|
|
The Dirt Track
Kern County Raceway Park
Bakersfield, California
Spring Triple Crown Series 1
KCRP Bakersfield - April 10, 2021
Promoted By: Steve Evans E-mail: dreamteamspeedway@sbcglobal.net
NICOL IS THE KING OF KERN!
Wolverhampton and Glasgow rider Broc Nicol went unbeaten in the main program to claim the ‘King of Kern’ title at Kern County Raceway, Bakersfield, California on 10th April 2021.
It was the second meeting at the new Central California track and once more the riders on show served up an absolute treat for the spectators on hand. A large line up of 24 riders in Division 1 raced 3 heats each. The bar was set high with only 8 riders making the semi finals and 7 points out of 9 being the cut off. Ironically only 8 of the riders won heats and they all made the cut so it was hard to argue against the qualifiers.
Three riders were unbeaten after the heats – Nicol, Max Ruml (the winner at the Feb 20th opener) and Chris Kerr. Four riders dropped a single point – Billy Janniro, Gino Manzares, Austin Novratil and Russell Green, with new Plymouth Gladiators acquisition Dillon Ruml on 7.
Semi final one featured both Ruml's, Janniro and Green. Whilst Max Ruml made a superb start, Janniro did not but the ten times AMA National Champion used the fast banked oval to his advantage, powering around the outside to move up to second place. The older Ruml and Janniro held their positions to transfer to the Main Event. Semi 2 served up another classic. Manzares got the best start with Nicol left to fight Novratil for second. At the end of lap one Nicol got ahead of Novratil and then swept around Manzares on the outside going into turn 3. Novratil then pulled off a similar move to take second place. Kerr, after not being troubled much in the heats, was suddenly eliminated with fourth place.
The final was expected to be intense and it was. Max Ruml got the initial gate but Nicol went down after appearing to have had some contact with Janniro as all four riders tussled for real estate. A complete restart was ordered and this time it was Nicol who got the best start. All four riders were in close competition jockeying for position behind. Janniro was challenging Ruml for second when Ruml briefly got out of shape on turn 2 but saved the bike and recovered well to retain his position. However, this enabled Novratil to displace Janniro for third place. Places remained for the rest of the show. The four riders put on a superb display of riding which the fans in attendance thoroughly appreciated.
Broc Nicol and Dillon Ruml, both departing for the UK soon, contested the Red, White and Blue Helmet match race competition. It was a best of three two lap duel. Ruml surprised Nicol with a pass to win the first leg. Nicol returned the favor to even the score in the second. The decider was close again with Nicol coming out on top in another tight contest. Nicol gets the keep the patriotic stars and stripes helmet for his third win a row. A new helmet will be ordered in time for the next staging.
Aside from the 22 race Division 1 program, there were 19 heats of Supporting events. Both Division 2 and Division 3 lost riders due to crashes in the early heats. Local rider Sean McDougall won both Division 2 heats but he lost out in Main, falling when Chasing 16-year-old 500cc debutante, eventual winner Alex Martin, who also swept the 250cc Junior class. Division Three heats went to Jason Lundberg (2) and Jake Myers. Lundberg took the Main.
National Champion Nick Hohlbein swept the 150cc Mini Speedway class. Asa Gonzalez, who also debuted in the 150 class, won all three Pee Wee races. Jim Lewis, mechanic to Lundberg and previously Luke Becker, won a small 4 rider Flat Track Exhibition Class.
With spectators allowed back for the first time due to the relaxing of restrictions in California, a decent sized but socially distanced crowd, many new to speedway, thoroughly and noisily appreciated the show on hand. Though only two races old, the KCRP venue is already becoming a huge favorite with the riders. 10 time AMA champ Janniro said on social media, “Great track, that was a hell of a race. Can’t wait till the next one.” Max Ruml replied, “That’s the most fun racing I’ve had in a while.”
The event was the first of three over a 5 week period, forming the ‘Spring Triple Crown Series.’ The top four Division 1 riders at the end of the series will race off for a $1,000 first prize in addition to the regular prize money. Round 2 is on April 24th and will feature team racing with the Bakersfield Bandits racing at home for the first time in 45 years. The series concludes on May 8th.
