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Perris Raceway1205 Burton Road Fall Four Team Challenge - Nick Varner Trophy Rocket Russell Green does the Double at Nick Varner while Aces Fly High! Russell Green capped off a breakout season by winning both First Division Individual Main Events in the Nick Varner Cup at Perris Raceway on October 20. Meantime, the two time Champion Santa Maria Aces won the four team challenge. On a warm October night Perris staged it's 8th race of 2018 in what is now a monthly year round program meaning American Speedway fans have year round racing and no long off season. The team competition was the first item on the evenings menu. Each team consisted of 7 riders racing within division, a mix of Divisions 1, 2 and 3 with an addition of a 150 Youth rider. 23 heats comprised of the contest, with one rider from each of the four teams in each heat. The Santa Maria Aces, led by Max Ruml on 11 points ended up victors by 6 points over the Ventura Vikings, who had Dillon Ruml scoring 10. The current champion Perris Eagles notched third place with David Hancock scoring an impressive whilst the Huntington Beach Heathens languished in the wooden spoon spot, Russell Green top scoring on 6. The team races were further spiced up with Handicapping occurring in the middle heats. A standout race was Event 11 where veteran returnee David Hancock (10 yard line) held off Green (from the 30). Both Mike Miller (Vikings) and James Rust (Aces) won all three of their races in the Division Two and Three team races respectively. As a touch to the purpose of the event, remembering the legacy of Nick Varner, members of Nick's family were elected as honorary team captains. Once the team event was done it was down to individual business. The top three first division riders of Green and the Ruml brothers competed in a '3 man' dash', a series of short elimination races. Max Ruml won the first 1 lap heat from his brother with Green third. This then matched Green and Dillon Ruml in the LCQ, with Green getting a superb start in the one lap match race. This put Green into a two lap final with Max Ruml. Ruml edged ahead from the start but was only slightly ahead coming out of turn two. Green dove inside of Max on turn three and stunned the crowd with an incredible pass, going on to a popular victory. The 'big three' were joined by David Hancock in the Division 1 Main. Hancock had won two heats in the team event in what was so far the best performance of his recent part time comeback. Though Green had last gate pick, he carried on his confidence from the Dash with a jet propelled start leaving the Ruml's in his wake again. Green eased to victory with Dillon getting second ahead of Max. The Ruml brothers have dominated Perris' summer season but the night truly belonged to Russell Green on this occasion. Division Two and Three Mains went to the unbeaten Miller and Rust who each notched their fourth win of the night. The 150 Main was for a $200 winner take all sponsorship from long time friend A Star RV out of Long Beach. Levi Leutz and Justin Almon had another great duel with Leutz coming out ahead. Ryder Schultz was all three heats and the Main in the Pee Wee Class. At halftime Perris announcer and copromoter Crazy Chris Ackerman presented the Ruml brothers with their #1 Plates from August's AMA Best Pairs National Championship. The Nick Varner Cup event is an established Perris annual tradition, paying tribute to the late Nick Varner, a junior speedway star in the making who passed away in 2011 after a Motocross crash. A number of Varner's racing peers were present both on and off the track in what always is an emotional celebration of his short life. Perris action does not let up with the next race being on November 3rd. A full speedway show runs alongside the growing Hooligan Phenomenon. Then all attention goes to the biggest race of the American season on December 8th with the return of the FIM American Final, the prize being coveted 2019 Grand Prix Series Qualifying spots up for grabs for the top placed riders. Results: Nick Varner Cup Team Challenge: Santa Maria Aces 44: Max Ruml 11 (3,3,3,2), James Rust 9 (3,3,3), Hayley Perrault 6 (2,1,1,2), David Newsham 6 (1,3,2), Brad Moreau 5 (2,1,2), Jose Navarrete 4 (1,1,2), Steve Bowen 3 (1,2,F). Ventura Vikings 38: Dillon Ruml 10 (2,2,3,3), Mike Miller 9 (3,3,3), Tom Bryant 7 (3,2,2), Kevin Fiore 6 (1,3,2), Levi Leutz 6 (2,3,1), John Wilder 0 (0,0,0,0), Bobby Richards 9 (0,0,0) Perris Eagles 35: David Hancock 8 (0.3,2,3), Justin Almon 8 (3,2,3), Steve Brown 7 (2,0,2,3) Jim Gibson 6 (0,3,3,0), Robbie Sauer 3 (3,0,0,0), Don Nemarnik 2 (1,1,0), George Yates 0 (0). Huntington Heathens 21: Russell Green 6 (2,1,1,2), Charles Pearson 5 (2,2,1), Rohn Zellner 3 (1,0,1,1), Mike Schultz 3 (2,0,1), Brent Smith 2 (0,1,1), Dennis Osmer 2 (0,1,1), Anthony Bennett 0 (0,0,0) Division 1 Main 3 Man All Star Dash Division 2 Main Division 3 Main 150 Mini Main Pee Wee Main |
