Costa Mesa Speedway
Orange County Fairgrounds
Costa Mesa, California

California Speedway
September 12,, 2009 - Costa Mesa
By: Ryan Evans

Billy “The Kid” Janniro warmed up for Saturday’s defense of his National Championship with a perfect night including a main event victory embroiled in controversy at the world famous Costa Mesa Speedway.

Janniro and Charlie “The Edge” Venegas both entered the Scratch Main with perfect scores. Janniro won the draw for first gate choice and he surprisingly took gate two while Venegas gladly selected gate one. Buck Blair picked gate three, followed by Gino Manzares, in his first Costa Mesa Scratch Main, who chose gate five, which left “Flyin” Mike Faria with gate four.

When the five riders lined up Blair shot through the tapes and was excluded. The second time the riders came to the line Faria became entangled in tapes as they went up and was sent to the pits. The third time was not the charm because Venegas was in the tapes as they rose.

Instead of the race being reduced to a match between Janniro and Manzares, the referee ruled that the tapes were rising too slowly and that caused Venegas to get into them. Once the ruling was announced, the spectators chanted for a complete restart. The referee acquiesced regarding Faria, ruling that he was a victim of the malfunctioning tapes, and allowed him back into the race. This prompted Blair to re-enter the track, sans motorcycle but carrying his helmet and jersey, and plead his case. He made no headway with the referee, who ruled that he was into the tapes before they were released. Janniro, unhappy about two riders essentially being allowed back into the race, voiced his displeasure but vowed to defeat his competitors anyway.

When the race finally started Janniro was away quickly with Venegas in tow and Manzares behind him. Venegas kept the leader in sight, but couldn’t get close enough to force a mistake. The California State Champion chased Janniro all four laps, but it was to no avail. Janniro crossed the line first, Venegas finished second, Manzares was third, Faria finished fourth, and Blair was credited with fifth.

Faria kicked off the heats with a win over Bobby “Boogaloo” Schwartz. Janniro powered away from everyone in event two for his first victory. Venegas beat Gary Hicks to win the third heat. “Fast” Eddie Castro ended round one with a win.

Round two began with Castro making an awesome outside pass around Jimmy Fishback for his second straight win. Janniro made an incredible split between Faria and Tim Gomez to win the next heat. Blair beat Manzares for his first victory. Venegas ended round two with a win over Shawn McConnell.

Venegas started the final round by defeating Schwartz for his third straight win. Janniro matched Venegas’s perfect score by winning the next heat. Faria beat Fishback in the penultimate heat for his second win. Blair closed out the heats with a win over Brad Sauer.

Blair got the best start in the first semi but Venegas stalked the Colorado native for two laps before slipping by on the inside for the lead. Venegas led the rest of the way with Blair following him into the main event.

In the second semi, Castro nearly suffered a whiplash when his visor was caught under the rising tapes. However, a full restart was ordered. Faria led the second start into turn one but was pushed wide by Janniro, who took the lead. Manzares deftly cut back and found himself in second place. Janniro led the rest of the way while 16 year old Manzares took the other transfer.

Faria left no doubt in the Last Chance by leading from start to finish and transferred to the main event.

Drew Coats put together four good laps and captured the Support Main Event for the first time. Rick Farron finished second, Kyle Hicks was third, Ryan Tovatt finished fourth, and Dylan Black was fifth.

Chris Jones led from start to finish and was victorious in the Support B Main Event. Gene Stone finished second, Mike Wiley was third, Mike Boyle finished fourth, and Norman Graham was fifth.

River McDougall fought off a late-race challenge from Rocco Scopellite to win the Youth First Division Main Event. Samuel Ramirez finished third and Nicky Reimer was fourth.

Hayley Perrault led all four laps en route to victory in the Youth Second Division Main Event. Dillon Ruml was second, Brian Pintar finished third, Jacob Wondolowski was fourth, and Michael Wells finished fifth.

National Champions Joe Jones and Jimmy Olsen made a great start and held off all challenges to win the Sidecar Main Event. Gerard Jackson and Dave German were second, Sean Driggers and Missy Driggers finished third, and Brian Motis and Matt Davis were fourth.