Results
Division 1
Semi 1:
5 Max Ruml
1 Billy Janniro
321 Russell Green
3 Dillon Ruml
Semi 2:
4 Broc Nicol
7 Austin Novratil
24 Gino Manzares
27k Chris Kerr
Main
4 Broc Nicol
5 Max Ruml
7 Austin Novratil
1 Billy Janniro
Triple Crown Points after Round 1:
Broc Nicol 15, Max Ruml 14, Austin Novratil 11, Billy Janniro 10, Gino Manzares 9, Russell Green 9, Chris Kerr 9, Dillon Ruml 7, Blake Borello 6, Anthony Dion 4, Eddie Castro 4, Rheten Todd 4, Michael Wells 4, Chance Grove 3, Robbie Sauer 3, Brad Sauer 2, Aaron Fox 2, Mike Miller 2, Wilbur Hancock 2, Mark Fillebrown 2, Sebastian Palmese 1, Timmy Dion 0, Greg Moore 0.
Division Two Main
30 Alex Martin
127 David Perry
243 Sean McDougall
163 Ron Davis non starter
Triple Crown Points
McDougall 7, Martin 7, Perry 3, Davis 1.
Division Three Main
138N Jason Lundberg
138 Jim Sanders
175 Jake Myers
365 Dean Newnham
107 Don Nemarnik non starter
Triple Crown Points
Lundberg 10, Myers 9, Newnham 7, Sanders 5, Nemarnik 3, Tim Dion 0, Tom Settlemire 0.
250 Juniors Main
30 Alex Martin
48 Jose Navarrete
123 Catherine Moore
Triple Crown Points
Martin 9, Navarrete 6, Moore 3.
150 Mini Main
2 Nick Hohlbein
226 Levi Leutz
203 Darren Armbruster
700 Asa Gonzalez
Triple Crown Points
Hohlbein 9, Leutz 6, Armbruster 3, Gonzalez 0.
Pee Wee Main
700 Asa Gonzalez
51e Emily Jimenez
26 Jackson Joiner
25 Ryder Manzares
7 Vance Gonzalez
6 Josie Gonzalez
Triple Crown Points
A Gonzalez 15, Jimenez 12, Joiner 8, Manzares 7, V Gonzalez 3, J Gonzalez 0.
| Division 1: |
Heats: |
1. Broc Nicol 15 (3,3,3,3,3)
2. Max Ruml 14 (3,3,3,3,2)
3. Austin Novratil 11 (2,3,3,2,1)
4. Billy Janniro 10 (3,3,2,2,0)
5. Chris Kerr 9 (3,3,3,0)
6. Gino Manzares 9 (3,2,3,1)
7. Russell Green 9 (3,3,2,1)
8. Dillon Ruml 7 2,2,3,0)
9. Blake Borello 6 (2,2,2)
10. Anthony Dion 4 (2,2,dnf)
11. Eddie Castro 4 (1,2,1)
12. Rheten Todd 4 (2,1,1)
13. Michael Wells 4 (1,1,2)
14. Mark Fillebrown 2 (0,0,2)
15. Chance Grove 2 (0,0,2)
16. Brad Sauer 2 (2,0,dns)
17. Aaron Fox 2 (0,2,dns)
18. Rees Todd 2 (1,0,1)
19. Mike Miller 2 (1,1,0)
20. Wilbur Hancock 2 (0,1,1)
21. Robbie Sauer 2 (1,1,dnf)
22. Timothy Dion 1 (1,0,dnf)
23. Sebastian Palmese 1 (ex,1,dns)
24. Gregory Moore 0 (0,0,0)
|
1. M. Ruml, A. Dion, Castro, Moore
2. Nicol, Borello, Wells, Fillebrown
3. Janniro, Rh. Todd, Miller, Palmese (ex)
4. Manzares, Novratil, T. Dion, Grove
5. Green, B. Sauer, R. Sauer, Fox
6. Kerr, D. Ruml, Re. Todd, Hancock
7. M. Ruml, D. Ruml, R. Sauer, Fillebrown
8. Kerr, Castro, Wells, B. Sauer
9. Nicol, Fox, Miller, T. Dion
10. Green, Borello, Rh. Todd, Grove
11. Janniro, Manzares, Hancock, Moore
12. Novratil, A. Dion, Palmese, Re. Todd
13. M. Ruml, Borello, Rh. Todd, T. Dion (dnf)
14. Nicol, Grove, R. Sauer (dnf), Palmese (dns)
15. Novratil, Janniro, Hancock, B. Sauer (dns)
16. Manzares, Green, Re. Todd, Moore
17. Kerr, Fillebrown, A. Dion (dnf), Fox (dns)
18. D. Ruml, Wells, Castro, Miller
Semi 1. M. Ruml, Janniro, Green, D. Ruml
Semi 2. Nicol, Novratil, Manzares, Kerr
Final. Nicol, M. Ruml, Novratil, Janniro
|
| Z wyrazami szacunku, Mateusz Kozanecki |
|
|
