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Nick Varner Cup
Perris Raceway October 16, 2021
By: Steve Evans dreamteamspeedway@sbcglobal.net
Photos by: Anthony Hernandez
RUML DEFENDS NICK VARNER IN EMOTIONAL NIGHT AT PERRIS
New AMA National Champion Max Ruml returned to Perris on October 16th 2021 and successfully defended the Nick Varner Cup, a race in honor of his late friend. Varner was top junior speedway and moto cross racer who rode with the likes of the Ruml brothers, Luke Becker and Broc Nicol before being tragically killed in a moto cross accident in 2011 at just age 11. The annual race at Perris is always a well-attended and emotional race night as riders honor their much loved and missed friend.
This year’s program had 17 riders in first Division action, three rounds of heats and a 4,3,2,1,0 scoring system to find 8 semifinalists. The winner of the last two Perris events and a huge influence on Nick Varner’s speedway racing, Gino Manzares was the top scorer from the heats with the only 12 point maximum. Ruml was next on 11, his only defeat coming at the hands of rapidly improving Blake Borello who himself scored 10 heat points. Rheten Todd and the massively impressive recent junior graduate Slater Lightcap also scored 10. Lightcap wrapped his heats up with a thrilling charge from 3rd to 1st in the final qualifier. Russell Green was on a perfect 8 points after 2 rounds but a last round retirement kept him in at that number. Aaron Fox was also hampered with an engine failure on his way to 7. Three others scored 7 but Fox and another 16 year sensation Alex Martin made the semi finals over Michael Wells and Rees Todd on the virtue that each had a heat win along the way.
Semifinal 1 was stacked with Manzares, Fox, Green and Borello all grouped together, caused largely by Fox’s and Green’s heat retirements. It was two time US National Champ and former British League winner Fox who got a blistering start to lead a hard challenging Manzares home to qualify for the final with Borello third and Green fourth. Ruml responded back by winning semifinal two from Lightcap who was only in his second full race on a 500cc bike after graduating the 250cc class. Martin and Rheten Todd were third and fourth.
The Main event saw a familiar Manzares gate 4 start with Fox in 1, Ruml 2 and Lightcap in 3. Ruml launched the perfect start while Manzares slotted into second on the back straight from Fox and Lightcap. Manzares, who had won the last two Perris finals from the back tried once more to find an outside dirt line but, on this occasion, he could not find the speed and eventually Ruml eased into the lead and home for the win. Fox was close by Manzares for third with Lightcap ending a sensational night with fourth.
Division Two had veterans Mike Miller and Rudy Laurer taking two heat wins each. Miller completed a perfect night by winning the final. The Consolation race was won by Tyler Moszer. Division Three was a small three rider affair with a couple of late withdrawals. Tony Rutledge was unbeaten in all three races. 250cc Junior had Jose Navarrete and Levi Leutz each victorious with a heat win each. Navarrete rode a fantastic Main event to win the class on the night. Kensei Matsudaira was undefeated in the 150cc Mini Speedway class.
Jackson Joiner, who has tasted victory at Bakersfield, took the Pee Wee Division. Current National Champions Joe Jones & Tom Summers and 2020 champs Dillon Osborne and Ashley Summers took a Sidecar heat each, with Jones and Summers victorious in the Main Event. Adam Lesley was a popular winner in the Hooligans with Sterling Martin winning Flat Track.
Members of Nick Varner’s family were in attendance and addressed the fans on the mic before the Main Events. The winners of the Division 1 & Junior Mains won ‘Mini Surfboards’ as trophies which were presented by Varner’s young sister Isobel.
Perris now moves into ‘Championship Season’ with the AMA Under 21 and Junior Long Track Nationals on Nov 13th, as well as regular race divisions. Then the year winds up with the biggest race of the season in the USA, the 2021 AMA FIM North America Final with places in the 2022 Grand Prix Qualifying Rounds at stake. Perris’s sister track Kern County Raceway Bakersfield returns November 6th with its second Harley Night!
Division 1 Main Event
1 Max Ruml
24 Gino Manzares
46 Aaron Fox
228 Slater Lightcap
Semi 1: Fox, Manzares, Borello, Green
Semi 2: Ruml, Lightcap, Martin, Rh Todd fell
Heat Points: Manzares 12, Ruml 11, Lightcap 10, Rh Todd 10, Borello 10, Green 8, Fox 7, Martin 7, Michael Wells 7, Rees Todd 7, Sara Cords 6, Eddie Castro 6, Wilbur Hancock 5, Anthony Dion 5, Timmy Dion 2, Mike Miller 2, Fred Cook 1.
Division 2 Main
71 Mike Miller
182 Rudy Laurer
153 Brad Moreau
103 Brent Smith
Division 2 Consolation
327 Tyler Moszer
111 David Newsham
108c Bobby Richards
127 David Perry retired
151 Richard Perkins fell, non-starter
Division 3 Main
113 Tony Rutledge
100 Samuel Richardson
108c Bobby Richards non starter
250 Junior Main
48 Jose Navarrete
7 Justin Almon
29 Nick Hohlbein
04 Owen Williams
226 Levi Leutz ret
150 Mini Main
74 Kensei Matsudaira
1 Nick Hohlbein
Pee Wee Main
26 Jackson Joiner
15 Hudson Jones
28 Thomas Chivira
8 Aubrey Chivira
69 Rey Resendes
50 Jackson Spinuzzi
24 Rylie Kent
240 Reagan Kent
Sidecar Main
1 Joe Jones / Tom Summers
64 Dillon Osborne / Ashley Summers
07 Kevin Kale / Mike North
357 Ace Kale / Thomas Yergler
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