Industry Speedway
The Grand Industry Hills Expo Center
City of Industry, California
2009 California State Championship
December 12, 2009
By: Ryan Evans
Ricky Wells backed up his National Championship victory in September with another unblemished performance en route to winning the California State Championship at Industry Speedway.
Wells scored a perfect 15 points in his five races and was never headed all night. His victory, at 18 years of age, makes him the youngest California State Champion in history. Lance King was 19 when he claimed his title in 1982. 2008 State Champion Charlie “The Edge” Venegas scored 13 points to collect second overall. Buck Blair and Gary Hicks each scored 12 points, but the curfew prevented them from competing in a runoff for third overall. Blair was awarded third overall since defeated Hicks earlier in the evening.
Four-time State Champion “Flyin” Mike Faria opened the evening with a victory over Blair. Venegas began his title defense with a win ahead of Jason Ramirez.
Doug Nicol led the third race for a lap before Shawn “Mad Dog” McConnell took over the lead. McConnell was pressured by Hicks for a lap and a half before he got by for the lead and the win.
Wells ended the first round by defeating Nate Perkins.
The second round started with Wells holding off a persistent Venegas for his second straight win. Faria made it two in a row by beating Nicol. Blair scored an important victory over Hicks in the next race. “Fast” Eddie Castro finished round two with a win over Ramirez.
Round three began with John Marquez leading for three laps before Hicks made a great outside pass to grab the lead and then rode off with the win. Venegas beat Castro and Faria for his second win. McConnell and Blair raced shoulder-to-shoulder the entire race with McConnell getting the win, but both riders received a rousing ovation from the appreciative crowd. Wells concluded the third round with his third straight win and was the only unbeaten rider.
Castro started round four with a win over Under 21 National Champion Bryce Starks.
Wells, Hicks, and Faria met in an event 32 that would have a profound impact on the championship picture. Wells claimed his fourth consecutive victory with Hicks getting second while Faria was mired in fourth.
The very next race was important as Venegas needed a victory to have a realistic hope of retaining his title. Blair put those hopes to rest as he held off the three-time State Champion for his second win.
McConnell was running second in event 34, but he hounded Tyson Burmeister for two laps before forcing a mistake that gave him his second victory.
After four rounds Wells was alone at the top of the chart with 12 points; Hicks, Blair, and Venegas each had 10 points; McConnell and Castro had eight points apiece.
The final round commenced with Ramirez beating Nicol and Brad Pappalardo. McConnell beat Faria for his third straight win.
Wells took to the track with Blair and Castro starting inside him and serving as the barriers between him and the title. Wells rocketed into the lead at the start, but Blair didn’t give up easily. The Colorado native tried the outside but Wells calmly blocked his path. Blair couldn’t offer another serious threat and Wells completed his clean sweep to claim the championship.
Although Venegas didn’t win his third straight title, his victory in the final event meant he only had to take one step down on the podium to second overall.
The first attempt to run the Second Division State Championship Final ended when Eloy Medellin went down in turn two. Medellin was penalized on the restart. Sean McDougall was off the starting line first in the restart with Rudy Laurer behind him. McDougall calmly led all four laps and was first to the checkered flag. Laurer finished second, Jeff Remington was third, and Medellin was credited with fourth.
John “X-Man” Pavia led all four laps to claim the Third Division State Championship Final. Tony DeAlmeida finished second, Rod Requejo was third, and Gene Stone finished fourth.
River McDougall came from behind to win his first two races and wisely settled for second in his final race to claim the overall Youth First Division State Championship. Rocco Scopellite won a heat and was second overall, Samuel Ramirez was third overall, Maxwell Ruml was fourth overall, and Nicky Reimer was fifth overall.
Dillon Ruml won all three races to win the Youth Second Division State Championship. Hayley Perrault was second overall, Michael Wells finished third overall, and Gino Scopellite was fourth overall.
Nicky Reimer ran away with the Pee Wee State Championship with Michael Wells finishing second and Nick Varner getting credit for third.
National Champions Joe Jones and Jimmy Olsen led all four laps of the main event to add the Sidecar State Championship to their trophy case. Gerard Jackson and Dave German finished second, Brian Motis and Brandi McElroy were third, Shawn Driggers and Missy Driggers finished fourth, and Scott Driggers and Casey Driggers were fifth.
The 34th California State Championship brought an end to Industry Speedway’s 2009 season. Industry Speedway has tentatively scheduled its 2010 Season Opener for Wednesday, June 2.