This Saturday is the 41st National Speedway Championship. In addition to Janniro defending his title, the field will include former National Champions Faria, Schwartz, Venegas, and Chris Manchester. Also, Ricky Wells is returning from England to compete in the event. This is the biggest event on Costa Mesa’s calendar and is the final event of their 2009 season.

RESULTS

Sidecar Main Event
  1 – Joe Jones/Jimmy Olsen
 66 – Gerard Jackson/Dave German
 23 – Sean Driggers/Missy Driggers
  4 – Brian Motis/Matt Davis

Youth Second Division Main Event
  0 – Hayley Perrault
111 – Dillon Ruml
 58 – Brian Pintar
251 – Jacob Wondolowski
 14 – Michael Wells

Youth First Division Main Event
  5 – River McDougall		0
  9 – Rocco Scopellite		30
 22 – Samuel Ramirez		0
 41 – Nicky Reimer		0

Support B Consolation
362 – Ralph Chudy
131 – Rod Requejo
124 – Paul Thornton
226 – Rick Huspek

Support B Consolation
169 – Dan Wensloff
308 – Hugh Randolph
255 – Kris Harlow		(non starter)
288 – Rick Fritch		(non starter)

Support B Last Chance
101 – Mike Wiley
198 – Mike Boyle
161 – Michael Moore

Support B Main Event
116 – Chris Jones
231 – Gene Stone
101 – Mike Wiley
198 – Mike Boyle
129 – Norman Graham

Support Last Chance (restarted)
389 – Ryan Tovatt
176 – Carl Gazafy
136 – Kim Stevens
363 – Butch Waymire

Support Main Event (restarted)
195 – Drew Coats
147 – Rick Farron
103 – Kyle Hicks		(tape penalty)
389 – Ryan Tovatt
201 – Dylan Black

First Division Scoring	1	2	3	T
  1 – Billy Janniro	4	4	4	12
  2 – Josh Larsen	1	2	3	6
  3 – Gary Hicks	3	R	N	3
  6 – Shawn McConnell	F	3	2	5
  9 – Mike Faria	4	2	4	10
 11 – Bobby Schwartz	3	2	3	8
 14 – Eddie Castro	4	4	1	9
 17 – Robbie Sauer	1	0	0	1
 21 – Brad Sauer	0	1	3	4
 22 – Mike Bloom	1	0	1	2
 25 – Jimmy Fishback	2	3	3	8
 30 – Tim Gomez		0	3	2	5
 39 – Buck Blair	3	4	4	11
 43 – Charlie Venegas	4	4	4	12
 66 – Jason Ramirez	3	1	F	4
 86 – Neil Facchini	2	0	1	3
141 – Josh Abbott	0	1	0	1
145 – Brad Pappalardo	1	1	1	3
221 – Gino Manzares	2	3	2	7
321 – Russell Green	2	2	2	6

Race Results
 1: Faria, Schwartz, Facchini, R.Sauer, Abbott
 2: Janniro, Blair, Green, Larsen, B.Sauer
 3: Venegas, Hicks, Fishback, Pappalardo, Gomez
 4: Castro, Ramirez, Manzares, Bloom, McConnell (fell)
 9: Castro, Fishback, Schwartz, B.Sauer, Bloom
10: (restarted) Janniro, Gomez, Faria, Ramirez, R.Sauer
11: Blair, Manzares, Green, Abbott, Hicks (retired)
12: Venegas, McConnell, Larsen, Pappalardo, Facchini
16: Venegas, Schwartz, Gomez, Bloom, Abbott
17: Janniro, Larsen, Manzares, Castro, R.Sauer
18: Faria, Fishback, Green, Facchini, Hicks (non starter)
19: Blair, B.Sauer, McConnell, Pappalardo, Ramirez (fell)

Semi #1: Venegas, Blair, Green, Schwartz, Fishback (fell)
Semi #2: (restarted) Janniro, Manzares, Larsen, Faria, Castro

First Division Last Chance
  9 – Mike Faria 
 11 – Bobby Schwartz
321 – Russell Green
  2 – Josh Larsen		(retired)

Scratch Main Event
  1 – Billy Janniro
 43 – Charlie Venegas
221 – Gino Manzares
  9 – Mike Faria
 39 – Buck Blair		(tape exclusion)