Costa Mesa Speedway

Orange County Fairgrounds
Costa Mesa, California

Jack Milne Cup
May 11, 2019 - Costa Mesa
Report by Ryan Evans

“Mad” Max Ruml opened Costa Mesa Speedway’s 51st season by winning the Jack Milne Cup for the second time.

Dillon Ruml entered the Final as the only undefeated racer and chose gate one. National Champion Billy “The Kid” Janniro picked gate four. Max Ruml selected gate two which left Samuel Ramirez with gate three.

The long winter layoff may have stirred nerves for the season’s first main event because Dillon Ruml was warned for an unsatisfactory start. When the tapes went up the second time it was Max Ruml rocketing to the lead with Janniro trying to sweep around the outside. Max Ruml led on the back straight with Janniro trying so hard that he bounced off the wall. He remained upright but surrendered second place. Dillon Ruml set his sights on his older brother but the former Under 21 National Champion was not going to be moved out of the lead. Max Ruml was first to the checkered flag, Dillon Ruml settled for second, Janniro finished third, and Samuel Ramirez was fourth.

The format for the Jack Milne Cup was three rounds of heats but was more cutthroat than the typical event as it did not include semi-finals. Therefore, the heats were more crucial as they provided a direct path to the Final. Dropping more than a couple points could prove fatal to a racer’s hopes of making the Final. In addition, the Olympique earned-handicap system was utilized for the heats.

Dillon Ruml kicked off the evening with a victory over former National Champion Bobby “Boogaloo” Schwartz. Max Ruml defeated Jason Ramirez in the next heat. Gage Geist scored an impressive victory over Janniro in the third event. Samuel Ramirez completed round one with a victory ahead of “Fast” Eddie Castro.

Dillon Ruml began round two by quickly erasing his 30-yard handicap and romping to victory. Max Ruml mirrored his brother’s effort by taking the lead on lap one and earning his second win. Janniro shook off his unexpected defeated and swiftly charged through the field for an easy victory. Shawn “Mad Dog” McConnell finished the second round by holding off Russell Green for his first win.

The final round of heats started with Dillon Ruml making it three for three. Green handed Max Ruml his first defeat of the evening in event 20. Janniro defeated Schwartz for his second consecutive victory. Samuel Ramirez defeated his brother to score his second victory and complete the heats.

Green was victorious in the Scratch Consolation with Jason Ramirez getting second, Geist finishing third, and Schwartz coming in fourth.

Three-time Junior 250 National Champion Sebastian “Big Daddy” Palmese dominated both of his heats and looked to complete his 500cc debut with a main-event victory but spun around while leading the first lap of the Second Division Main Event. Rohn Zellner was the benefactor of Palmese’s mistake. He took over the lead and raced away with the victory. John Wilder finished second, Palmese recovered in time to take third, and Bruce Marteney was fourth.

Kevin Fiore won both of his heats and completed his perfect night with a runaway victory in the Third Division Main Event. Jake Myers finished second in his first speedway event in several years, speedway debutant Tyler Moszer was third, and Damon Barry finished fourth.

The Junior 250 Main Event ended in a heap in turn two when Kyle Cunningham had a wild crash. He was on his feet immediately but was unable to restart. Northern California’s Landon Norton led the restart from start to finish en route to victory. Slater Lightcap was second and Wilbur Hancock finished third.

Nick Hohlbein completed the Northern California sweep of the youth mains by winning the Mini 150 Main Event ahead of Owen Williams and Ken Matsudaira.

15-time Sidecar National Champion Joe Jones and Josh Flammia opened their season by winning the Sidecar Main Event. James Kinne and Joshua Bustos were second, Dillon Osborne and Ashley Gibbons finished third, and Robert Curry and Johnny Glover were fourth.

The evening began Costa Mesa Speedway’s 51st season of hosting races at the Orange County Fairgrounds. The next event on the schedule will be the season’s first Harley Night on Saturday, June 1.

RESULTS

Scratch Main Event
5 – Max Ruml
3 – Dillon Ruml
1 – Billy Janniro
199 – Sammy Ramirez

Scratch Consolation (restarted)
321 – Russell Green
66 – Jason Ramirez
10 – Gage Geist (penalty line)
11 – Bobby Schwartz

Second Division Main Event
118 – Rohn Zellner
249 – John Wilder
259 – Sebastian Palmese
242 – Bruce Marteney

Second Division Consolation
201 – Dylan Black
323 – Mike Miller
275n – Lawrence McNutt
242n – Sammy Tetrault

Third Division Main Event
159 – Kevin Fiore
175 – Jake Myers
327 – Tyler Moszer
150 – Damon Barry

Junior 250 Main Event (restarted)
2 – Landon Norton
28 – Slater Lightcap
117 – Wilbur Hancock
35 – Kyle Cunningham (non-starter, restart)

Junior 250 Consolation
27 – Luke Whitcomb
96 – Andrew Russell

Mini 150 Main Event
3 – Nick Hohlbein
04 - Owen Williams
74 – Ken Matsudaira

Sidecar Main Event
1 – Joe Jones/Josh Flammia
74 – James Kinne/Joshua Bustos
64 - Dillon Osborne/Ashley Gibbons
31 – Robert Curry/Johnny Glover

