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Nielsen Enterprises/Pepsi Lake County Fair Stadium MX Lake County Fair SX Bv DAVE DERINGER PHOTOS BV STEVE BRUHN GRAYSLAKE, IL, JOLY 24-25 nt couldn't get much better these Ydays for Fort Worth, Texas' Josh Demuth. Now wearing the crown as the National Arenacross Champion, Demuth decided to take a break from the 125cc outdoor motocross championships (where he is currently ranked 14th) to visit promoter Bill Sparks' once-a-year fair race just north of Chicago. With $20,000 in purse money and another $42,000 in manufacturers' contingency, it is now almost a given that top National Pros from around the country will stop and race the two-day event during the week between the Unadilla and Washougal Nationals. Demuth was nearly unstoppable, as he won almost every heat race and main event in which he competed. His only challenge was in the fourstroke races on both nights, from Minnesota's James Povolny. Otherwise, Demuth dominated all the 125cc, 250cc and Dash For Cash finals (and placed second in the fourstroke finals); the Shogun Motorsports/Thor/HJC/Renthal-sponsored Yamaha rider netted $5700 just in prize money for his work. "I've been coming here for many years, and I always do pretty good here," Demuth said Thursday night. "I want to thank the good Lord for keeping me safe and all the fans for cheering us on. The track is really good this year, and these guys put on a really good event. I also couldn't do it without the help of my mechanic, Jack Yost." Demuth's six main-event wins also gave him the crown of King of Lake County, a title that also earns a $1000 bonus for the top Pro at the event. Second overall at the event was Max Pitt's/MSR/One Industries' Jeff Gibson. The Thornville, Ohio, resi- dent placed second overall in the 125cc final and fifth overall in the 250cc final. Gibson also placed fourth and third in the Dash For Cash finals, and his bonus for second-overall Pro was $750, for a total payout of $2500. "I won the title here last year and really enjoy this race," Gibson said. "They treat the riders well, the track is fun, and the money is good. You'll see me here again." Rounding out the podium was rookie Pro Justin Brayton, from Iowa. The 19-year-old placed ninth in the 125cc Pro final and third in the 250cc Pro final, and also placed fourth in Thursday's Dash. "I've always heard about this race but have never made it out here until now," Brayton said. "This is a cool event. There are a lot of good guys here and some fast locals, too. I'm glad I came. It was fun." Minnesota's Povolny rode his Nielsen Enterprises-backed Honda CRF450R to two big wins in the FourStroke finals both nights. Povolny bested Demuth, who rode a YZ250F each time, and Damien Plotts who made the trip from eastern Pennsyl- Ron and Brian's Suzuki's Michael Wendricks won both 250cc Amateur finals, with Illinois' Chad Westbrook second in both outings. Georgia's Robbie Horton also made the long drive, but he had some odd luck. Horton flew off a berm and almost hit the announcers' tower in midflight on Wednesday after missing his brakes coming out of the rockers, and on Thursday he put in some come-from-behind rides to place second and third in the 125cc and 250cc Pro finals. "I kept crashing out there and missed my brakes a few times," the ever-smiling Horton said. "Nielsen has been helping me out all year, and I wanted to do better here in front of his hometown fans. I guess I need to ride a little more." Demuth took both Dash finals and beat out his friend Joe Oehlhof on Wednesday. "It doesn't get much better than