Industry Speedway
The Grand Industry Hills Expo Center
City of Industry, California

Nick Varner Night at Industry Speedway
July 20, 2011
By: Ryan Evans
Photos by:Paul Flanders and Dorcey Wingo

YouTube Scratch Main - Mark Williams

Paul Flanders Photos

It was a somber night at Industry Hills as everyone had the loss of Nick Varner on their mind.
Jake Isaac is ready to go for the Pee Wee main after last minute encouragement from dad Wayne.	Tristan Britt snuck in a power nap before taking the win in the Pee Wee main.	Shea Bendykowski is ready to head out to take the Youth 200 B main with a push from dad, Mike.
Main event winner Jimmy Fishback gets interviewed for TV by Brett Wagner of the “Pass Time” show on Speed Channel.		Bobby Schwartz looking dapper in new duds from new sponsor MXRC.

Dorcey Wingo Photos

Speedway paused to remember Youth 250cc Speedway rider Nick Varner Wednesday night at the Grand Arena in the City of Industry, CA. Helmets were passed through the crowd; over $3,500 was collected/donated for Nick's family.	In respect for Nick Varner, Pee Wee rider #27 Luke Whitcomb wore Nick's racing number.	The faithful Arena Speedway Dog: Where's Nick? He seems to be asking.
Here's #27 Luke Whitcomb again, hooked up and hammer down in turn three.	Support Division, early action: #153 Brad Moreau high-sides onto his butt while #333 Mike Salyer (left) and # 242 Bruce Marteney (on the pole) detour.	Pee Wee Main Event:#11 Tristan Britt is on the pole, next to #16 Jake Isaac. In three it's #27 Luke Whitcomb, and on the wall is #21 Walker Calvo. Finishing order: 11-16-21-27
Youth 200cc Second Div. Main Event: #23 Shea Bendykowski on the pole, next to #18 Sebastian Palmese. In three it's #108 Chase Sanborn, and on the wall is #214 Michael Wells. Finishing order: 23-18-214-108.	Youth 200cc First Division Main Event: #98 Brock Nicol is on the pole. #222 Dalton Leedy has the center slot. #7 Gino Scopellite gates from three. Finishing order: 98-7-222.	Support B action: #311 Kevin Fife and #316 Kip McClain traded leads over the course of the evening, but it was McClain in the Main Event.
Support Main Event: #290 Harold Hartke is on the pole, #116 Chris Jones in two; #175 Jake Myers is in three, next to #242 Bruce Marteney on the wall. Finishing order: 116-175-290-242	Sidecar victors #2  Joe Jones and Brandi McElroy take their victory lap before a raucous crowd.	First Division Main Event: That's #43 Charlie Venegas on the pole, #25 Jimmy Fishback in two. #46 Aaron Fox has just touched the tapes and will come from the penalty line in the restart. #11 Bobby Schwartz in four (in new leathers) and #41 John Marquez waits for movement. Finishing order: Fishback, Venegas, Schwartz, Fox, and Marquez.  The purse went to Nick.

Jimmy "Little Animal" Fishback won the main event with a heavy heart on a somber evening of racing at Industry Speedway.

The evening began with a moment of silence dedicated to youth racer Nicholas Varner, who early that morning had succumbed to massive head injuries he had suffered racing motocross three days prior. He was just 11 years old. Many of the racers honored Varner by displaying tributes on their bikes and on their race suits. Most of them incorporated Varner's speedway racing number 333. Many riders,including the entire field of sidecars pledged to donate their winnings to Varner's family. In addition, nearly $4000 was raised from fans and sponsors as well.

Former National Champion Charlie "The Edge" Venegas was undefeated entering the main and seemed primed to finish evening that way when he held the lead at the beginning of the main event. Fishback was a determined man, though, and applied the pressure to the leader throughout the first lap. Coming out of turn two the second time Fishback found enough traction to charge up the inside of Venegas to take the lead. Fishback led until the white flag when the entire field backed off the throttle, coasted through the corner and pulled into the infield from the back straight. The checkered flag was then waved in honor of Varner. The records will show that Fishback was the winner and it was especially meaningful to him because he is close with Varner and his family, but in everyone's hearts it was Varner who was victorious on this night.

Shawn "Mad Dog" McConnell led off the heats with a win over Michael Raines. Venegas beat Aaron Fox in the second heat. Bobby "Boogaloo" Schwartz beat Fishback to end round one.

Round two opened with Fox beating Rocco Scopellite. Raines beat "Flyin" Mike Faria in the next heat. Venegas ended the second round by beating John "Mongoose" Marquez.

