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Speed Stick National Arenacross Series Rounds 21-22: Pepsi Center By Hagseth took over the lead but had Demuth closing in. Demuth executed a successful whoops-pass into the inside corner and magically made it three wins out of three tries. He finished four seconds ahead of Hagseth, while Kevin Johnson finished third. Travis Hodges took the Powerade Holeshot Award in the 250cc final, but Holland passed him immediately in the whoops. Lange did the same for second, while Chad Johnson passed Hodges for third. Just then, Justin Brayton crashed in the rhythm section, making the early running order Holland, Lange, Chad Johnson, Hodges, Demuth, Dennis Villar, Willoh, Buehl, Lawrence, Hagseth and Hofmaster, who had crashed. Stephenson and Buehl dropped Villar, while Holland, Lange and Chad Johnson engaged in a three-way duel for the lead. Demuth pushed up to make it a four-man shootout. Demuth was setting up an inside line to pass both Chad Johnson and Lange; Demuth had the position but collided with Chad Johnson's front wheel, with both going down. Lange now focused on Holland and outgunned him down the whoops and stuffed him in a turn for the lead. Lange went on to take the win over Holland. The only question remaining was whether or not Hodges could hold off Chad Johnson and Demuth for third. Chad caught Hodges and hounded him for four laps, but Hodges was determined to stand his ground and he prevailed. eN JOHN AND DAWN CLIFFORD PHOTOS BY DE JAE FORTE DENVER, CO, FEB. 15·16 record Denver crowd of 8611 A fans attended the 21 st and 22nd rounds of the Speed Stick National Arenacross Series at the Pepsi Arena, where Josh Demuth, on the Shogun Motor Sports/Thor/Pro Circuit Yamaha YZ250F, collected three of four main-event victories. Demuth had a chance of making it a perfect weekend, had he not tried an aggressive pass late in Saturday night's 250cc main. Canadian Darcy Lange benefited from Demuth's mistake to spoil the series points leader's winning run. Lange, on the Tuf Racing/Thor/ Team Green/Maxxis Kawasaki, had a decent weekend as well, placing second two times to go along with his one win. Chad Johnson put his Tuf/Thor Honda into second place twice, as well as winning S1500 in Saturday night's Dash For Cash. FRIDAY In Friday night's 125cc main, the Powerade Holeshot Award went to "The Sheriff" (Demuth), who just edged out another YZ250F-mounted rider, Kevin Johnson. Rusty Holland, Brad Hagseth, Denny Stephenson, Lange, Rodney Clark, Tommy Hofmaster and Justin Buckelew filed in behind the leader. Demuth had this one the whole way. The Yamaha rider pulled away from the pack and motored on to the seemingly easy win. Meanwhile, Lange passed a fallen Johnson, HoIland and Stephenson for a wellearned second. Chad Johnson worked his way up through the pack and was rewarded with a podium finish, in third. Buckelew, who had the fastest practice lap time of 25.8 seconds, passed Jeff Willoh, got around Hofmaster in the whoops, and then jumped past Phil Lawrence late in the race to grab fourth place, while Lawrence took fifth. Holland, on his Axo/RG3/Bill's Pipes Suzuki RM250, nailed the start of Friday's 250cc main, pocketing the S100 holeshot award, but Hofmaster ripped down the whoops to take the lead. Holland, Lange, Demuth, Lawrence, Willoh, Hagseth, Kevin Johnson and Brando Bartz settled in behind the new leader. Two laps into the race, Holland challenged for the lead but went astray in the whoops, losing three places. After a couple more laps, Demuth zeroed in on Lange for third. With Hofmaster out in front, Demuth and Lange commenced to battle and eventually closed in on the leader. With five laps remaining, Demuth pounded through the whoops and passed Hofmaster for the lead. Lange waited two more laps before he could get around Hofmaster. Demuth went on to take the win, making it two for two on the night. SATURDAY The 125cc main was a crazy affair from the get-go. Holland rolled the gate perfectly and nailed the holeshot ahead of Hagseth, Demuth, Kevin Johnson, Buckelew, Jeremy Buehl, Stephenson, Lawrence, Chad Johnson, Charles Bogard and Jason Upshaw. Buckelew started moving up; then he lost his front end and went down. Kevin Johnson then promptly took out Lange and Bogard, who injured his wrist in the fall. Series points leader Josh Demuth won three out of four main events at the Denver Arenacross. Pepsi Arena Denver, CDlondD Results: february 15-16, 2002 lJIounds 21 ud 22) Friday 125: 1. Josh Demuth (Yam); 2. DDrc)' Lange (Kaw); 3. Chad Johnson (Hon); 4. Justin Buckelew (Su,); 5. Phil Lawrence (Suz); 6. Rusty Holland (Suz); 7. Denny Stephenson (Kaw): 8. Tommy Hofmllster (Yam); 9. Jeff Willoh (Hon); 10. Brandon Bertz (Kaw). 250: 1. Josh Demuth (YlIm); 2. Darcy Lange (KlIw); 3. Tommy Hofrnaster (Yam); 4. Phill...8wrence (Suz); 5. JeIf Wilioh (Hon); 6. Justin Brayton (Hon): 7. Rusty Holland (Suz): 8. Brad Hagseth (Suz): 9. Kevin Johnson (Yam); 10. Charley Bogard (Suz). Kevin Johnson moved up to Demuth and was the first rider to pass him all weekend. Demuth, however, repassed Johnson in the whoops. Johnson ended up casing his bike over the PJl double jump and crashed, and then Upshaw exploded in the rhythm section, breaking his nose. At this point, track staff members were attending three downed riders when one of the track's crew interfered with Holland's drive to the PJl double. As a result, Holland landed short and crashed away a sizable lead. "I just saw him and avoided hitting him but had no chance of making it,· Holland said. Holland shook the worker's hand and told him, "It was all part of racing." cue I • Saturday 125: 1. Josh Demuth (Yam); 2. Brad Hagseth (Suz); 3. Kevin Johnson (Yam): 4. Denny Stephenson (Kaw); 5. Jeremy Buehl (Hon); 6. Phil Lllwrence (Suz); 7. Chlld Johnson (Hon); 8. Jeff Willoh (Hon); 9. Tommy Hofmllster (YlIm); to. DlIIrcy Lange (Kaw). 250: 1. Dllrcy Lenge (Kaw); 2. Rusty Holland (Suz); 3. Travis Hodges (Yam); 4. Chad Johnson (Hon); 5. Josh Demuth (Yam); 6. Jeff Wliloh (Hon); 7. Den~y Stephenson (Kaw); 8. Jeremy Buehl (Hon); 9. KeVin Johnson (Yam); 10. Tommy Hofmaster (Yam). SPEED STICK NATIONAL ARENACROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (Arter 22 rounds): 1. Josh Demuth (898/21 wins); 2. Darcy Longe (801/10 wins); 3. Tommy Hofm-llster (699/2 wins); 4. Chlld Johnson (614/1 win); 5. Jeff Willoh (607), 6. Rusty Holland (571); 7. Denny Stephenson (569); 8. Damon Brad~hew (563/17 wins); 9. Brlld Hagseth (542); 10. Mike Mason (218); 11. Brandon Bartz (206); 12. Pedro Gonzalez (191): 13. Jeremy Buehl (179); 14. Tom Kelley (173); 15. Travis Hodges (152): 16. Phil Lawren<:e (132); 17. Isaiah Johnson (123/1 win); 18. Jiri Dostal (109); 19. Justin Brayton (105); 20. Nick Metcalf (97). ft __ S • MARCH 13.2002 63