Fast Fridays Speedway

Gold Country Fairgrounds
1273 High Street
Auburn, California

Speedway - Team Challenge 1
Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, May 17, 2024
Story and Photos by Michael Kirby

Week two of the 2024 Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway is in the books, and it was another night of great racing action presented by Fast Friday's owner David Joiner and his experienced staff. Three talented Southern California riders again made the trip north to race in the Division I program, but it was two local riders that came away with the gold.

Billy Janniro, coming off double main events wins last week, again was crowned the fastest man of the night with a win in the scratch main event for the second week in a row. Janniro jumped the gun a little at the start of his scratch heat race and was moved back to the 20-yard line for the restart and finished second. He transferred to his semi-final which he won to move to the night's finale.

In the scratch main event he faced some very tough competition. After the draw in lane, one sat Blake Borello having a great night finishing second in his heat race and semi-final race. In lane two was Broc Nicol up from Southern California with a win in his heat race and second in his semi-final. In lane three was Janniro and way out in four was Slater Lightcap another Socal rider to make the trip north. Lightcap was perfect so far in the scratch program with wins in his heat race and semi-final race. As the riders got set for the tapes to go up Nicol got a little antsy and rolled into the tapes and was excluded leaving Janniro, Borello and Lightcap to battle for the fastest man of the night title.

Out of the gate it was Janniro who got the best start and the hole shot in turn one. Lightcap made a gutsy move in turn three to pass Janniro but went wide losing ground as Janniro gained the lead again and never looked back. Janniro was first, Borello was second and Lightcap was third leaving Janniro undefeated so far in the Division I scratch program this season.

Russell Green was another rider who had a great night of racing and won the Division I handicap main event. Green, who this week started on the 20-yard line was perfect for the night in the handicap program winning his heat race and semi-final race to transfer to the main event. Janniro, with the possibility of a repeat double-double wins rolled before the gates went up and was penalized by referee Steve Lucero back to the 60-yard line for the restart. Green did a great job riding without flaws keeping the hard charging Timmy Dion at bay for the win. Dion was second and Lightcap was third. Look for Green on the 30 yard line next week.

In the Support Class Hunter Castillo turned in a perfect night to take the main event. Coming off a second-place finish on opening night last week Castillo worked out the bugs with two wins including the main event. Last week’s main event winner, Antonio Coffman was second and John Peters who missed last week’s opener was third. In the Support Class consolation race Catherine Moore was first, John Gauthreaux was second and Chase Kangas was third.

Darren Armbruster, proudly wearing the AMA Youth 250 National Speedway Champion number one on his back, got back to winning form with a win in the Youth 250 main event. Armbruster, last season’s youth 250 national champion was second in the season opener but was perfect this week with wins in his heat race and the main. Brady Landon, last week’s main event winner was second, and Caden Cavrikas was third. Look for Landon to give Armbruster a serious run for his money each week at Fast Friday's in the youth 250 division.

Riley Rearick continues to rule the Youth 150 division with another win this week. Moved back to start on the 40 yard line, Rearick picked up the wins in his heat race and then won the main event. Gavin Evens Seeley was again second and Leann Emerson was third. How far back will referee Steve Lucero move Rearick next week?

Team racing returned to Fast Friday's with the season long Team Challenge. Two teams, Team IFC and Team Law Tigers opened round one of the five rounds and team final Friday night. Racing in pairs teams work together to score points by finishing order. Scores from each round are added up and after the five rounds and the Team Challenge Final on August 9 the scores are added up and team with the most points will be declared the winner of the 2024 challenge. Riders score three points for a win, two points for a second-place finish and one point for a third-place finish.

Team Law Tigers won the first round 12-6 with strong finishes from Billy Janniro, Charlie Trana and John Peters who each won their races picking three points each. Hunter Castillo and Bart Bast from Team IFC each scored two points each for Team IFC. The rounds are very spirited competition with riders and fans enjoying the change to the riders racing in teams.

Coming next week Friday May 24 the first round of the Extreme Sidecars series comes to Fast Friday's. The sidecars, with their special brand of three wheeled racing on 900cc bikes, is out of this world exciting racing and a crowd pleasing edge of you seat event that should not be missed.

Results for 5-17-24

Division I Scratch Main Event
1-Billy Janniro, 2-Blake Borello, 3-Slater Lightcap 4-Broc Nicol (DQ)

Division I Handicap Main Event
1-Russell Green, 2-Timmy Dion, 3-Slater Lightcap

Support Class Main Event
1-Hunter Castillo, 2-Antonio Coffman, 3-John Peters

Support Class Consolation
1-Catherine Moore, 2-John Gauthreaux 3-Chase Kangas

Youth 250 Main Event
1-Darren Armbruster, 2-Brady Landon, 3-Caden Cavrikas

Youth 150 Main Event
1-Riley Rearick, 2-Gavin Evans Seeley, 3-Leeann Emerson

Team Challenge Series (Round One)
Team IFC-6 Team Law Tigers-12

Michael Kirby Photos
	Russell Green won the DI handicap main event with a perfect night winning his heat race, semi-final and the main event.
	Darren Armbruster won the Youth 250 main event. He had wins in his heat race and then the main event.
	Billy Janniro repeated his performance last week on opening night winning the Scratch Main event for the second week in a row.
	Riley Rearick has a streak going with back-to-back main event wins in the Youth 150 program.
	Turn One- No brakes, tight racing coming out of turn one is the racing action at Fast Friday's each week at the Gold Country Fairgrounds. Broc Nicol (right) leads the way in this scratch race.
	The Team Challenge returned to Fast Friday's this week and will run for five rounds and the Team Challenge Final. Broc Nicol (left) and Louie Mersaroli (right) have a go at it in the first round Friday night. Team Law Tigers won round one over Team IFC 12-6.
	Hunter Castillo won the Support Class main event and took a victory lap around the track.
	All smiles after the races as the Peewee's pick up their trophies on the winner’s podium. The peewee program is very popular at Fast Friday's.