The final round of heats began with Venegas getting his third straight victory. Fishback beat Tyson Talkington for his first win. Marquez ended the heats with a win over McConnell.

Fox led the first semi before Fishback blasted up the inside to take the lead and thew in. Fox held on to second to also transfer to the main. Venegas and Marquez finished one-two in the second semi to transfer to the main. Schwartz won the Last Chance to complete the main event field.

Harold Hartke led the Support Main Event until Chris Jones assumed the lead as they exited turn four the first time. Jones never looked back from there and went on to victory. Jake Myers finished second, Hartke was third,and Bruce Marteney finished fourth.

Kip McClain led all four laps en route to victory in the Support B Main Event. Kevin Fife was second, Craig Sprecher finished third, and Brad Russell was fourth.

Dalton Leedy led the Youth 200cc First Division Main Event until Broc Nicol went by on the back straight. Nicol was never challenged and was first to the checkered flag. Gino Scopellite finished second and Leedy was third.

Sebastian"Big Daddy" Palmese led the Youth 200cc Second Division Main Event for a lap but Shea Bendykowski went under him for the lead as they entered turn three. Bendykowski never looked back and led the rest of the way. Palmese finished second, Michael Wells was third, and Chase Sanborn finished fourth.

Tristan Britt led from start to finish and won the Pee Wee Main Event. Jake Isaac was second, Walker Calvo finished third, and Luke Whitcomb was fourth.

Joe Jones and Brandi McElroy were victorious in the Sidecar Main Event. Bob Brayton and Jimmy Olsen were second, Jeff Medberry and Chris Levitt finished third, and Scott Driggers and Casey Driggers were fourth.

The next event at Industry Speedway is Harley Night. It will include a Harley Parade and the always popular street-legal Harley Races.

RESULTS

Sidecar Main Event
2 - Joe Jones/Brandi McElroy
1 - Bob Brayton/Jimmy Olsen
44 - Jeff Medberry/Chris Levitt
13 - Scott Driggers/Casey Driggers (retired)

Pee Wee Main Event
11 - Tristan Britt
16 - Jake Isaac
21 - Walker Calvo
27 - Luke Whitcomb (fell)

Youth 200cc Second Division Main Event
23 - Shea Bendykowski
18 - Sebastian Palmese
214 - Michael Wells
108 - Chase Sanborn

Youth 200cc First Division Main Event
98 - Broc Nicol
7 - Gino Scopellite
222 - Dalton Leedy (fell,remounted)

Support B Main Event
316 - Kip McClain
311 - Kevin Fife
199 - Craig Sprecher
319 - Brad Russell (tape penalty) (fell)

Support Main Event
116 - Chris Jones
175 - Jake Myers
290 - Harold Hartke
242 - Bruce Marteney

First Division Heat Scoring 1 2 3 T
6 – Shawn McConnell 3 X 2 5
9 – Mike Faria 1 2 1 4
11 – Bobby Schwartz 3 1 1 5
25 – Jimmy Fishback 2 1 3 6
27 – Austin Novratil R - - 0
41 – John Marquez 1 2 3 6
43 – Charlie Venegas 3 3 3 9
46 – Aaron Fox 2 3 2 7
48 – Tyson Talkington 1 1 2 4
63 – Michael Raines 2 3 F 5
126 – Rocco Scopellite 0 2 R 2
151 – Brandon Leedy F 0 0 0

Race Results
1: McConnell, Raines, Marquez, Scopellite
2: Venegas, Fox, Faria, Leedy (fell)
3: Schwartz, Fishback, Talkington, Novratil (retired)
10: Fox, Scopellite, Schwartz (tape penalty),McConnell (excluded)
11: Raines, Faria (tape penalty), Talkington,Leedy
12: Venegas, Marquez, Fishback (tape penalty)
13: Venegas, Fox, Scopellite (retired), Raines(fell)
14: Fishback, Talkington, Schwartz
15: Marquez, McConnell, Faria, Leedy
Semi #1: Fishback, Fox, Raines, Schwartz,Scopellite
Semi #2: Venegas, Marquez, Faria,Talkington, McConnell (fell)

First Division Last Chance
11 - Bobby Schwartz
63 - Michael Raines
9 - Mike Faria (tape penalty)
48 - Tyson Talkington

First Division Main Event
25 - Jimmy Fishback
43 - Charlie Venegas
11 - Bobby Schwartz
46 - Aaron Fox (tape penalty)
41 - John Marquez