RESULTS
Sidecar State Championship Final
1 - Joe Jones/Jimmy Olsen
66 - Gerard Jackson/Dave German
2 - Brian Motis/Brandi McElroy
23 - Shawn Driggers/Missy Driggers
13 - Scott Driggers/Casey Driggers
Pee Wee State Championship Final
41 - Nicky Reimer
14 - Michael Wells
3 - Nick Varner (retired)
Youth Second Division Scoring 1 2 3 T
0 - Hayley Perrault N 2 2 4
7 - Gino Scopellite 2 0 0 2
14 - Michael Wells 1 1 1 3
111 - Dillon Ruml 3 3 3 9
Youth First Division Scoring 1 2 3 T
5 - River McDougall 3 3 2 8
9 - Rocco Scopellite 2 2 3 7
22 - Samuel Ramirez 1 1 F 2
41 - Nicky Reimer 0 0 0 0
356 - Maxwell Ruml 0 0 1 1
Third Division State Championship Final
355 - John Pavia
157 - Tony DeAlmeida
131 - Rod Requejo
231 - Gene Stone
Second Division State Championship Final (restarted)
243 - Sean McDougall
182 - Rudy Laurer
252 - Jeff Remington
178 - Eloy Medellin (penalty line) (fell)
California State Championship 1 2 3 4 5 T
3 - Gary Hicks 3 2 3 2 2 12
6 - Shawn McConnell 2 R 3 3 3 11
9 - Mike Faria 3 3 1 0 2 9
11 - Bobby Schwartz 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 - Nate Perkins 2 1 F N N 3
14 - Eddie Castro 0 3 2 3 1 9
39 - Buck Blair 2 3 2 3 2 12
41 - John Marquez 0 0 1 0 0 1
43 - Charlie Venegas 3 2 3 2 3 13
66 - Jason Ramirez 2 2 1 1 3 9
98 - Doug Nicol 1 2 1 1 2 7
141 - Josh Abbott 0 1 1 1 F 3
142 - Ricky Wells 3 3 3 3 3 15
145 - Brad Pappalardo 1 1 0 1 1 4
184 - Tyson Burmeister 1 1 2 2 1 7
245n - Bryce Starks 1 0 0 2 1 4
Race Results
15: Faria, Blair, Burmeister, Abbott
16: Venegas, Ramirez, Starks, Schwartz
17: Hicks, McConnell, Nicol, Castro (fell, remounted)
18: Wells, Perkins, Pappalardo, Marquez
20: Wells, Venegas, Abbott, McConnell (retired)
21: (restarted) Faria, Nicol, Perkins (penalty line), Schwartz
22: Blair, Hicks, Pappalardo, Starks
23: Castro, Ramirez, Burmeister, Marquez
25: Hicks, Abbott, Marquez, Schwartz
26: Venegas, Castro, Faria, Pappalardo
27: McConnell, Blair, Ramirez, Perkins (fell)
28: (restarted) Wells, Burmeister, Nicol, Starks (fell, remounted)
31: (restarted) Castro, Starks, Abbott, Perkins (non starter)
32: Wells, Hicks, Ramirez, Faria
33: Blair, Venegas, Nicol, Marquez
34: McConnell, Burmeister, Pappalardo, Schwartz
40: Ramirez, Nicol, Pappalardo, Abbott (fell)
41: McConnell, Faria, Starks, Marquez (fell, remounted)
42: Wells, Blair, Castro, Schwartz
43: Venegas, Hicks, Burmeister, Perkins (non starter)
PAST CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPIONS
1968 – Sonny Nutter 1980 – Alan Christian 1992 – Mike Faria
1969 – Steve Bast 1981 – Bruce Penhall 1993 – Chris Manchester
1970 – Steve Bast 1982 – Lance King 1994 – Mike Faria
1971 – Steve Bast 1983 – Mike Bast 1995 – Steve Lucero
1972 – Steve Bast 1984 – Bobby Schwartz 1996 – Steve Lucero
1973 – Mike Bast 1985 – Steve Lucero 1997 – Charlie Venegas
1974 – Steve Bast 1986 – Bobby Ott 1998-2005 Race Not Held
1975 – Steve Bast 1987 – Mike Faria 2006 – Josh Larsen
1976 – Mike Bast 1988 – Sam Ermolenko 2007 – Charlie Venegas
1977 – Mike Bast 1989 – Steve Lucero 2008 – Charlie Venegas
1978 – Mike Bast 1990 – Mike Faria
1979 – Mike Bast 1991 – Bobby Schwartz
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