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(Left) Tommy Hofmaster won Frida,'s 12!5cc main and sits third in points. (Above) Brad Hagseth (6) grabs the holeshot at the beginning of a 2!50cc event, followed b, Rustr Holland (5), Justin Brayton (114) and the rest of the pack. "I won the heat race in the 250cc class on Friday, and it felt good," Smith said. "This was the first time 1 was on a 250 since last year. I felt good on it, and then my clutch burned up, and Lange got by me for the lead. But I was able to hold on to second. After my clutch burned up, I was having problems in the whoops and the rhythm sections. I felt good overall. Then, in Saturday's 125cc main, I got out in second and was battling with Clark for the lead - he was taking all the good lines. I finally got by him in a corner - I had to push him wide. Then Demuth was on me the whole time, waiting for me to make a mistake, and I did. He got by me with two laps to go. It was mine to win, but I made the mistake." This weekend, third-place finishes went to four different riders, as Demuth took third in Friday's 125cc main. "Friday, I was having a tough night," Demuth said, "but I came out with a third overall. I was in the lead and made a mistake in front of Hofmaster and Lange. I was able to stay in third." Taking third in Friday's 250cc main was Demuth's teammate Phil Lawrence, who had a hard time getting up front. "I started on the second row, behind Lange, and had to work hard to get through the pack," Lawrence said. "I felt good all night. I rode really hard to make it through the pack. 1 ended up third overall." After a year off and a mishap a few weeks ago, Antunez was still able to get a podium finish in Saturday's 125cc main, along with fifth overall in the points. "I got a good start in the 125cc main and was running with the top three guys, but Demuth was going a little faster and got a good block-pass on me that stopped me from doing the catapult," Antunez said. "I lost them guys and just watched the chaos unfold as Clark went down so I could take over third. I am just happy to be on the podium after four weeks ago, when there was a chance that I wouldn't be doing the series at all. It is a good start. I am happy about being back." The final rider to take third overall (in Saturday's 250cc main) was last year's Rookie of the Year, Justin Brayton. "The race went awesome for me," Brayton said. "It is always good to get a good start. It was great to be up there with Demuth and Lange on the podium. My bike was running great out there. From the start, I was able to stay in third place and was able to pass Hagseth for the lead. I was in the lead until Demuth got by me with two laps to go, and Lange got by me, too. I ended up third overall. This was my first podium, and it felt great." eN Grllcyk (KllW); 7. Pedro Gonzlllez (KlIw): B. Isaillh Johnson (Kaw); 9. Chris Whitcraft (Yllm); 10. Justin Broyton (Hon): 11. Dorcy Longe (Kow); 12. Jeff Willoh (Suz); 13. Brlld Hegseth (KllW); 14. Evan Laughridge (Suz); 15. Chod Johnson (Kow). 250 MAIN: 1. Josh Demuth (Yom): 2. Dorcy Lange (Kaw); 3. Justin BrlIyton (Hon); 4. Kelly Smith (Yem); 5. Tommy Hofmester (Yam); 6. Pedro Gonzalez (Kew); 7. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 8. Rusty Hollond (Kow); 9. Phil Lowrence (Yom): 10. Jeff Willoh (Suz); 11. Evon Laughridge (Suz); 12. Dovid Gettel (Hon); 13. Brad Hegseth (KlIw); 14. Gevln Grllcyk (Kaw): 15. Chris Whitcreft (Yam). JUMP-OFF: 1. Reese U1uritzen (Yam); 2. Tom Kelley (Suz); 3. Jeremy Durrett (Hon). DFC: 1. Pedro Gonzalez (K.!lw); 2. Darcy Llmge (Kew); 3. Tommy Hofmllster (Yllm); 4. Bnlld Hegseth (Kow). KAWASAKI 65 INVITATIONAL: I. Terren O'Dell; 2. Jllred Schudel; 3. Kerry Moore; 4. Devin Reed; 5. Kyle Cooke; 6. Broe Ridenhour; 7. Drew Yenerlch; 8. Chris Antollllk; 9. Kyle Olson; 10. Ouy Borsellll; 11. Dustin Griffin; 12. Gllvin Feith; 13. JOShUll umge; 14. Jed Seemen; 15. Scott BllIICkford Jr.; 16. Kyle Sllndlin. NATIONAL ARENACROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 2 of 28 rounds): I. Josh Demuth (71/2 wins); 2. Dorey Lange (64/1 win); 3. Tommy Holmaster (63/1 win); 4. Kelly Smith (56); 5. Buddy Antunez (48); 6. Pedro Gonzolez (44); 7. (TIE) Phil U1wrence/Justin