Industry Racing
The Grand Arena
Industry Hills Expo Center
City of Industry, California
Speedway at The Grand
June 19, 2019 - Industry Racing
By Ryan Evans
Austin “All Throttle” Novratil won all six of his races including the Scratch Main Event to top off a perfect night at So-Cal Swap Meet Night at Industry Racing.
Being the top scorer earned the former Under 21 National Champion the right to first choice of starting position. After a little pondering he chose gate one. Aaron Fox was next to choose and he selected gate four. Russell Green then picked gate two which left California State Champion Dillon “Pickle” Ruml with gate three.
Ruml got the drop on the field despite starting from the dreaded gate three and led through turns one and two. Novratil led the pack in chasing after the leader. It soon became apparent that Novratil would be the only competitor who would have a shot at Ruml. He searched for a way to close ground but Ruml’s lead appeared safe as they took the white flag. Novratil took his attack to the outside for the final lap and significantly closed the gap as they entered the final corner. Novratil stayed in the ample outside cushion and used it to propel himself around Ruml and beat him to the checkered flag. The crowd serenaded Novratil with a large ovation while Ruml had to be disappointed with a second straight narrow main-event defeat. Fox finished third and Green was credited with fourth.
The evening commenced with Novratil blasting to his first victory of the night over a pair of former Junior 250 National Champions, Sebastian “Big Daddy” Palmese and Colton Hicks. Ruml opened his evening with a victory over Shawn “Mad Dog” McConnell. Fox opened his account with a win ahead of Tim Gomez. Green used the outside to power around Bob Hicks and close round one with his first win.
Colton Hicks was awarded the victory to open round two after McConnell hooked up and hit the fence in turn four. He was able to walk away but his bike was a casualty. Novratil and Ruml appeared set for an epic battle in event seven but contact between them left Ruml on the ground and Novratil racing away with victory number two. Bobby “Boogaloo” Schwartz brought the crowd to its feet with a vintage victory over Fox. Green completed the second round with his second straight win.
The third round opened with Schwartz and Colton Hicks, old master and young apprentice, locked in a tight four-lap battle with Schwartz coming out a very narrow victor. Novratil made it three wins on the trot and also handed Green his first defeat. Ruml trapped from gate four and held Gomez at bay for his second win. Fox earned his second victory by defeating Bob Hicks.
Round four began with a father-son battle between Bob and Colton Hicks. The younger Hicks used the outside to take the lead and the win while Gomez followed his path to take second. All three would come back for the semis. Novratil showed Fox a clean pair of heels and raced away with his fourth consecutive win. Green continued his solid performance with his third victory, this time ahead of Palmese. Ruml completed the heats with his third victory with Schwartz getting second.
Novratil made it five for five as he stormed to victory in the first semi with Ruml following him into the main event. Fox and Green finished one-two in the second semi to transfer to the main event as well.
“Lightning” Luke Whitcomb and Wilbur Hancock left the starting line together and remained that way through turns one and two. Hancock used the outside to power around Whitcomb on the back straight and secured the lead as they entered turn three. Hancock never looked back from there and raced away with the Junior 250 Main Event victory. Whitcomb held on to second and Andrew Russell finished third.
Nick Hohlbein made his trip from Northern California pay off as he led every lap of the Mini 150 Main Event en route to victory. Levi Leutz finished second, Jose Navarrete was third, and Nick Dunn finished fourth.
With this event being held on the eve of Born Free Stampede and the Harley Hooligans X Games Minneapolis Qualifier there were many luminaries from the motorcycle world in attendance. Many of them had never seen speedway in person before and the feedback was extremely positive. The exposure to new and important people could only be positive for Industry Racing and American Speedway in general.
RESULTS
Scratch Main Event
7 - Austin Novratil
3 - Dillon Ruml
46 - Aaron Fox
321 - Russell Green (retired)
Scratch Consolation
24n - Colton Hicks
30 - Tim Gomez
11 - Bobby Schwartz
808 - Bob Hicks (fell, remounted)
Semi 1
7 - Austin Novratil
3 - Dillon Ruml
24n - Colton Hicks
30 - Tim Gomez
Semi 2
46 - Aaron Fox
321 - Russell Green
808 - Bob Hicks
11 - Bobby Schwartz (retired)
Junior 250 Main Event
117 - Wilbur Hancock
27 - Luke Whitcomb
96 - Andrew Russell
Mini 150 Main Event
3 - Nick Hohlbein
9 - Levi Leutz
48 - Jose Navarrete
76 - Nick Dunn
04 - Owen Williams (non starter)
First Division Heat Scoring 1 2 3 4 T
3 – Dillon Ruml 3 0 3 3 9
6 – Shawn McConnell 2 F R R 2
7 – Austin Novratil 3 3 3 3 12
11 – Bobby Schwartz 1 3 3 2 9
14 – Eddie Castro 1 0 1 0 2
21 – Brad Sauer 1 1 1 R 3
24n – Colton Hicks 1 3 2 3 9
30 – Tim Gomez 2 2 2 2 8
46 – Aaron Fox 3 2 3 2 10
116 – Jake Isaac 0 1 1 1 3
178 – Eloy Medellin 0 1 0 1 2
214 – Michael Wells 0 2 0 1 3
259 – Sebastian Palmese 2 1 1 2 6
321 – Russell Green 3 3 2 3 11
323 – Mike Miller 0 0 0 0 0
808n – Bob Hicks 2 2 2 1 7
182 – Rudy Laurer (Reserve) Did Not Race
Heat Results
1: Novratil, Palmese, C. Hicks, Isaac
2: D. Ruml, McConnell, Castro, Miller
3: Fox, Gomez, Sauer, Medellin
4: Green, B. Hicks, Schwartz, Wells
6: (awarded) C. Hicks, Wells, Sauer, McConnell (fell)
7: Novratil, B. Hicks, Medellin, D. Ruml (fell, remounted)
8: Schwartz, Fox, Palmese, Miller
9: Green, Gomez, Isaac, Castro
11: Schwartz, C. Hicks, Castro, Medellin
12: Novratil, Green, Sauer, Miller
13: D. Ruml, Gomez, Palmese, Wells
14: Fox, B. Hicks, Isaac, McConnell
17: C. Hicks, B. Hicks, Gomez, Miller
18: Novratil, Fox, Wells, Castro
19: Green, Palmese, Medellin, McConnell (retired)
20: D. Ruml, Schwartz, Isaac, Sauer (retired)
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