Sidecar Consolation (restarted)
357 – Ace Kale/Heather Flammia
911 - Stuart Glass/Jack Straw (penalty line)
11 - Kevin Holman/Shannen Hennessey
07 – Kevin Kale/Anthony Hernandez

First Division Heat Scoring 1 2 3 T
1 – Billy Janniro 2 3 3 8
3 – Dillon Ruml 3 3 3 9
5 – Max Ruml 3 3 2 8
6 – Shawn McConnell 1 3 1 5
10 – Gage Geist 3 1 2 6
11 – Bobby Schwartz 2 2 2 6
14 – Eddie Castro 2 2 1 5
37 – Joe Donaldson F 0 0 0
66 – Jason Ramirez 2 2 2 6
170 – Hayley Perrault F 1 0 1
178 – Eloy Medellin 1 E 0 1
182 – Rudy Laurer 0 0 1 1
199 – Sammy Ramirez 3 1 3 7
214 – Michael Wells 1 0 1 2
321 – Russell Green 1 2 3 6
345 – Ricky Richards 0 1 N 1

Race Results
1: D. Ruml, Schwartz, Wells, Laurer
2: M. Ruml, J. Ramirez, Green, Perrault (fell)
3: Geist, Janniro, Medellin, Donaldson (fell)
4: (restarted) S. Ramirez, Castro, McConnell (penalty line), Richards
9: D. Ruml [30], Castro [20], Perrault [0], Medellin [10] (engine failure)
10: M. Ruml [30], Schwartz [20], S. Ramirez [30], Donaldson [0]
11: Janniro [20], J. Ramirez [20], Richards [0], Wells [10]
12: McConnell [10], Green [10], Geist [30], Laurer [0]
19: D. Ruml [30], Geist [10], Wells [0], Donaldson [0]
20: Green [20], M. Ruml [30], Castro [20], Richards [10] (non-starter)
21: Janniro [30], Schwartz [20], Laurer [0], Medellin [0] (retired)
22: S. Ramirez [10], J. Ramirez [20], McConnell [30], Perrault [10]

Past Jack Milne Cup Winners
2018 – Austin Novratil
2017 – Gino Manzares
2016 – Austin Novratil
2015 – Max Ruml
2014 – Billy Hamill
2013 – Billy Janniro
2012 – Billy Janniro
2011 – Mike Faria
2010 – Shawn McConnell
2009 – Shawn McConnell
2008 – Bobby Schwartz
2007 – Mike Faria
2006 – Charlie Venegas
2005 – Mike Faria
2004 – Mike Faria
2003 – Scott Brant
2002 – Scott Brant
2001 – Gary Hicks
2000 – Charlie Venegas
1999 – Gary Hicks
1998 – Bobby Schwartz

	Paul Flanders Photos
All the young dudes!	Sebastian Palmese earned an AMA age waiver this week to race 500cc machines this year, though he'll turn 16 in August.	Sebastian Palmese made his 500cc debut at Costa Mesa, taking third place in the D2 main after a 360 degree spin on lap one.
Ace Kale and Heather Flammia (left) aced the win in the sidecar consolation main, while Josh Flammia and Joe Jones won the sidecar main event.	Nick Hohlbein hauled home the 150 Juniors trophy.	Landon Norton landed in first place for the 250 Juniors.
Kevin Fiore took home the trophy for the third division.	Rohn Zellner captured the win in the D2 main event.	Samuel Ramirez advanced to his first D1 main event at Costa Mesa.
Billy Janniro placed third in the main event.	Dillon Ruml completed the Ruml brothers 1 - 2 punch in the main.	Max Ruml takes the main event win for the Jack Milne Cup.

Quick Results from the Jack Milne Cup.

RESULTS

Scratch Main Event
5 - Max Ruml
3 - Dillon Ruml
1 - Billy Janniro
199 - Samuel Ramirez

Scratch Consolation (restarted)
321 - Russell Green
66 - Jason Ramirez
10 - Gage Geist (penalty line)
11 - Bobby Schwartz

Second Division Main Event
118 - Rohn Zellner
249 - John Wilder
259 - Sebastian Palmese
242 - Bruce Marteney

Second Division Consolation
201 - Dylan Black
323 - Mike Miller
275 - Lawrence McNutt
242n - Sammy Tetrault

Third Division Main Event
159 - Kevin Fiore
175 - Jake Myers
327 - Tyler Moszer
150 - Damon Barry

Junior 250 Main Event (restarted)
2 - Landon Norton
28 - Slater Lightcap
117 - Wilbur Hancock
35 - Kyle Cunningham (non starter, restart)

Junior 250 Consolation
27 - Luke Whitcomb
96 - Andrew Russell

Mini 150 Main Event
3 - Nick Hohlbein
04 - Owen Williams
74 - Ken Matsudaira

Sidecar Main Event
1 - Joe Jones/Josh Flammia
74 - James Kinne/Joshua Bustos
64 - Dillon Osborne/Ashley Summers
31 - Robert Curry/Johnny Glover

Sidecar Consolation (restarted)
357 - Ace Kale/Heather Flammia
911 - Stuart Glass/Jack Straw
11 - Kevin Holman/Shannon Hennessey
07 - Kevin Kale/Anthony Hernandez