Ridgecrest Speedway
Ridgecrest Motorsports Complex
Ridgecrest, California

Season Opener
May 8, 2010 - Ridgecrest
By: Steve Evans

Sidecars proved to be a worthy headline act at the Ridgecrest opener. 7 crews showed up and put on a stellar show, with passing in virtually every race and a very appreciative crowd. It was a night to forget for Multi- National Champions Joe Jones & Jimmy Olsen - in their four heats they had three Engine failures (one in turn 3 of lap 4) and in their 2nd they went wide at the end of lap two, hitting the fence on the start line with the bike stopping dead and Jones literally flying through the air to a sudden landing about 20 yards on. Jones, to the crowds amazement, came back and rode the rest of the night. The starting gate was beyond repair so the green light was used from race 8 onwards. Six of the seven crews won races at some point but the Main went to third year riders Gerard Jackson & Dave German, with veterans Bran Motis and Brandy McElroy in 2nd, Scott and Casey Driggers third. Veteran Joseph Petraglovic failed the two minute call for the Main with bike troubles, a shame as he won three of his heats.

Three Speedway Bikes did a four race demo. Austin Novratil took the first two heats, Hull the third as the two had some very close tussles. The Main however had Novratil clearly leading on lap three when he went down exiting turn 2. In turn three Hull, who inherited the lead also fell unimpeded gifting victory to Rick Fehrman of Auburn, as referee Danny Hull awarded the race.

Max Ruml won all junior races. The Pee Wees and Powder Puffs ran together with local riders Brian West and Alison Stacey being victors. The Speedway Midgets had a war of attrition with just 6 of the 10 cars making the Main event that only had four finishers. Ben Witwer won from Paul Bender, Don Dunn & Sean Dunn. The usually unbeatable Dennis Helsell won his first heat with a final turn pass on Don Dunn but mechanical problems in his third race ended his night.

With two more regular Sidecars crews almost ready to go and with at two more semi retired crews out there the hard work of Joe Jones looks ready to pay off with a big division looking ready to explode.

Next Ridgecrest race will be Harley Night on July 24th, featuring a full Speedway bike Program.

Results

Speedway Midgets
1 Ben Witwer
50 Paul Bender
55 Don Dunn
73 Sean Dunn
(no other finishers)

Powder Puff
07 Alison Stacey
11 Julie Shockley
8 Summer Fehrman

Pee Wee
101 Brian  West
22 Samuel Ramirez
11P Kyler Witwer
34 Dakota Shockley

Junior Speedway
308 Max Ruml
22 Samuel Ramirez
111 Dylan Ruml

Speedway Exhibition
240 Rick Fehrman
320 Michael Hull 			(fell)
181 Austin Novratil 			(fell)

Sidecar B Main
1 Joe Jones / Jimmy Olsen
5150 Dylan Beard / Edwin Soto
16 Kevin Brown / Matt Davis

Sidecar A Main
66 Gerard Jackson / Dave German
2 Brian Motis / Brandy McElroy
13 Scott & Casey Driggers
33 Joseph Petraglovic / Krystal Beard 	(non starter)