this," Demuth said, "winning the Dash with one of my best friends next to me on the podium. This place has treated me well." eN vania. Ohio's Joe Oehlhof finished third on Wednesday but packed up and headed home with a severe case of pneumonia. "Povolny rides good, and nobody said that this would be easy," Demuth said. "I'm going to start thinking about riding this thing [CRF450RI in Supercross next year," Povolny said. "This is the first time I've ridden this bike on this type of track, and I like it." Crossroad Powersports/MSR's Plotts took wins in both Over 25 finals. On Wednesday, Plotts took advantage of a Povolny crash with only a few laps remaining to take the win, ahead of Oehlhof and Nielsen Suzuki's Eron Ezerins. Thursday was similar, as Povolny led early but had a rear-brake problem that gave Plotts an opportunity to pass for the win. Ezerins was again third. Wisconsin's Dylan Martin took both 125cc Amateur wins, with little competition. He was also one of the few to jump the famous road triple that some of the 125cc Pros were not attempting. Martin was followed across by Illinois' Joe Rabiola on both nights. Lake County hir SX Grayslake, Illinois Results: July 24-25, 2002 Wednesday t 25 AM.: 1. Dylan Martin (Su%.); 2. Joe Rabiola (Yam); 3. Patrick Profita (Suz); 4. Chad Westbrook (Vam); 5. Casey Solace (Vam). 125 PRO: 1. Josh Demuth (Vern); 2. Jeff Gibson (Yam); 3. Ross Martin (Suz); 4. Jeff BlIker (Yam); 5. Brad Modjewski (Suz); 6. Austin Raubs (KTM); 7. Randy Valade (Suz); 8. Brian Gerth (Suz); 9. Justin Brayton (Han); 10. Dave Oettel (Hus). 250 AM: I. Michael Wendricks (5uz); 2. Chad Westbrook (Yam); 3. Matt Welter (Kaw); 4. Michael Padovano (Hon); 5. Bobby Fisher (Yam). 250 PRO: 1. Josh Demuth (Yam); 2. James Povolny (Hon); 3. Justin Brayton (Hon); 4. Damien Plotts (Hon); 5. Jeff Gibson (Yam): 6. Joe Oehlhof (Han); 7. Jeff Baker (Yam); 8. Randy Valade (Suz); 9. Dave Oettel (Hus); 10. Tommy Barron (Suz). 4·STRK: 1. James Povolny (Hon); 2. Josh Demuth (Yl:Im): 3. Joe Oehlhaf (Hon); 4. Damien Plotts (Han); 5. Roy Hortan Jr. (Han). 25.: I. Damien Plotts (Hon); 2. Joe Oehlhof (Han); 3. Eron Ezerins (Suz); 4. James Povolny (Han); 5. Karter Busse (Yam). DFC: 1. Josh Demuth (Yam); 2. Joe Oehlhof (Hon); 3. Damien Plotts (Hon); 4. Jeff Gibson (Yam). Thursday 125 AM: l. DylzlO Martin (Suz): 2. Joe Rabiola (Yam); 3. Chris Lazzaretla (Kaw); 4. Robert Loire (KTM); 5. Chad Westbrook (Vam). 125 PRO: l. Josh Demuth (Vam); 2. Robbie Horton (Han); 3. Jeff Gibson (Yam): 4. Ross Martin (Suz); 5. Justin Brllyton (Hon); 6. Roy Horton Jr. (Hon); 7. Brad Modjewski (Suz): 8. Randy Valade (Suz); 9. Austin Raubs (taM); 10. Jeff Baker (Yllm). 250 AM: 1. Michael Wendricks (Suz); 2. Chlld Westbrook (Yam); 3. Michael Padovano (Hon); 4. Bobby F;sher (Vam); 5. Justin Kelly (suz). 250 PRO: I. Josh Demuth (Yllm); 2. James Povolny (Hon); 3. Robbie Horton (Hon); 4. Jeff Gibson (Yam); 5. Damien Plotts (Han); 6. Jeff Baker (Vam); 7. Justin Brayton (Han); 8. Dave Oettel (Hus); 9. Brad Modjewski (Suz); 10. Roy Horton Jr. (Hon). 4-STRK: 1. James Povalny (Han); 2. Josh Demuth (Yam); 3. Damien Plotts (Han); 4. Roy Horton Jr. (Han); 5. Eron Ezerins (Hon). 25+: I. Damien Plotts (Hon); 2. James Povolny (Han); 3. Eron Ezerins (Suz); 4. Kllrter Busse (Yam); 5. John Mazur (Han). DFC: I. Josh Demuth (Yam); 2. Robbie Horton (Han); 3. Jeff Gibson (Yam); 4. Justin Brayton (Han). O/A PRO; 1. Josh Demuth (Vam); 2. Jeff Gibson (Yam); 3. Justin Brayton (Han). Josh Demuth dominated the weekend, winning the 125cc Pro, 250cc Pro and Dash For Cash contests on both days. c u.c I e n e _ S • AUGUST 28, 2002 61