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Warren Russell Cup Costa Mesa Speedway By ELAINE JONES PHOTOS BY MIKE BASSO COSTA MESA, CA, OCT. 6 J osh Larsen took on all comers and was the big winner at Costa Mesa Speedway as he captured the Warren Russell Cup in an all-Scratch program. Warren Russell - better known as "Grandpa" - is a big supporter of speedway, and he has sponsored many of the top riders in the sport. Shawn "Mad Dog" McConnell's sponsor, InTrax, put on a great barbecue for all the riders and pit crews; it was quite a spread. Bart "Simpson" Bast started things off by winning the first heat of the night. Dukie Ermolenko, Chris "The Kid" Manchester and Larsen followed suit in the rest of the first round of heats. "Flyin'" Mike Faria started things off with a win in the opening heat of round two. Bast, Manchester and Larsen made it a "two-peat" as they each logged another win in the books. There were now three undefeated riders and one round to go. In round three, Bobby "Boogaloo" Schwartz put together a great ride for his first win of the night. Manchester was still on a win streak, raining on Larsen's perfect record, as he finished second. Scott Brant got on track, as did McConnell, and with their heat wins, they would move to the semis. There was a run-off for the final two spots in the semis. The transfer spots would go to "Fast" Ed Castro and "Rad" Brad Oxley. The first semi had Larsen on the pole, with Bast in two and McConnell in three. On the outside were Oxley and Brant. Gate, match and transfer went to Larsen, and transferring with him to the main event was Brant. The second semi saw the gate go to Ermolenko, but the race to the first turn was won by Manchester - as was the race. Ermolenko was good for second, and they were both on their way to the main. The last-chance qualifier had McConnell on the pole, with Bast in two, Faria in three and Schwartz in four. It was a great gate for Bast, but Faria held it on a little longer and made the corner first. Bast tried to put the pressure on, but it \.Vas all Faria, and he would be the final rider in the main. 64 NOVEMBER 14, 2001 • a: U a: (Above) Josh Larsen won the Warren Russell Cup at Costa Mesa Speedway. Starting positions for the main event were drawn on the line, and the pole went to Manchester, with Larsen in two and Brant in three. Ermolenko and Faria were in four and five. Larsen launched out of two, and even though it was a major traffic jam in one, it was Larsen on top as they hit the back straightaway. They looked like a freight train in the very quick four-Iapper, with Larsen as the engineer. Manchester had his win streak come to an end, and he had to settle for second. Brant was third, and Faria and Ermolenko rounded out the field. Jeff Blaydes won the final Support race of the year, and he did it by topping Support Division champion David Lynch. Randy Kreps was third. The Support B contest was won by Michael Novratil. Wesley Mounts and Jeremiah LeBlanc were second and third. eN Costa Mesa Speedway Costa Mesa, California Results: October 6, 2001 WARREN RUSSELL CUP: 1. Josh Ulrsen (Jaw); 2. Chris Manchester (Jaw); 3. Scott Brant (GM); 4. Mike F~ria (Jaw); 5. Dukie Ermolenko (Jaw); 6. Bart Bast (Jaw); 7. Shawn McConnell (OM); 8. Bobby Schwartz (Jaw); 9. Brad Oxley (Wes); 10. Randy DiFrancesco (Jaw); 11. Eddie Castro (Jaw); 12. Ryan Fisher (Jaw); 13. Eric Carrillo (JllW); 14. Kit Nay (Jaw); 15. Shaun Harmatiuk (Jaw); 16. Doug Greyson (Jaw): 17. Jim Estes (GM); 18. Mark Adams (Jaw); 19. Bryan Yarrow (Jaw); 20. Robbie Sauer (Jaw). SUP: 1. Jeff Blaydes (Jaw); 2. David Lynch (Jow); 3. Randy Kreps (Jaw); 4. Rudy Ulurer (Wes). SUP B: 1 Michael Novratil (Jaw); 2 Wesley Mounts (Jaw); 3 Jeremiah LeBlanc (Jaw); 4. K.G. Fairbarn (Jaw). I e n e _ s (Right) Larsen receives his prize from the man himself • Warren "Grandpa" Russell· in Costa Mesa, California. (Below) Larsen battles up the inside with Chris "The Kid" Manc:hester in what turned out to be a prelude of the U.S. National Championship battle.