Champion Speedway

344 East River Drive
Owego, New York 13827

East Coast Speedway
US SGP SERIES Round 2
Donholt Repeats!
Champion Speedway, Owego, NY
July 27, 2019

Round Two of the US SGP Series was moved from Action Park East in Greene, NY to Champion Speedway on late notice to allow the staff some more time to work the surface at APE into good shape for speedway racing as the track recently re-opened after an 8 year layoff!

The surface at Champion Speedway has been excellent the past two weeks and provided some top notch racing. The US SGP events have been popular providing a fair system for riders to qualify for this season's US Open Championships on Labor Day weekend and also a few events with a larger payout.

Thus far it has been a battle between 3-time Track Champion, Casey Donholt and 4-time Track Champion, Lenny McBride! At Round One, Len McBride was perfect through the heats and Donholt won the Main, this time around was no different!

To open the evening up, Jeremy Parsons defeated Donholt. Despite Donholt's efforts to try and pass, Parson's kept his wheels in the traction and the gap did not close. McBride then began his quest with a win over Dave Oakden. Brian Hollenbeck, who also looked strong, was a first heat winner as well over Jonny Oakden.

McBride would go on to 3 more victories on his Justice Bros/Arai/Oury/Scotts Headers/Cobra/TANKS Auto Sales powered GM to take the top spot after the heats. Donholt and Parsons followed with 11 points each and then Hollenbeck with 10.

Semifinal number 1 featured Donholt, Jeremy Parsons, Jonny Oakden and Spencer Portararo. Donholt made the gate and Parsons tucked in for the last transfer position. A good battle was had with Portararo and Oakden with Oakden ahead at the end.

Semi 2 was more of the same from Len McBride and Brian Hollenbeck with McBride winning and Hollenbeck 2nd ahead of Dave Oakden in third and Jerry Harman in 4th.

Donholt made no mistakes in the final as he made a perfect start and led wire to wire. McBride had first gate choice and took the outside but caught too much traction from the start and slid off going into the first turn ending his evening. Parsons capped off a solid night with a strong 2nd place and Hollenbeck took final podium position. The outcome provides an interesting scenario heading into the final Round in August as McBride and Donholt are now dead even in Overall Points.

The next events on the East Coast Calendar are August 2nd at Action Park East and August 3rd at Champion Speedway which is the Larry and Kathy McBride Memorial Race, followed by a weekend off, then August 15th at Action Park and the 16th at Champion Speedway.

Final
1. Casey Donholt 2. Jeremy Parsons 3. Brian Hollenbeck 4. Len McBride (Fell)

Semi 1
1. Casey Donholt 2. Jeremy Parsons 3. Jonny Oakden 4. Spencer Portararo

Semi 2
1. Len McBride 2. Brian Hollenbeck 3. Dave Oakden 4. Jerry Harman

Heat Points
1. Len McBride 12
2. Casey Donholt 11
2. Jeremy Parsons 11
4. Brian Hollenbeck 10
5. Jonny Oakden 7
6. Dave Oakden 6
7. Spencer Portararo 5
8. Jerry Harman 3
8. Russ Cornell 3
10. Mike Cortese 2
10. Mason Higley 2

Support
1. Ray Schweiger 2. Dale Robinson 3. Phil McCrackin 4. Jamal Kelly 5. Dillon Fiske

Photo by Brian Walsh of Casey Donholt