiuk
176 – Carl Gazafy
Support Main Event (restarted)
117 – Billy Braden
182 – Rudy Laurer
389 – Ryan Tovatt
150 – Damon Barry (fell)
309 – Vince Giamformaggio (non starter)
First Division Scoring 1 2 3 T
6 – Shawn McConnell 4 4 4 12
9 – Mike Faria 4 4 4 12
11 – Bobby Schwartz 3 4 4 11
17 – Robbie Sauer 2 3 2 7
21 – Brad Sauer 2 3 3 8
22 – Mike Bloom 1 2 1 4
25 – Jimmy Fishback 4 3 3 10
41 – John Marquez 0 1 0 1
52 – Marvin Sonnier 1 1 0 2
66 – Jason Ramirez 3 2 3 8
86 – Neil Facchini 2 3 2 7
99 – Greg Ayers 2 2 3 7
120 – Doug Greyson 3 2 2 7
142 – Ricky Wells 4 4 4 12
178 – Eloy Medellin 0 1 1 2
232 – Allen Doss 1 0 1 2
249 – John Stunkard 1 1 1 3
321 – Russell Green 3 R 2 5
Race Results
1: McConnell, Green, R.Sauer, Bloom (fell, remounted)
2: Faria, Ramirez, B.Sauer, Doss, Medellin
3: Fishback, Schwartz, Ayers, Stunkard
4: Wells, Greyson, Sonnier, Facchini, Marquez
9: (restarted twice) McConnell, Facchini, Ayers (penalty line), Sonnier, Doss (penalty line)
10: Faria, R.Sauer, Greyson, Marquez, Green (retired)
11: (awarded) Schwartz, B.Sauer, Bloom, Medellin
12: Wells, Fishback, Ramirez, Stunkard
15: (restarted) McConnell, Fishback (tape penalty), Green, Bloom
16: Faria, Ramirez, Facchini, Medellin
17: (restarted) Schwartz, Ayers, R.Sauer, Stunkard, Marquez (penalty line)
18: Wells, B.Sauer, Greyson, Doss, Sonnier
Runoff: Facchini, R.Sauer, Ayers, Greyson (tape penalty)
Semi #1: Faria, Wells, Ramirez, B.Sauer, Ayers (fell)
Semi #2: McConnell, Fishback, Schwartz, Facchini, R.Sauer
Last Chance
11 – Bobby Schwartz
86 – Neil Facchini
21 – Brad Sauer
66 – Jason Ramirez (tape penalty)
Scratch Main Event
6 – Shawn McConnell
9 – Mike Faria
11 – Bobby Schwartz
142 – Ricky Wells
25 – Jimmy Fishback (fell, remounted)
Current Sidecar National Champions Joe Jones and Jimmy Olsen capped a perfect night by winning the inaugural John Matherson Cup.
Joe Jones and Olsen started from gate one and used it to their advantage as they led into turn one. They were followed by Dan Jones and Chris Jones and Bob Brayton and Dwayne King. Joe Jones and Olsen were steady on the inside but Dan Jones and Chris Jones remained within striking distance and waited for a mistake. Joe Jones and Olsen never succumbed to the pressure and took an emotional victory. Dan Jones and Chris Jones were second, Brayton and King were third, and Dan Alexander and Justin Driggers finished fourth.
The John Matherson Cup honors the man who was not only the owner and operator of Mission Motorsports in Irvine, but was a longtime sponsor and supporter of Costa Mesa Speedway. Matherson dedicated his life to motorcycling and spent many years competing on a sidecar. Matherson lost his life earlier this year in a motorcycle accident while en route to Costa Mesa Speedway.
The evening officially began with Matherson’s wife, Robin, serving as Grand Marshall and giving the riders the command to start their engines. In a tribute to their late friend all eight of the sidecar teams donned jerseys with the number 29, Matherson’s number, and wore them throughout the evening’s competition.
The sidecars have made exhibition appearances earlier this season, but the John Matherson Cup was the first competitive meeting the sidecars have staged at Costa Mesa in several years. The event featured two rounds of heats, a consolation, and the John Matherson Cup Final. John’s brother, Bill, also did several laps around the world famous bullring in between the rounds of heats.
Joe Jones and Olsen began the heats with a convincing win ahead of Brayton and King, Gerard Jackson and Dave German, and Tommy Thornton and Steven Bumpus. Dan Jones and Chris Jones won the second heat by beating Alexander and Driggers, Stuart Glass and Jack Straw, and Joe Petraglovic and John DeFries.
Round two began with a great battle between Brayton and King and Dan Jones and Chris Jones. Brayton and King took the win, the Jones Brothers settled for second, Glass and Straw were third, and Petraglovic and DeFries finished fourth. Joe Jones and Jimmy Olsen won the next heat to finish the heats as the only unbeaten team, Thornton and Bumpus were second, Jackson and German were third, and Alexander and Driggers finished fourth.
Three spots were secured in the main event, but a four-team runoff was needed to fill the last spot in the main. Alexander and Driggers won the runoff to fill the last spot in the main event.
Glass and Straw were victorious in the Consolation, Thornton and Bumpus were second, Petraglovic and DeFries finished third, and Jackson and German were fourth.
RESULTS
Sidecar Scoring 1 2 T
1- Joe Jones/Jimmy Olsen 3 3 6
2 – Bob Brayton/Dwayne King 2 3 5
7 – Dan Jones/Chris Jones 3 2 5
22 – Dave Alexander/Justin Driggers 2 0 2
31 – Tommy Thornton/Steven Bumpus 0 2 2
33 – Joe Petraglovic/John DeFries M 0 0
66 – Gerard Jackson/Dave German 1 1 2
911 – Stuart Glass/Jack Straw 1 1 2
Race Results
1: Jones/Olsen, Brayton/King, Jackson/German, Thornton/Bumpus
2: Jones/Jones, Alexander/Driggers, Glass/Straw, Petraglovic/DeFries (two-minute exclusion)
3: Brayton/King, Jones/Jones, Glass/Straw, Petraglovic/DeFries
4: Jones/Olsen, Thornton/Bumpus, Jackson/German, Alexander/Driggers
Runoff: Alexander/Driggers, Jackson/German, Glass/Straw, Thornton/Bumpus
Sidecar Consolation
911 – Stuart Glass/Jack Straw
31 – Tommy Thornton/Steven Bumpus
33 – Joe Petraglovic/John DeFries
66 – Gerard Jackson/Dave German (retired)
John Matherson Cup Final
1 – Joe Jones/Jimmy Olsen
7 – Dan Jones/Chris Jones
2 – Bob Brayton/Dwayne King
22 – Dave Alexander/Justin Driggers
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