Victorville Speedway
San Bernardino County Fairgrounds
Victorville, California

Moran Brothers Tribute Night
March 20, 2010 - Victorville
By: Ryan Evans

YouTube Main Event
YouTube Shawn Moran Interview
YouTube Kelly Moran Interview

Former National ChampionCharlie “The Edge” Venegas was a late addition to the program, but his short notice didn’t prevent him from capturing the main event on Moran Brothers (Shawn & Kelly) Tribute Night at Wheel2Wheel Raceway in Victorville.

Doug Nicol, in his first meeting at Wheel2Wheel Raceway, was first off the line but Venegas used the high banking to sweep around the outside and into the lead on the back straight. Nicol immediately came under fire from Gary Hicks. Venegas remained in front on the second lap with Hicks and Nicol side-by-side behind him. Their battle ended when Nicol parked in turn two the third time. The top two positions went unchanged from there and Nicol nearly hit the fence in turn four and allowed Buck Blair to take third. Venegas was first to the checkered flag followed by Hicks, Blair, and Nicol.

Moran Brothers Tribute Night honored the legendary brothers, Kelly and Shawn Moran. The Morans were the ultimate showmen who thrilled crowds and won championships throughout the world.

The evening opened with Blair defeating Nicol for his first win of the evening. Hicks began his evening with a victory in the second heat. Venegas started his night with a heat victory.

Tim Gomez led heat 23 before Hicks passed him on the second lap for the lead and his second victory. Nicol defeated Tyson Burmeister and Charlie Venegas to win the next heat.

The final round began with Burmeister making the best start in heat 28. Blair wasn’t going to accept his first defeat lying down and he put an all-out assault on the leader. Burmeister successfully blocked Blair’s outside line for nearly two laps, but the Colorado native went up along the boards in turn three and four to take the lead and then pulled away for his third win.

Hicks held off a determined Nicol in the next heat to match Blair’s perfect score. Venegas defeated Jason Ramirez and Gomez in the final heat for his second win.

Nicol and Hicks finished one-two in the first semi to book their places in the main event. Venegas won the second semi and was followed into the main by Blair.

Two crashes forced three attempts to complete the Second Division Main Event. The third try was dominated by fourth-generation racer Kyle Hicks who led every lap en route to the victory. Michael Raines finished second, Rohn Zellner was third, John Pavia finished fourth, Rick Fehrman was fifth, and Brandon Leedy was credited with sixth.

Kevin Johnson made the best start and never looked back on his way to winning the Third Division Main Event. Tony DeAlmeida was second, Gene Stone finished third, Arie Gardner was fourth, Paul Thornton finished fifth, and Rick Howard was sixth.

Maxwell Ruml held off Samuel Ramirez to win the Youth Main Event.

Nick Varner won both heats and the Pee Wee/Powderpuff Main Event. Dakota Shockley finished second, Summer Fehrman was third, Ally McGrath finished fourth, and Tristan Britt was fifth.

Kevin Brown and Matt Davis were victorious in the Sidecar Main Event with Dylan Beard and Edwin Soto finishing in second.

The next speedway event at Wheel2Wheel Raceway will be the Spring Classic on Saturday, April 3.

RESULTS 

Sidecar Main Event 
 16 - Kevin Brown/Matt Davis 
5150 - Dylan Beard/Edwin Soto 

Pee Wee/Powderpuff Main Event 
  3 - Nick Varner
 34 - Dakota Shocklwy 
  8 - Summer Fehrman 
186 - Ally McGrath 
  7 - Tristan Britt 

Youth Main Event 
356 - Maxwell Ruml 
 22 - Samuel Ramirez 

Third Division Main Event 
122 - Kevin Johnson 
157 - Tony DeAlmeida 
231 - Gene Stone 
174 - Arie Gardner 
124 - Paul Thornton 
188 - Rick Howard 

Second Division Main Event (restarted twice) 
103 - Kyle Hicks 
259 - Michael Raines 		(penalty line) 
163 - Rohn Zellner 
350 - John Pavia 
240 - Rick Fehrman 		(penalty line) 
151 - Brandon Leedy 		(non starter - restart) 

Signify Designs Last Man Out Challenge 
  3 - Gary Hicks 
 98 - Doug Nicol 
 43 - Charlie Venegas 
 39 - Buck Blair 

First Division Scoring			1	2	3	T
  3 – Gary Hicks			3	3	3	9
 30 – Tim Gomez				1	2	1	4
 39 – Buck Blair			3	3	3	9
 41 – John Marquez			0	0	0	0
 43 – Charlie Venegas			3	1	3	7
 66 – Jason Ramirez			F	2	2	4
 98 – Doug Nicol			2	3	2	7
141 – Josh Abbott			F	F	1	1
163 – Rohn Zellner			0	-	-	0
184 – Tyson Burmeister			2	2	2	6
201 – Dylan Black			1	1	M	2
240n – Rick Fehrman			2	0	-	2
244 – Joey Holt				1	1	1	3

Race Results
14: Blair, Nicol, Black, Ramirez (fell)
15: Hicks, Fehrman, Holt, Abbott (fell)
20: Venegas, Burmeister, Gomez, Marquez
21: Blair, Ramirez, Holt, Zellner
23: Hicks, Gomez, Black, Abbott (fell)
24: Nicol, Burmeister, Venegas, Marquez
28: Blair, Burmeister, Abbott, Fehrman
29: Hicks, Nicol, Holt, Black (two-minute exclusion)
32: Venegas, Ramirez, Gomez, Marquez
Semi #1: Nicol, Hicks, Burmeister, Holt
Semi #2: Venegas, Blair, Gomez, Ramirez

First Division Consolation 
184 - Tyson Burmeister 
 30 - Tim Gomez 
244 - Joey Holt 
 66 - Jason Ramirez 		(fell, remounted) 

First Division Main Event 
 43 - Charlie Venegas 
  3 - Gary Hicks 
 39 - Buck Blair 
 98 - Doug Nicol