Costa Mesa Speedway
Orange County Fairgrounds
Costa Mesa, California

Kids Night at Costa Mesa
June 18, 2011
By: Ryan Evans

Former World Finalist Josh Larsen took home top honors for the second week in a row at the world famous Costa Mesa Speedway.

Larsen launched from gate four and was able to get across the field and led everyone into turn one. Jimmy "Little Animal" Fishback followed Larsen around the field and chased him down the back straight. Larsen never allowed Fishback to pose a threat and extended his lead with each lap. Larsen was first to the checkered flag, Fishback finished second, previously unbeaten Charlie "The Edge" Venegas was third, "Flyin" Mike Faria finished fourth, and Shawn "Mad Dog" McConnell was fifth.

Faria opened the heats with a win over Youth National Champion Austin Novratil. Fishback passed Bobby "Boogaloo" Schwartz to win event two. Larsen began his evening with a win over Steve Russell. Venegas beat Brad Pappalardo in event four. Aaron Fox ended round one with a victory ahead of McConnell.

Round two started with Faria beating Dukie Ermolenko for his second straight victory. Schwartz beat Doug "The Destroyer" Nicol in the next heat. Novratil beat Fishback in event 12. Venegas defeated John "Mongoose" Marquez for his second win in a row. McConnell beat "Fast" Eddie Castro to end the second round.

Fox started the final round by defeating Faria for his second win of the evening. Ermolenko beat Schwartz in the next event. Dale Facchini beat Josh Abbott in event 19. Venegas defeated Fishback to remain perfect. McConnell ended the heats by defeating Novratil who had started on the penalty line after a spectacular crash in turn four.

Faria and McConnell finished one-two in the first semi to transfer to the main event. Venegas collected his fourth straight victory in the second semi and was followed into the main event by Larsen. Fishback won the Last Chance to fill the final spot in the main.

Ryan Tovatt and John Stunkard battled side-by-side on the first lap of the Support Main Event before Tovatt secured the lead. He never looked back from there and went on to victory. Stunkard settled for second, Harold Hartke finished third, and Brandon Leedy was fourth.

Jonni Jade led all four laps en route to victory in the Support B Main Event. Mike Boyle finished second, Tom Bryant was third, and Dan Eddy finished fourth.

Max Ruml continued his dominance by running away with the Youth 250cc Main Event. Dillon Ruml finished second and Hayley Perrault was third.

Broc Nicol led from start to finish and captured the Youth 200cc First Division Main Event. Kurtis Hamill was second, Perrault finished third, and Dalton Leedy was fourth.

Sebastian Palmese led the first three laps of the Youth 200cc Second Division Main Event, but Gino Scopellite was within striking distance as the final lap began. Scopellite closed in on Palmese and slipped underneath him as they entered turn three. Scopellite held off Palmese in the run as they charged to the finish line. Michael Wells was third and Chase Sanborn finished fourth.

The next event at Costa Mesa Speedway will be the prestigious Fair Derby. It will be on the opening night of the Orange County Fair which is Friday, July 15.

RESULTS

Youth 200cc Second Division Main Event
7 - Gino Scopellite
18 - Sebastian Palmese
214 - Michael Wells
108 - Chase Sanborn
34 - Maverick Molloy (non starter)

Youth 200cc First Division Main Event
98 - Broc Nicol
104 - Kurtis Hamill
0 - Hayley Perrault
222 - Dalton Leedy

Youth 250cc Main Event
308 - Max Ruml
111 - Dillon Ruml
0 - Hayley Perrault

Support B Main Event
266 - Jonni Jade
198 - Mike Boyle
220 - Tom Bryant
349 - Dan Eddy

Support Main Event
389 - Ryan Tovatt
249 - John Stunkard
290 - Harold Hartke
151 - Brandon Leedy (fell, remounted)

First Division Heat Scoring123T
2 – Josh Larsen 4228
6 – Shawn McConnell 34411
9 – Mike Faria 44311
11 – Bobby Schwartz 34310
14 – Eddie Castro 1304
15 – Dukie Ermolenko 0347
17 – Robbie Sauer F112
18 – Justin Boyle 2114
19 – Dale Facchini 2248
22 – Mike Bloom 2103
23 – Steve Russell 3014
25 – Jimmy Fishback 43310
27 – Austin Novratil 34310
28 – Joey Holt 2226
41 – John Marquez 0325
43 – Charlie Venegas 44412
45 – Brad Pappalardo 3205
46 – Aaron Fox 4149
66 – Jason Ramirez 1214
98 – Doug Nicol 1315
120 – Doug Greyson 1023
141 – Josh Abbott 2136
208 – Geoff Herkner 1023

Race Results
1: Faria, Novratil, Holt, Ramirez
2: (restarted) Fishback, Schwartz, Bloom, Greyson, Marquez (penalty line)
3: Larsen, Russell, Boyle, Herkner (fell)
4: Venegas, Pappalardo, Abbott, Castro (tape penalty), Sauer (fell)
5: Fox, McConnell, Facchini, Nicol, Ermolenko
10: Faria, Ermolenko, Facchini, Abbott, Herkner
11: Schwartz, Nicol, Ramirez, Sauer
12: Novratil, Fishback, Larsen, Fox, Greyson
13: Venegas, Marquez, Holt, Boyle (fell)
14: McConnell, Castro, Pappalardo, Bloom, Russell
17: Fox, Faria, Marquez, Boyle, Castro (tape penalty)
18: Ermolenko, Schwartz, Holt, Russell, Pappalardo
19: Facchini, Abbott, Larsen, Ramirez, Bloom
20: Venegas, Fishback, Herkner, Nicol (fell, remounted)
21: (restarted) McConnell, Novratil (penalty line), Greyson, Sauer
Semi #1: Faria, McConnell, Novratil, Fox, Ermolenko (fell, remounted)
Semi #2: Venegas, Larsen, Fishback, Facchini, Schwartz

First Division Last Chance
25 - Jimmy Fishback
27 - Austin Novratil
46 - Aaron Fox
19 - Dale Facchini

First Division Main Event
2 - Josh Larsen
25 - Jimmy Fishback
43 - Charlie Venegas
9 - Mike Faria
6 - Shawn McConnell