Brllyton/Jeff Willoh (39); 10. Rusty Holland (35): 11. Evon Laughddge (34): 12. Govln Grocyk (27): 13. Chris Whitcroft (24); 14. Shawn Clork (23);15. Brod Hogseth (20); 16. Dovid Dellel (17);17. Isoioh Johnson (II); 18. Colt Humphrey (6); 19. (TIE) Tom Kelley/Chod Johnson/ Jason Thomas (4). Veterans Memoriel Coliseum Des Maines, lowe Results: November l-Z, ZDDZ [Rounds l-Z of ZSI Fridey 125 MAIN: 1. Tommy Hofmaster (Yam); 2. Darcy Lange (KlIIw); 3, Josh Demuth (Yam); 4. Evan Laughridge (Suz); 5. Pedro Gonzalez (KllW); 6. Phil Lawrence (Yam); 7. Jeff Willoh (Suz); 8. Rusty Holland (Kaw); 9. David Oettel (Hon); 10. Gavin Grecyk (Kaw); 11. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 12. Justin Brayton (Hon); 13. Colt Humphrey (Suz); 14. Kelly Smith (Yom); 15. Tom Kelley (Suz). 250 MAIN: 1. Do",y Longe (Kow); 2. Kelly Smnh (Yam); 3. Phil U1wrence (Yem); 4. Josh Demuth (Yem); 5. Tommy Hofmester (Yam); 6. Rusty Holland (Kow): 7. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 8. Jeff Willoh (Suz); 9. Chris Whitcroft (Yom): 10. Shown Clark (Kow): 11. Brlld Hagseth (Kaw); 12. Justin Brayton (Hon); 13. Evan U1ughridge (Suz); 14. Pedro Gonzalez (Kaw); 15. Jason Thomlls (Kaw). JUM.P-OFF: 1. Tom Kelley (Suz); 2. Jeremy Durrett (Hon); 3. Jeff Willoh (Suz). DFC: 1. Tommy Hofmaster (Vam); 2. Kelly Smith (Yom); 3. Josh Demuth (Yom): 4. Evon Loughridge (Suz). KAWASAKI 65 INVITATIONAL: 1. Terren O'Dell; 2. Gavin Feith; 3. Jared Schudel; 4. Kerry Moore; 5. Kyle Cooke; 6. Chris Cochran; 7. JOShU8 Lange; 8. Jed Seeman; 9. Kyle Olson; 10. Scott Blackford Jr.; 11. Broc Ridenhour; 12. Z8chary Miston; 13. Kyle Sandlin: 14. Reed Roenbeck; 15. Ouy Borsellll. Saturday )25 MAIN: 1. Josh Demuth (Yam); 2. Kelly Smith (Yam): 3. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 4. Tommy Hofmaster (Vem); 5. Shewn Clark (Kaw); 6. Gavin my Own Race (]®Antunez'sLaughridge had some ups and downs in his first weekend of Arenacross. Evan Buddy new teammate "The weekend wasn't as good as I planned it to be," Laughridge said. "I got a fourth overall in the 125cc main on Friday. I won my 125cc heat on Saturday and transferred to the mains from all my heats, s6 that was good. In the mains, I JUS) couldn't pull it together. I crashed in every main except Friday's 125cc race. I've got the speed, but I need to slow down a little to stop crashing so much." ~@ Gavin Gracyk After some decent results in last year's series, Gracyk landed a ride with the Richmond racing team for 2002/2003. "Friday's 125cc main went good," Gracyk said. "I rode good in the heats and in the main, but I had a bad start and finished 10th. I made a few mistakes that I need to work on. In the 250cc race (on Saturday], I got a midpack start. Then Pedro and I hit each other in a comer, and I went over the Tuff Blox. It took a while for me to get up, and Ithink I hurt my foot, too. But that is Arenacross." {] Chad Johnson Budd, Antunez's retumto Arenacross didn't go as well as he hoped, but he stili sits fifth in points with 52 main events left to race. After being on the Tuf Honda team the last two years, Johnson came to Des Moines as a lone rider, with his father as his mechanic. Having a few bike and head problems both nights, it looked as though Johnson were having first-race bad luck. "Friday, I got nervous and tight out there," Johnson said. "I didn't have a good night at all. I had an off night. I had some motor problems in practice on the 250, so I wasn't able to make the main on Saturday night, and in the 125cc main, I had more bike problems. We are going to take the bike apart and find out what is wrong with it. I hope next weekend will be better." cB{] Pedro Gonzalezwho showed up in his own box van after getting hurt at the Gonzalez was another rider Fort Worth event in December of last year. It was nice to see that he hasn't missed a beat. "The weekend went good - I won the Dash For Cash on Saturday," Gonzalez said. "I got the holeshot in the 250cc main on Friday, but on the second lap, my transmission went, so I was out. I scored some points that night. This is my second race back. I feel good, and I have the speed and just need to focus more. I am looking forward to next weekend." cue I e n e vv 50 NOVEMBER 20,2002 15