Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

with Eddie Castro drawing gate two. Shawn McConnell and Scott Brant loaded into gates three and four, respectively. Often called the "Master of the Gate" for good reason, Schwartz pulled off another awesome start and was away first, but it was a traffic jam as they hit turn one. McConnell had his bike so laid over that he couldn't get it back up and was out. Castro tried to go around on the outside, but Schwartz was getting the drive out of the comers and was hold- ing him at bay. On the white-flag lap, Brant was able to get by Castro, and it was a drag race to the checkered, with Schwartz winning by a wheel. Marvin Sonnier was on the zero-yard line for the Handicap main. Shaun Hannatiuk was on the 10, and John DeFries lined up on the 20. Randy DiFrancesco had the 30 to himself, with Brant and Castro on the 50. After the gate went up, Sonnier held the lead for one lap and Harmatiuk led for one lap before Brant took over and never looked back. Brant has an extremely fast bike, and once in front, he's hard to catch. Castro is also on some very fast equipment this year, and it carried him to second. Harmatiuk held on for third, with DiFrancesco, DeFries and Sonnier rounding out the field. Terry McCurdy pulled off the Support win as he took the lead at the white flag when leader Billy Braden went down. Rudy Laurer and Randy Kreps were second and third, respectively. Hideaki Ota from Japan is having a really good time racing speedway. After winning the B main at Costa Mesa on the previous Saturday, he won the B main at Arrowhead on this night. Brian Hunt was second. Steve Murray was tlUrd. Results SCR: I. Bobby Schwartz (Jew): 2. Scott Brant (GM); 3. Ed Castro (OM); 4. ~en McConnell (OM). SCR CONSI: 1. Rendy DIFnmcesco (Jew); 2. Dukle Etmolt!l1ko (Jaw); 3. Bobby Krips (Jaw); 4. Bobby Hedden (Jaw). HOCP: 1. Scott Brant (OM); 2, Ed Castro (OM); 3, Shoun Hormotiuk (Jow); 4. Rondy DiFrancesco (Jaw); 5. John DeFries (Jaw). D-2: 1. Teny McCurdy (Jaw); 2. Rudy Laurer (Jaw); 3. Randy Kreps (Jaw); 4. Tomasz Hampel (Jaw); S. Billy Braden (Jaw). D-2 B: 1. Hldeokl Ota (Jaw); 2. Brian Hunt (Jaw); 3. Sleve Mur· ray (Jaw); 4. Steve Nelson (Jaw); 5. ROOn lellner (Jaw). Gravity Park MX Smulders Smolders at Chilly Chilton Opener Gravity Park MX: Tyler Smulders took wins in the 125cc A and 250cc A mains at the grand opening of the new facility in Chilton, Wisconsin. him," a jubilant Smulders commented afterward. "I took my time, I went in from the out· side, braked and got on the gas and had him set up on the outside of the comer after the whoops. I have a lot of self-confidence, and that's how you win races, in my eyes." Busse took the early lead in the 250cc A contest, but Smuld.ers made a brilliant pass coming down off the stepdown and into the whoops, Smulders took the win, with Busse second and Maier third. Travis Frassetto won both mains in the 65cc class and Mini Junior 80cc class, aboard Kawasakis. Racing will be held under the lights every Friday night from May through October at the new and exciting facility. Scotty B. and his entire scoring, concessions, and track crews made the grand opening a successful one, even when temperatures hit the freezing mark of 32 degrees during the races. Results line other than the groove that had developed during the night, in order to pass Faria. It was not to be, as Faria was riding smart. McConnell, meanwhile, rode the pole, hoping to slip past Larsen, but he just couldn't get under him. They would finish in that order. Manchester and Ermolenko rounded out the field. The short yardage for the Handicap main went to Brad Sauer on the 10. Shaun Harmati uk was alone on the 20, and Andy Northrop was on the 30. Ed Castro and Randy DiFrancesco were on the 40, and the 50 had Larsen, McConnell and Faria. There was a pile-up in tum one and the red came out. All were able to return except Northrup, whose pipe had been "modified." The restart saw Harmatiuk out on top, getting a pretty good lead on the field. Four laps in, McConnell moved him off the groove, and he stepped off and was out. McConnell took over the lead, with Larsen riding on his rear fender. They would finish in that order. Castro had been working the outside dirt, and it was good enough to take him to third. DiFrancesco got by Faria to take fourth. Faria, Sauer and Harmatiuk rounded out the field. The Sidecars are becoming a family affair. The Jones boys, Danny and Chris, have a friendly thing going with brother Joe and his fiancee, Brandi McElroy. Brandl's brother Scott and swinger Mike Fontaine are also part of the family mix this year. Trying to crack the dynasty in the main event, however, were Scott Cole and Chris Sears. It's looking like Joe and Brandi are going to be the ones to beat, as they claimed the main for the second week in a row. Danny and Chris were second, with McElroy and Fontaine third. Cole and Sears had bike problems and ended up in the infield. John DeFries topped Chuck Johansen and Billy Braden to win the Support main, and Rich Brock took the Support B honors, over Brian Hunt and Rohn Zellner. Results SCR: J. Mike Faria (GM); 2. Josh Larsen (Jaw); 3. Shawn McConnell (GM): 4. Chris Manchester (GM): 5, Dukle Ermolenko (Jaw). HOCP: I. Shawn McConnell (OM); 2. Josh Larsen (Jaw); 3. Ed Cmro (OM); 4. Randy DIFroncesco (Jaw); 5. Mike Faria (aM), SDCR: I. Joe Jones/Brandl McElroy (Kaw); 2. Danny Jones/Chris Jones (Yam); 3. Scott McElroy/Mike Fontaine (Yam); 4. Scott Cole/Chris ~ars (Vam). SUP: 1. John DeFries (Jaw); 2. Chuck Johansen (Jow); 3. Billy Braden (Jaw); 4. Dave Delbridge (Wes); 5. David Lynch (Jaw). SUP B: I. Rich Brock (Jaw); 2. Brian Hunt (Jaw); 3. Rohn Zellner (Jaw); 4. Malcom Roe (Jaw); 5. Michael Novratil (Jaw). Results IRONMAN NOV: 1, Steve Caro (Cl). IRONMAN VINT INT: I. Dne Scourfield (el): 2. Benny Chien (Cl). IRONMAN VINT EX: I. Kyle Halkola (CI); 2. David Bennett (CZ); 3. Tony Boswell (Suz). IRONMAN GP NOV: I. Garry Meeker (Hus); 2. Jim Jordan (Yam). IRONMAN GP INT: I. Ron Renzulli (Yam): 2. Eric Thoanum

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