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Heat 12 pitted fiedden, Sisemore, Schwartz and Hancock against each another. Schwartz and Hedden both went dawn in the first tum and since half the field was out on the first lap the race was subject to a restart wi th no exclusion of riders. When the tapes flew on the restart, Hancock added a win to his total, defeating Hedden, and more importantly Schwartz, who dropped his first twq - and only - points of: the night by mere inches as Hedden passed him in the final yards before the finish. Pfetzing was on a roll, and able to maintain his perfect score going into the fourth round with his relatively easy win from gate two over McConnell, Northrup and Odom. And keeping his championship hopes alive, Lucero scored three points as well in the restarted heat 11, with Ackroyd, reserve rider Jesse Finch running in place of fallen Gary Hicks, and H,annah. Hancock backed up his heat-12 wm with another one in the restarted roundthree opener. The 25-year-old Creadly Heath Heathens teamster shot out of gate one and took the easy win over Bast, adorn and Hannah, upping his total to 10 points entering the final round. Hancock's win re"lIy put the pressure on Schwartz, and in addition the veteran would have to face the undefeated Pfetzing. Schwartz kept a cool head, though, to take the holeshot from gate three and lead the rest of the way. Pfetzing's previously perfect score was now marred by a zero as he followed third-placed Gary Hicks and runner-up Venegas. Closing the fourth round, Lucero would be starting from gate one and it was the only heat the three-time California State Champion was disappointed with. "1 was only upset with my fourth ride," said Lucero. "The inside gates weren't working as well as the outside and 1 wasn't really expecting such'a sharp tum." The net result of his twopoint showing behind USA Team champion Larsen was that he would enter the final round tied on points with Hancock and Schwartz. Heat 17 saw Schwartz confirm himself as a contender for the title as he had little difficulty in defeating Larsen, Ackroyd and the crasher of the evening,. Odom. In what was to this point perhaps the biggest heat of the night, Lucero and Hancock would face off, Lucero unhappily from gate one and Hancock from three. If either of these points contenders failed to win, Schwartz would become champion. Lucero was better prepared for the inside start this time and was to the first tum in the lead, but Hancock drove his was past Lucero in short order to speed on to the win, thus forcing the runoff with Schwartz. And so there were two riders tied at the end of the regular heats, each with 13 points. Hancock won the coin. toss and chose the inside gate, while Schwartz would start the customary one gate away, in gate three. The tapes flew and Schwartz squeaked into the first turn just in front of the charging Britishleaguer, then drifted out to the wall. As they powered down the back straight and prepared to enter the second tum, Schwartz, flicked his bike over in an effort to set up for the corner, when . Hancock came barreling into the leader after he got a powerful last-second drive that lifted his front wheel. Both riders were left in a heap as track officials and the event referee rushed to the aid of the fallen racers. The referee called for a restart, and so arose the controversy. "1 was totally robbed," said Schwartz. "He (Hancock) should have been called for the infraction. In no way do 1 think it was intentional. 1 think he just got some traction, especially with the engine and gearing that he was running, and he came in and hit me. 1 wish we could've raced for it, but we didn't get to." "1 caught a load of traction and the wheel lifted," said Hancock. "The ref had to act quickly, but under the circumstances it was an awkward call. The ref asked me, 'Well, what do you think I should do?' and 1 said, 'You're the ref.' 1 can't make the decision, but given the (Above) Charlie Venegas' championship hopes were derailed In heat two, where he scored a zero. Venegas bounced back only dropping one more point to finish fourth on the nlghL (Right) After starting the evening with three perfect rides, Rob Pfetzlng saw his hopes for a top finish evaporate with zeros In his final two rides. Pfetzlng finished fifth. (Below) Schwartz (left), Hancock (middle) and Lucero (right) let the champagne fly before the 7100 fans at the Orange County Fairgrounds. opportunity to race for it, I have to race." Schwartz and Hancock lined up once again, and when the tapes flew this time Hancock blasted away to the win while Schwartz faded back. "After the crash I got really caught up in the moment - I didn't even take my helmet off so I didn't get a good look at the bike," said a di&Appointed Schwartz. "The chains were alI tied up and the clutch was slipping from being packed with dirt. And I thought the tire was flat, that's why I kept looking down." Hancock, currently seventh in the World Speedway Grand Prix series,. was happy with his win. "I had to go to Europe, but American speedway is the heart and soul of my career," said the new champion. "And winning in front of my home crowd was great." "Obviously the ref decided and that's how it is," said Schwartz, a 22-year veteran of the speedway scene. "We both raced really hard and I think Greg will make a great champion. I'm really happy for him and at the beginning of the night I would have picked him or Larsen to win it. I just wish we never would have hit and could've raced for it - he probably would've passed me... But the championship has gone to Europe for another year and it didn't have to be that way." l"N Orange County Fairgrounds Costa Mesa, California Results: september 16, 1995 1. Greg Hancock (GM) 13; 2. Bobby Schwartz (GM) 13; 3. Steve Lucero (Gdn) 12; 4. Charlie Venegas Qaw) II; s. Robert p£etzing (Wes) 9; 6. Josh Larsen (GM) B; 7. Brad OXley (Wes) 7; 8. Gary Hicks eWes) 7; 9. Jim Sisemore (Jaw) 7; 10. Bart Bast (Jaw) 7; 11. Bobby Hedden Gaw) 7; 12. Cary Ackroyd Oaw) 6; 13. Shawn McConnell (Gdn) 4; 14, Andy Northrup Oaw) 4; 15. Don Odom (Gdn) 2; 16. Jesse Finch (Wes) I; 17. Bobby Hicks . OawJ I; 18. Mark Hannah (Wes) O.