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Costa Mesa Speedway
Orange County Fairgrounds
Costa Mesa, California
Fall Classic
October 11, 2008 - Costa Mesa
By: Ryan Evans
Former National Champion Charlie “The Edge” Venegas brought the curtain down on Costa Mesa’s 2008 season with a main event victory at the Fall Classic.
Venegas was lined up in gate three and exploded from the tapes and into the lead, but the red light came on. The referee determined that there had been an unsatisfactory start and warned Venegas. The warning didn’t rattle Venegas as he led the restart into turn one. Under 21 National Champion Ricky Wells settled in behind Venegas and hoped to pressure him into a mistake. His efforts would prove to be futile as the multi-time ICE Champion led to the checkered flag. Wells had to settle for second, Shaun Harmatiuk finished third, Jason Ramirez was fourth, and Bobby Schwartz finished fifth.
Round one began with Wells running away with his first victory. Buck Blair comfortably won the second heat. Harmatiuk was victorious in the third heat. Venegas closed out round one with his first win.
The second round, an earned-handicap round, began with Neil Facchini defeating Russell Green. Greg Ayers impressively held off Blair to win the next heat. Schwartz patiently worked through the field to win event 11. Brad Sauer ended round two with a win over Ramirez.
The final round started with Wells getting his second win. Green held off Blair for the victory in event 18. Ramirez defeated Schwartz to win the next heat. Venegas, now on an upright Jawa after an engine failure the previous round, easily won the final heat.
Ramirez followed Harmatiuk all the way to the finish in the first semi as both riders transferred to the main. Wells and Venegas finished one-two in the second semi to book their place in the main. Schwartz won the Last Chance to take the final slot in the main.
Billy Braden put together four smooth laps to take home the Support Main Event victory. Rudy Laurer finished second, Archie Perez was third, Steve Bowen finished fourth, and Ed Martinez was fifth.
Jonni Jade led all four laps en route to victory in the Support B Main Event. Rick Fritch was second, Phil Harmatiuk finished third, and Tom Bostic was fourth.
Rocco Scopellite was dominant in Youth action, winning both his heats and the Youth Main Event. Nicky Reimer finished second and Brad Painter was third.
The Fall Classic brought an end to the 40th season at the world famous Costa Mesa Speedway. The 2009 season is tentatively scheduled to kick off on Saturday, May 2nd with the Spring Classic.
RESULTS
Youth Main Event
9 – Rocco Scopellite
41 – Nicky Reimer
777 – Brad Painter
Support B Consolation
198 – Mike Boyle
189 – Chris Thomas
156 – Ryan Brant
371 – Gary Greenwood
Support B Consolation
362 – Ralph Chudy
129 – Norman Graham
242 – Bruce Marteney
169 – Dan Wensloff
Support B Main Event (restarted)
266 – Jonni Jade
288 – Rick Fritch
100 – Phil Harmatiuk
222 – Tom Bostic (penalty line)
Support Consolation
309 – Vince Giamformaggio
326 – Mark Lane
136 – Kim Stevens
153 – Brad Moreau
Support Last Chance
177 – Steve Bowen
163 – Rohn Zellner
389 – Ryan Tovatt
201 – Dylan Black (tape penalty)
Support Main Event (restarted)
117 – Billy Braden
182 – Rudy Laurer
34 – Archie Perez (tape penalty)
177 – Steve Bowen (penalty line)
269 – Ed Martinez (fell, remounted)
First Division Scoring 1 2 3 T
11 – Bobby Schwartz 3 4 3 10
18 – Justin Boyle R 1 R 1
21 – Brad Sauer 2 4 1 7
22 – Mike Bloom 3 0 3 6
39 – Buck Blair 4 3 3 10
41 – John Marquez 1 1 3 5
43 – Charlie Venegas 4 E 4 8
66 – Jason Ramirez 3 3 4 10
86 – Neil Facchini 2 4 2 8
99 – Greg Ayers 2 4 1 7
120 – Doug Greyson 1 1 2 4
139 – Shaun Harmatiuk 4 2 2 8
142 – Ricky Wells 4 2 4 10
147 – Rick Farron 1 R N 1
149 – Philip Harmatiuk 0 2 1 3
178 – Eloy Medellin 0 2 0 2
184 – Tyson Burmeister 3 Fx 0 3
222n – Robert Christian 2 1 1 4
249 – John Stunkard 1 3 2 6
321 – Russell Green E 3 4 7
Race Results
1: Wells, Ramirez, Christian, Farron, P.Harmatiuk (fell, remounted)
2: Blair, Bloom, Sauer, Greyson, Medellin
3: S.Harmatiuk, Schwartz, Facchini, Marquez, Boyle (retired)
4: Venegas, Burmeister, Ayers, Stunkard, Green (engine failure)
9: (awarded) Facchini [10], Green [0], Wells [30], Greyson [0], Burmeister [20] (fell, excluded)
10: Ayers [10], Blair [30], P.Harmatiuk [0], Boyle [0], Farron [0] (retired)
11: Schwartz [20], Stunkard [0], Medellin [0], Christian [10], Bloom [20]
12: Sauer [10], Ramirez [20], S.Harmatiuk [30], Marquez [0], Venegas [30] (engine failure)
17: Wells [10], Marquez [0], S.Harmatiuk [10], Christian [0], Boyle [0] (retired)
18: (restarted) Green [20], Blair [20], Stunkard [20], Sauer [30], Burmeister [0]
19: Ramirez [20], Schwartz [30], Facchini [30], P.Harmatiuk [10], Farron [0] (non starter)
20: Venegas [0], Bloom [0], Greyson [0], Ayers [30], Medellin [10]
Semi #1: S.Harmatiuk, Ramirez, Blair, Green, Facchini
Semi #2: Wells, Venegas, Sauer, Schwartz, Ayers
Last Chance
11 – Bobby Schwartz
39 – Buck Blair
21 – Brad Sauer
321 – Russell Green
Scratch Main Event
43 – Charlie Venegas
142 – Ricky Wells
139 – Shaun Harmatiuk
66 – Jason Ramirez
11 – Bobby Schwartz
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