Costa Mesa Speedway
Orange County Fairgrounds
Costa Mesa, California

2013 Speedway
June 21, 2013 - Costa Mesa
Results By: Ryan Evans

Costa Mesa, CA, USA - June 22

Former National Champion "Flyin" Mike Faria may be 56 years old but he proved that he is still fast and proved it by putting on a vintage performance and winning the main event at the world famous Costa Mesa Speedway.

Former World Pairs Champion Bobby "Boogaloo" Schwartz entered the main event with first choice of starting position and he predictably chose gate one. Sixteen year old "Mad" Max Ruml decided on gate five with second choice. Faria was very content to pick gate two. Former Under 21 National Champion Austin "All Throttle" Novratil selected gate four which left Former World Finalist Josh Larsen with gate three.

The field entered turn one together and the chaos shoved Novratil out and sliding up against the wall. Faria emerged on the back straight with the lead and had his longtime rival Schwartz in tow. Any hopes for another epic confrontation between the two combatants were quelled by Ruml who was all over Schwartz and diverted the attention of the man 40 years his senior. Faria steadily pulled away while the battle for second intensified. Faria was first to the checkered flag. Schwartz was still holding second in the final corner but Ruml made a desperate charge at the finish and stole second at the finish line. Larsen finished fourth and Novratil was credited with fifth. Faria celebrated by riding up to the top of the freestyle jumpers' tall landing ramp on the infield and he raised his arms in triumph while receiving a loud ovation from his fans.

Michael Raines opened up the evening with a win over Novratil. Faria defeated Schwartz in the next heat. "Battling" Buck Blair held off Novratil to end round one with a victory.

Blair began round two by defeating Shawn "Mad Dog" McConnell for his second straight win. Novratil beat Schwartz in the next event. Larsen ended the second round by holding off Faria for his first win.

Blair started the final round by defeating Tyson Talkington to maintain his perfect score. Larsen was victorious over Russell Green for his second straight win. Faria finished the heats by beating Ruml for his second win of the evening.

Ruml stunned his competitors in the first semi by swooping around the outside in the first corner for the win while Faria took second to join him in the main. Schwartz and Novratil finished one-two and booked their places in the main but the surprise was Blair having his evening end by finishing last after being perfect in the heats.

Larsen led the Last Chance from start to finish and filled the final spot in the main event. Talkington finished second, Raines was third, and Green finished fourth.

Ryan Tovatt led all four laps en route to victory in the Support Main Event. Rudy Laurer finished second, Randy Skinner was third, Eloy Medellin finished fourth, and Mike Wiley was fifth.

Costa Mesa Speedway will be dark the next two Saturdays but racing will return on Saturday, July 13 for the 41st Orange County Fair Derby. The racers will compete for the prestigious bronze hat trophy.

RESULTS

Support Last Chance
101 – Mike Wiley
290 – Harold Hartke
153 – Brad Moreau
242 – Bruce Marteney

Support Main Event
38 - Ryan Tovatt
182 - Rudy Laurer
383 - Randy Skinner
178 - Eloy Medellin
101 - Mike Wiley

First Division Heat Scoring 1 2 3 T
2 – Josh Larsen 1 3 3 7
6 – Shawn McConnell 1 2 1 4
7 – Michael Raines 3 N 0 3
9 – Mike Faria 3 2 3 8
11 – Bobby Schwartz 2 2 1 5
27 – Austin Novratil 2 3 1 6
37 – Joe Donaldson 0 0 0 0
39 – Buck Blair 3 3 3 9
45e – Andy Crawford 0 1 0 1
48 – Tyson Talkington 1 0 2 3
182 – Rudy Laurer F - - 0
308 – Max Ruml 2 1 2 5
321 – Russell Green 0 1 2 3

Race Results
1: Raines, Novratil, McConnell, Green
2: Faria, Schwartz, Talkington, Donaldson
4: Blair, Ruml, Larsen, Crawford
9: Blair, McConnell, Green, Donaldson
10: Novratil, Schwartz, Ruml, Talkington
11: Larsen, Faria, Crawford, Laurer (fell), Raines (non starter)
18: Blair, Talkington, Schwartz, Crawford
19: (restarted) Larsen, Green, Novratil (penalty line), Raines (retired)
20: Faria, Ruml, McConnell, Donaldson
Semi #1: Ruml, Faria, Larsen, Green, McConnell (fell)
Semi #2: Schwartz, Novratil, Raines, Talkington, Blair

First Division Last Chance
2 - Josh Larsen
48 - Tyson Talkington
7 - Michael Raines
321 - Russell Green

First Division Main Event
9 - Mike Faria
308 - Max Ruml
11 - Bobby Schwartz
2 - Josh Larsen
27 - Austin Novratil (fell)

Ryan Evans