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Costa Mesa Speedway
Orange County Fairgrounds
Costa Mesa, California
37th Fair Derby Championshi
August 1, 2009 - Costa Mesa
By: Ryan Evans
“Fast” Eddie Castro scored the biggest victory of his career by winning the illustrious Fair Derby at Costa Mesa.
The main event featured from the inside to the outside: Castro, defending Fair Derby Champion Jimmy “Little Animal” Fishback, two-time Fair Derby Champion Shawn “Mad Dog” McConnell, and five-time Fair Derby Champion Bobby “Boogaloo” Schwartz. Castro’s bid for the title appeared to end when he went down in the first corner and brought out the red flag, but the referee ordered a complete restart. The second time the tapes went up Castro was first off the line and led everyone into turn one. Castro had a healthy advantage on the back straight while the former champions fought over the minor positions. McConnell emerged with second, but couldn’t make up ground on the leader. Castro cruised to the win, McConnell finished second, Schwartz was third, and Fishback finished fourth.
The heats began with Gary Hicks getting the lead before Dukie Ermolenko passed him on the third lap for the lead and the win. John Marquez scored an impressive triumph in the second heat. Eight-time Fair Derby Champion “Flyin” Mike Faria beat Tommy Hedden in the third heat. Tim Gomez ended round one with a victory over Schwartz.
Gomez started round two with a win over Fishback in a race that required three starts. Hicks was victorious in the next heat. Castro earned his first win in event 11. Schwartz beat Hedden to close the second round.
Fishback opened the final round with a victory. Faria scored his second win in a row in event 18. Gomez beat Brad Sauer to remain the only undefeated rider. Castro held off Hedden and Ermolenko to conclude the heats with his second consecutive win. Jason Ramirez defeated Shaun Harmatiuk in a runoff for the final spot in the semis.
A crash in the first semi brought out the red flag and ended Faria’s night with an injured hand. Castro won the restart with Schwartz following him into the main event. Gomez suffered bad luck in the second semi as he was leading the first two starts which both ended with red flags. On the third start, McConnell used a shrewd cutback move in the first corner to take the lead with Gomez in tow. McConnell took the victory, but Fishback moved Gomez off the inside line to take second and the final transfer to the main.
The Support Main Event required two restarts, but the final time the tapes went up it was Philip Harmatiuk who put together four good laps and was first to the checkered flag. Rudy Laurer finished second, Josh Abbott was third, and Rick Farron finished fourth.
Gerard Jackson and Dave German were very impressive en route to victory in the Sidecar Main Event. Joe Jones and Jimmy Olsen finished second, Danny Jones and Gene Stone were third, and Sean Driggers and Missy Driggers finished fourth.
The next event at Costa Mesa is the Jack Milne Cup on Saturday, August 15.
RESULTS
Sidecar Main Event
66 – Gerard Jackson/Dave German
1 – Joe Jones/Jimmy Olsen
7 – Danny Jones/Gene Stone
23 – Sean Driggers/Missy Driggers
Support Main Event (restarted twice)
149 – Philip Harmatiuk
182 – Rudy Laurer
141 – Josh Abbott
147 – Rick Farron
First Division Scoring 1 2 3 T
3 – Gary Hicks 3 4 T 7
6 – Shawn McConnell 3 2 2 7
9 – Mike Faria 4 2 4 10
11 – Bobby Schwartz 3 4 1 8
14 – Eddie Castro 2 4 4 10
15 – Dukie Ermolenko 4 1 2 7
17 – Robbie Sauer 0 1 1 2
18 – Justin Boyle 1 2 1 4
21 – Brad Sauer 0 1 3 4
25 – Jimmy Fishback 2 3 4 9
30 – Tim Gomez 4 4 4 12
40 – Tommy Hedden 3 3 3 9
41 – John Marquez 4 0 1 5
66 – Jason Ramirez 2 2 2 6
86 – Neil Facchini 1 0 0 1
120 – Doug Greyson 1 1 2 4
139 – Shaun Harmatiuk 0 3 3 6
145 – Brad Pappalardo R R Fn 0
184 – Tyson Burmeister 2 3 0 5
221 – Gino Manzares 1 0 3 4
Race Results
1: Ermolenko, Hicks, Fishback, Manzares, R.Sauer (fell, remounted)
2: Marquez, McConnell, Castro, Boyle, Harmatiuk (fell, remounted)
3: Faria, Hedden, Ramirez, Facchini, Pappalardo (retired)
4: (restarted) Gomez, Schwartz, Burmeister (penalty line), Greyson, B.Sauer
9: (restarted twice) Gomez, Fishback, Ramirez, Ermolenko, Marquez (fell, remounted)
10: Hicks, Harmatiuk, McConnell, B.Sauer, Facchini
11: Castro, Burmeister, Faria, R.Sauer, Pappalardo (retired)
12: Schwartz, Hedden, Boyle, Greyson, Manzares
17: (restarted twice) Fishback, Harmatiuk, McConnell, Boyle, Burmeister (penalty line)
18: (restarted) Faria, Manzares, Ramirez, Schwartz, Pappalardo (non starter)
19: Gomez, B.Sauer, Greyson, Marquez, Hicks (tape exclusion)
20: Castro, Hedden, Ermolenko, R.Sauer, Facchini
Runoff: Ramirez, Harmatiuk
Semi #1: (restarted) Castro, Schwartz, Hicks, Ramirez, Faria (non starter)
Semi #2: (restarted) McConnell, Fishback, Hedden, Gomez, Ermolenko
Fair Derby Main Event (restarted)
14 – Eddie Castro
6 – Shawn McConnell
11 – Bobby Schwartz
25 – Jimmy Fishback (fell, remounted)
Past Winners
1970 - Bill Cody
1971 - Sonny Nutter
1972 - Rick Woods
1973 - not contested
1974 - not contested
1975 - Mike Curoso
1976 - Bruce Penhall
1977 - not contested
1978 - Bobby Schwartz
1979 - Alan Christian
1980 - Mike Muntean (handicap race)
1981 - Lance King
1982 - Mike Bast
1983 - Kelly Moran
1984 - John Sandona
1985 - Robert Pfetzing
1986 - Mike Faria
1987 - Mike Faria
1988 - Shawn McConnell
1989 - Steve Lucero
1990 - Bobby Schwartz
1991 - Phil Collins
1992 - Mike Faria
1993 - Bobby Schwartz
1994 - Bobby Schwartz
1995 - Steve Lucero
1996 - Robert Pfetzing
1997 - Shawn McConnell
1998 - Bobby Schwartz
1999 - Mike Faria
2000 - Charlie Venegas
2001 - Josh Larsen
2002 - Mike Faria
2003 - Mike Faria
2004 - Mike Faria
2005 - Mike Faria
2006 - Bryan Yarrow
2007 - Ricky Wells
2008 – Jimmy Fishback
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