Industry Hills Speedway

The Grand Arena
Industry Hills Expo Center
City of Industry, California

Season Opener
June 22, 2022 - Industry Hills Speedway
Story, Results and Photo By Ryan Evans

The Scratch Main in front of a fantastic crowd for Industry Hills Speedway’s Opening Night.
(Inside - Outside): Aaron Fox, Max Ruml, Slater Lightcap, Gino Manzares. The finish was Ruml, Fox, Manzares, Lightcap.

AMA Speedway National Champion “Mad” Max Ruml ran through the program undefeated and won the Scratch Main Event in front of a large crowd as speedway racing returned to Industry Hills Speedway after a torturous 850 days and regular season speedway returned after 1,033 days.

Ruml’s unbeaten evening afforded him first choice of starting position for the Scratch Main Event and he chose gate two. Aaron Fox swiftly selected gate one and current Under 21 National Champion Slater Lightcap then picked gate three. This left Gino Manzares to start from gate four.

When the tapes went up it was Fox holding a slight lead over Ruml entering turn one. Fox’s inside position enabled him to secure the lead on the back straight and he led through the first lap but had Ruml ready to pounce on any opportunity. That chance came quickly as Fox left a small gap on the inside and Ruml, who used a mid-track entry to the corner, then cut underneath Fox and snatched the lead on the back straight. Fox got back to the inside and stalked the new leader. Ruml didn’t turn a wheel wrong, though, and he was first to the checkered flag. Fox had to settle for second, Manzares finished third, and Lightcap was fourth.

The Industry Hills Speedway Season Opener was the first event at the facility since the Gumball Rally on February 23, 2020. Strict COVID-19 protocols in Los Angeles County wiped out the 2020 and 2021 speedway seasons at the facility. Wednesday’s event was the first regular season event since the California State Championship on August 24, 2019. A large crowd filled the arena and their enthusiasm was very present throughout the evening as they were treated to some great racing.

Ruml raised the curtain with a victory over Lightcap in the first heat. Manzares was leading the second heat when he slowed with mechanical issues on the last lap. That handed the victory to Fox with “Fast” Eddie Castro getting second. Northern California’s Rees Todd ended the first round with a win over “The Edge” Charlie Venegas.

Ruml defeated Manzares to open the second round with another victory. Lightcap defeated Castro in the next heat. Venegas finished round two with a win ahead of Fox.

Fox opened round three by defeating Lightcap. Manzares defeated Castro in the penultimate heat. Ruml closed out the heats with his third victory ahead of Todd.

Ruml romped to victory in the first semi with Manzares following him into the Scratch Main Event. Fox led all the way in the second semi with Lightcap getting the other transfer after a hard-fought battle with Venegas.

Todd led the Scratch Consolation from start to finish with Castro coming in second and Tim Gomez getting third.

Harold Hartke led the Second Division Main Event for the first two laps but had Mark Fillebrown chasing him. Hartke’s corner exits were getting wider with each corner and Fillebrown was able to close the gap. They entered the final corner and Hartke went very wide again and Fillebrown was there to pounce. It was a drag race to the finish but Hartke held on by inches to earn the victory. Rudy Laurer finished third and Ron Davis was fourth.

Alan Bernklau led the Third Division through turns one and two. David Newsham then stormed up the inside on the back straight and took the lead. Newsham didn’t look back from there and led the rest of the way. Jake Myers finished second, Jim Sanders was third, and Bernklau finished fourth. “Nitro” Jose Navarrete was the initial leader of the Junior 250 Main Event. Northern California’s “Speedway” Charlie Trana, who plans to race at most of Industry Hills Speedway’s events was chasing him. Navarrete led through the first lap and a half but Trana was ready to pounce on any mistake. Navarrete went a little wide exiting turn four and Trana blasted underneath. Navarrete didn’t give up without a fight, though, and went back after Trana. Navarrete found too much traction on the back straight, lifted, and then hit the fence. He was up quickly but the red flag ended the race. Trana was awarded the victory and Nick Dunn was second.

Ryder Schultz put together four smooth laps and claimed victory in the Mini 150 Main Event. Morgan Myers finished second and Kayd Fiore was third.

National Champions Joe Jones and Tom Summers cruised to victory in the Sidecar Main Event. Kevin Kale and Tracy Gallagher were second, Ace Kale and Thomas Yergler finished third, and Kevin Holman and Brent Smith were fourth.

Next Wednesday’s event will be Military Appreciation Night with all current and former military personnel receiving a discounted admission price.

Scratch Main Event
1 - Max Ruml
46 - Aaron Fox
24 - Gino Manzares
28 - Slater Lightcap

Scratch Consolation
173 - Rees Todd
14 - Eddie Castro
30 - Tim Gomez
43 - Charlie Venegas (non starter)

Second Division Main Event
290 - Harold Hartke
168 - Mark Fillebrown
182 - Rudy Laurer
163 - Ron Davis

Third Division Main Event
111 - David Newsham
175 - Jake Myers
138 - Jim Sanders
69e - Alan Bernklau

Junior 250 Main Event (restarted) (awarded)
66 - Charlie Trana
76 - Nick Dunn
48 - Jose Navarrete (fell)
226 - Levi Leutz (non starter)

Mini 150 Main Event
22 - Ryder Schultz
175 - Morgan Myers
169 - Kayd Fiore

Pee Wee Main Event
15 - Hudson Jones

Sidecar Main Event
1 - Joe Jones/Tom Summers
07 - Kevin Kale/Tracy Gallagher
357 - Ace Kale/Thomas Yergler
11 - Kevin Holman/Brent Smith

First Division Scoring 1 2 3 T
1 – Max Ruml 3 3 3 9
14 – Eddie Castro 2 2 2 6
24 – Gino Manzares E 2 3 5
28 – Slater Lightcap 2 3 2 7
30 – Tim Gomez 1 1 1 3
37 – Joey Donaldson 1 0 1 2
43 – Charlie Venegas 2 3 1 6
46 – Aaron Fox 3 2 3 8
60 – David Clark 1 1 0 2
173 – Rees Todd 3 1 2 6
178 – Eloy Medellin R 0 F 0
309 – Johnny Oakden 0 0 0 0

First Division Scoring 1 2 3 T
1 – Max Ruml 3 3 3 9
14 – Eddie Castro 2 2 2 6
24 – Gino Manzares E 2 3 5
28 – Slater Lightcap 2 3 2 7
30 – Tim Gomez 1 1 1 3
37 – Joey Donaldson 1 0 1 2
43 – Charlie Venegas 2 3 1 6
46 – Aaron Fox 3 2 3 8
60 – David Clark 1 1 0 2
173 – Rees Todd 3 1 2 6
178 – Eloy Medellin R 0 F 0
309 – Johnny Oakden 0 0 0 0

Heat Results
1: Ruml, Lightcap, Clark, Medellin (retired)
2: Fox, Castro, Donaldson, Manzares (engine failure)
3: Todd, Venegas, Gomez, Oakden
8: Ruml, Manzares, Gomez, Donaldson
9: Lightcap, Castro, Todd, Medellin
10: Venegas, Fox, Clark, Oakden
15: Fox, Lightcap, Gomez, Oakden
16: Manzares, Castro, Venegas, Clark
17: Ruml, Todd, Donaldson, Medellin (fell)

Semi 1: Ruml, Manzares, Castro, Todd
Semi 2: Fox, Lightcap, Venegas, Gomez