Fast Fridays Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
1273 High Street
Auburn, California
Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
Fast Friday’s Track Championships
By Michael Kirby (Story & Photos)
AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, September 18, 2021
It’s the event the riders at Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway wait all season for. On Saturday night Fast Fridays presented their annual track championships at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn Ca. It brings the top riders in the season together for bragging rights that last all year. In Division I sixteen of the top riders with the most points accumulated over the season are pulled for the track championships. The championship format puts each of the sixteen riders racing against each other at least once in 20 heats and from each of the starting lane positions. Points are accumulated in each race; three for a first place finish, two for a second place finish, one point for a third place finish and zero for fourth place. Points are added and the rider with the most points at the end of the night wins the track championship. In case of a tie a run-off would be required.
Coming into Saturday’s meeting Bart Bast led all Division I riders with 1409 season points. Charlie Venegas came into the meeting with 1049 points. Both Venegas and Bast are veteran riders with decades of experience and their age, confidence and cunning racing strategy paid off big time Saturday night.
In the first three rounds of racing both Venegas and Bast were undefeated and sat tied at nine-nine. In event 16 though the rubber met the road and they faced each other along with Daniel Faria and Shawn Eldredge. Bast had the inside and Venegas had the outside with Eldredge and Faria in between. Lane four had been hot all night with the current track conditions and Venegas led the way out of turn one. It was a great race between Venegas and Bast with Venegas taking the checkered flag at the finish and going up one point on Bast and still undefeated.
In his final event race number 17 though Venegas was defeated by Russell Green in another great race and dropped a point sitting at 14 and putting the heat on Bast with 11 to win his final race event 18 collecting three more points and forcing a run-off. Anything less than a win would give Venegas the championship by at least one point. Standing in Bast’s way was ten time AMA National Champion Billy Janniro who was also in event 18 and could play the spoiler. Filling out the race were Will McCloskey and Fred Cook. Bast was out of one and Janniro out of the hot lane four. From the gate it was on and Janniro got to the lead in turn one. Bast battled back fiercely fighting for the championship, passed Janniro on the inside and narrowly won in probably the best race of the night, the crowd on their feet cheering.
Picking up the three points for the win Bast was now tied at 14-14 with Venegas. With Bast and Venegas each just dropping one point all evening the two men rolled out for the run-off. Calling for starting positions referee Steve Lucero flipped a coin and Bast won the call. Looking both lanes over Bast chose lane one. Out of four Venegas who is known for great gates got the lead and would not be denied, leading all the way for the finish and the Division I track championship. “I believe this number nine or ten track championships for me over the years, this one I am dedicating to Mike Dilkey,” said Venegas. Dilkey was a beloved member of the Fast Friday’s speedway family who passed away on Friday afternoon.
Division II and III were a run a little different. The eight top riders in each division rode in two heat races with the number one and number two riders in each advancing to a final winner take all race. In Division II Rees Todd won his heat race and along with second place finisher Will McCloskey transferred to the final. Dylan Wagner won his heat and along with second place finisher Shawn Eldredge transferred to the final. All four of the guys were busy all night also participating in the Division I championship program. Out of the gate Todd took a commanding lead which carried him all the way to the winner’s podium. Wagner was second. Eldredge was third and McCloskey was fourth. Todd was also the Division II season points champion with 629 points.
Division III brought Tim Rott, Jeff Powell, Ray Holt Jr. and Brian Leventon together for the Division III main event. Coming into the championship Rott brought 573 points, Powell 492, Holt came with 405 and Leventon brought 305. These were the only four riders in Division III so they all had raced against each other in the heat race. Powell had won that race and also prevailed in the main picking up the Division III championship. Holt Jr. was second, Rott was third and Leventon was fourth.
Not to be left out the Pee-Wee’s raced for their championship. Four rounds brought the top four riders to the start line for their championship. All on 50cc bikes these up and comers really go at it. On top this night was Mason Love, who won all of his heats races, Jayce Preuss was second, Riley Rearick was third and Royce Howard was fourth.
It was a much anticipated night of racing that did not disappoint. A big hats off to all the racers at all levels running all out for the division championships. Not to be missed next week the 2021 AMA National Speedway Championship will be decided. Riders will be coming from as far as New York to participate.
Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway Track Championship 9-18-21
Division I
1-Charlie Venegas 3 3 3 3 2-14 (Run Off)
2-Bart Bast 3 3 3 2 3-14 (Run Off)
3-Louie Mersaroli 3 2 2 3 03-13
4-Russell Green 2 2 3 2 2-11
5-Daniel Faria 0 3 3 1 3-10 (Tie
5-Tyler Warren 2 2 1 3 2-10 (Tie)
6-Anthony Dion 1 2 2 1 2-8 (Tie)
6-Billy Janniro 2 0 2 2 2-8 (Tie)
7-Rees Todd 3 0 0 2 1-6 (Tie)
7-Timmy Dion 1 1 3 1 0-6 (Tie)
8-Greg Moore 0 2 1 1 1-5 (Tie)
8-Shawn Eldredge 2 1 2 0 0-5 (Tie)
9-Dylan Wagner 1 1 1 0 1-4
10-Will McCloskey 0 0 0 2 1-3
11-Fred Cook 1 0 1 0 0-2
12-Richard Perkins 0 1 0 0 0-1
Division II
1-Rees Todd, 2-Dylan Wagner, 3-Shawn Eldredge
Division III
1-Jeff Powell, 2-Ray Holt Jr., 3-Tim Rott
Pee Wee Championship
1-Mason Love, 2-Jayce Preuss, 3-Riley Rearick, 4-Royce Howard
| 
