Fast Fridays Speedway

Gold Country Fairgrounds
1273 High Street
Auburn, California

Season Opener
Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, May 12, 2023
Story and Photo by Michael Kirby

With Covid in the rear-view mirror and things returning to normal Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway opened its 2023 speedway with a bang at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn. With a full schedule of over 18 exciting racing events the season looks to be one of the best yet. As excited fans worked their way into the racetrack to find a seat the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce assisted Fast Friday’s owner David Joiner cutting a opening ribbon. Jessica Spaid of the band Moonshine Crazy sang a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem and the 2023 Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway was off and running.

Riders were in the pits getting all the bugs out, dusting off the racing suits as mechanics tuned and made final adjustments. The program included Division I handicap and scratch programs, Division II and Division III, Youth 250, Youth 150 Divisions and a great showing of Pee-Wee’s.

Louie Mersaroli 27, now consider a veteran racing since he began racing juniors in 2011, was just on fire in the scratch program winning his heat race, finishing second in his semi-final race transferring to the scratch main event. Mersaroli started in the inside lane, Blake Borello was in two, Billy Janniro was in three and Bart Bast was out in four. Mersaroli was out front from the start with Borello giving chase but unable to pass the on fire Mersaroli. Borello finished second, Bart Bast was third and Billy Janniro was fourth.

Up from Southern California and planning on making weekly visits to Fast Friday’s Broc Nicol made every mile count winning the handicap main event. Riding off the 30 yard line Nicol made his way through traffic to the front of the pack and worked hard to stay ahead of the on fire Mersaroli who was challenging hard. Nicol finished first, Mersaroli off 30 yard line was second and fellow Southern California resident Michael Wells riding off the 10 yard line was third.

Aidan McNutt with a perfect night in Division II finished first in his heat race and went on to win the Division II main event. Riding off the 30 yard line McNutt contained all round good guy Rick Shafer who was second off the 40 yard line, and John Peters was third. Up from the youth division and in his first Division III race at Fast Friday’s Chase Kangas handicapped on the 10 yard line took the checkered flag after finishing with a perfect night, first in his heat race and then first in the main event also. Look for this up and comer to be possibly in Division II in no time. Catherine Moore was second and Cody Aker was third.

Darren Armbruster was powerful in the Youth 250 division winning his heat race then transferring to the main event which he also won with a flawless race looking real good. Caden Cavrikas was second. In the Youth 150 division Matthew Wright 11, celebrated with the crowd and the checkered flag taking a victory lap after winning the main event. Wright won his heat race then topped off his night winning the Youth 150 main event. Riley Rearick was second and Leeann Emerson was third.

Hats off to all the Fast Friday’s riders and their crews, the Fast Friday’s staff for putting in the effort to make the opening of the 2023 season great, and the wonderful fans for a great start to the 2023 season. Next week be sure not to miss the first round of the exciting Extreme Sidecar Series as they bring their unique brand of racing to Fast Fridays and Auburn.

Results for 5-12-23

Division I Scratch Main Event
1-Louie Mersaroli, 2-Blake Borello, 3-Bart Bast, 4-Billy Janniro

Division I Handicap Main Event
1-Broc Nicol, 2-Louie Mersaroli, 3-Michael Wells, 4-Russell Green, 5-Gregory Moore, 6-Billy Janniro

Division 1 Handicap Consolation
1- Bart Bast, 2-Blake Borello, 3-Daniel Faria, 4-Aidan McNutt, 5-Rick Shafer

Division II Main Event
1-Aidan McNutt, 2-Rick Shafer, 3-John Peters, 4-Lawrence McNutt

Division III Main Event
1-Chase Kangas, 2-Catherine Moore, 3-Cody Aker, 4-Hunter Castillo, 5-John Gauthreaux, 6-Ray Holt Jr.

Division III Consolation
1-Tim Rott, 2-Brian Leventon, 3-Antonio Coffman

Youth 250 Main Event
1-Darren Armbruster, 2-Caden Cavrikas

Youth 150 Main Event
1-Matthew Wright, 2-Wesley Rearick, 3-Leeann Emerson, 4-Riley Rearick

Michael Kirby Photos
	With the support of the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce Fast Friday’s owner David Joiner cuts a ribbon to open the 2023 season.
	The crowd favorite Pee-Wees start one of their heat races Friday night..
	Louie Mersaroli, (inside) and Timmy Dion (outside) get up close and personal in a Division I heat race.
	Chase Kangas celebrates his Division III main event win on the Fast Friday’s podium Friday night. It was Kangas’ first race night after moving up from the youth division at Fast Fridays.
	Matthew Wright won the Youth 150 division main event.
	Darren Armbruster topped the Youth 250 Division with a win in the main event.
	Aidan McNutt won the Division II main event.
	Louie Mersaroli celebrates his Division I scratch main event win Friday night at the opening night of the 2023 Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway.