Inland Motorcycle Speedway
National Orange Show
San Bernardino, California

Firecracker Derby
July 2, 2010 - Inland Motorcycle Speedway
By: Ryan Evans

Tyson Burmeister was a perfect five for five and won the Firecracker Derby at Inland Motorsport Speedway in San Bernardino.

Burmeister’s perfect evening seemed to be in peril when he, “Battling” Buck Blair, and Jimmy “Little Animal” Fishback locked together in turn one and went wide. The trio’s scrum allowed Shawn “Mad Dog” McConnell’s shrewd cutback move to pay off as he snatched the lead exiting turn two. Burmeister recovered before the others and went after McConnell. He went to the outside in the next corner and found enough traction to propel around the leader at the end of lap one. McConnell didn’t give up easily and snapped at Burmeister’s heels the next two laps. McConnell’s persistence nearly paid off when Burmeister went wide on the final corner. The two charged to the finish line, but Burmeister held on for a narrow victory.

Steve Russell kicked off the evening with a win over McConnell. Tim Gomez defeated “Fast” Eddie Castro in the second heat. Burmeister beat Blair in the third heat. Fishback ended round one with a win over Dale Facchini.

Burmeister opened round two by beating Russell and Gomez. Fishback made it two wins in a row with a win over McConnell. Facchini won the next heat ahead of Tyson Talkington. Blair concluded the second round by beating Josh Abbott.

Castro started the third round with a win over Russell. Blair beat Gomez to win his second straight race. Burmeister beat Fishback in event 23 and was the only undefeated rider remaining. Brad Pappalardo finished round three with a victory over Abbott.

Blair held off Fishback for his third straight victory to begin round four. McConnell won the next heat over Philip Harmatiuk. Gomez beat Michael Raines for his second win. Burmeister kept his score unblemished by winning the final heat.

Gomez took the lead in the Last Chance, but his outside line allowed McConnell to take the lead. Both riders appeared destined for the main event. McConnell held the lead to the finish, but Gomez slid off in turn three and Russell was the benefactor who second and the final transfer to the main.

Aaron Fox continued his impressive rise through the ranks with another impressive victory in the Second Division Main Event. Mike Wiley was second, John Pavia finished third, and Jim Robinson was fourth.

Kevin Wybenga put together four smooth laps en route to victory in the Third Division Main Event. Mike Fuson was second, C.J. Sanborn finished third, and Rod Requejo was fourth.

Gabe Price led every lap and took home the Youth Main Event victory. Maverick Molloy finished second and Chase Sanborn was third.

The next event at IMS is Quaid Harley-Davidson Night and will include the ever-popular street-legal Harley races.

RESULTS

Youth Main Event
 13 - Gabe Price
 34 - Maverick Molloy
108 - Chase Sanborn

Third Division Consolation
116 – Chris Jones
333 – Mike Salyer
316 – Kip McClain
211 – Steve Brown

Third Division Main Event
191 - Kevin Wybenga
245 - Mike Fuson
393 - C.J. Sanborn 		(fell, remounted)
131 - Rod Requejo 		(fell)

Second Division Main Event
146 - Aaron Fox
101 - Mike Wiley
355 - John Pavia
152 - Jim Robinson 		(fell, remounted)

First Division Heat Scoring	1	2	3	4	T
  6 – Shawn McConnell		2	2	0	3	7
 11 – Bobby Schwartz		0	0	1	R	1
 14 – Eddie Castro		2	0	3	0	5
 19 – Dale Facchini		2	3	1	2	8
 23 – Steve Russell		3	2	2	1	8
 25 – Jimmy Fishback		3	3	2	2	10
 26 – Tyson Burmeister		3	3	3	3	12
 30 – Tim Gomez			3	1	2	3	9
 39 – Buck Blair		2	3	3	3	11
141 – Josh Abbott		F	2	2	1	5
145 – Brad Pappalardo		0	0	3	0	3
149 – Philip Harmatiuk		1	1	1	2	5
163 – Rohn Zellner		1	0	0	0	1
220 – Tyson Talkington		0	2	1	1	4
259 – Michael Raines		1	1	0	2	4
293 – Rick Valdez		1	1	0	1	3

Race Results
 1: Russell, McConnell, Raines, Abbott (fell)
 2: Gomez, Castro, Harmatiuk, Pappalardo
 3: (restarted) Burmeister, Blair, Valdez, Talkington
 4: (restarted) Fishback, Facchini (penalty line), Zellner, Schwartz
11: Burmeister, Russell, Gomez, Schwartz
12: Fishback, McConnell (tape penalty), Valdez, Castro (tape penalty) (fell, remounted)
13: Facchini, Talkington, Raines, Pappalardo
14: Blair, Abbott, Harmatiuk, Zellner
21: Castro, Russell, Talkington, Zellner
22: Blair, Gomez, Facchini, McConnell
23: Burmeister, Fishback, Harmatiuk, Raines
24: Pappalardo, Abbott, Schwartz, Valdez
27: Blair, Fishback, Russell, Pappalardo
28: McConnell, Harmatiuk, Talkington, Schwartz (retired)
29: Gomez, Raines, Valdez, Zellner
30: Burmeister, Facchini, Abbott, Castro

First Division Last Chance
  6 - Shawn McConnell
 23 - Steve Russell
 19 - Dale Facchini
141 - Josh Abbott
 30 - Tim Gomez 		(fell, remounted)

Firecracker Derby Main Event
 26 - Tyson Burmeister
  6 - Shawn McConnell
 23 - Steve Russell
 39 - Buck Blair
 25 - Jimmy Fishback