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several races, and he was in the heat of the battle several times, but little mistakes and bad luck kept him from reaching the podium. "These results just are not proof of how I've been riding: Hofmaster said at the end of the weekend. "I've been at or near the front of nearly every final and something has happened. I've hit neutral a few times, I've crashed, and I've been taken out. I'll get it back together soon." Team Suzuki's Buddy Antunez is in a similar situation to that of Lange. Antunez started out the series on a sour note, but each week he gets closer to the front. At Memphis, Antunez scored two sixths on Friday but made the podium on Saturday night by finishing second in the 125cc final. He led the main for some time until Demuth made the pass. Late in the race, Antunez went in on Demuth for a pass and ended up going down. He held on for second and is now creeping up on Hofmaster in the points and is in fourth, only two points out of third. '" tried to shake Josh but messed up and went down," Antunez said of his chance to win. "My mechanic (Above) Lange (2) stuffs Evan Laughridge (73) while Demuth (1) prepares to attack. (Right) Demuth, Lange and Justin Brayton celebrate on Saturday night's 2S0cc podium. Greg Link would've wanted me to try that pass, so I did, and it didn't work out as well as I would have liked. I've got half of the series to go, and I've always done well towards the end of a series." eN The Pyramid Memphis, Tennessee Results: January 10-11, Z003 [Round 7 of 14J Friday 125 PRO: 1. J Josh Demuth (Yam): 2. Darcy Lange (Kaw); 3. Ryan Huffman Yam); 4. Chad Johnson (Kaw); 5. Tommy Hofmaster (Yam); 6. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 7. Tom Kelley (Suz); 8. Juslin Brllylon (Hon); 9. Chris WhitcrZlft (Yam): 10. Jeff Willeh (Suz): 11. Evan l...zIughridge (Suz): 12. Jason Thomas (Kaw): 13. Robby McQuarry (Yam): 14. Kody Molitor (Yam); 15. Brandon Bartz (Hon). 250 PRO: 1, DllfCY Lange (Kaw): 2. Josh Demuth (Yllm); 3. Evan Lcughridge (Suz); 4. Tommy Hofmasler (Yam): 5. Justin Brayton (Hon); 6. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 7. Brandon Bartz (Hon); B. Chris Whitcrlln (Yam); 9. Jason Thomas (KlIw); 10. Chad Johnson (Kaw); 11. Jeff Willoh (Suz); 12. Tom Kelley (Suz); 13. Kody Molitor (Yam); 14. Blake Keeton (Hon); 15. Ryan Huffman (Yam). DFC: 1. Darcy Lange (Kaw); 2. Tommy Hofmaster (YlIm): 3. Josh Demuth (Yam); 4. Jason Thomas (Kaw). JUMP-OFF: I. Robby McQuarry (Yam); 2. Tom Kelley (5uz); 3. Justin Johns (Yam). KAWASAKI 65 INVT'L: I. Christopher Trllcy: 2. Luke Hobson; 3. Mike WlIdel: 4. Jordan Heathcock: BRIEFLY••• The most unusual arena on the CirCUit has to be The Pyramid In Memphis. It looks Identical to the Luxor Hotel In Las Vegas. The unique design holds a large number of spectators. but neither night at the facility was sold out. Pedro Gonzales will miSS the remainder of the year after breaking both wrists at Guthrie a week earlier. Ironically. it was almost exactly one year earlier that he broke hiS femur and missed the entire year. Tuf/Kawasaki's Isaiah Johnson. who crashed a week earlier in Guthrie and broke several vertebrae when he landed on Jeff Willoh. is well on his way to a full recovery. According to Arenacross track doctor Keith Sherman. "Isaiah's dad said that hiS back and neck should be back to 100 percent in 12 weeks. He also broke some ribs. " Fun Center Suzuki's .Jeff Willoh was on hand and racing at Memphis. and he looked a little worse for wear. Willoh was sporting a huge black eye. and he also had some abrasions and bruises that he suffered the week before. -It was like I was riding and just fell asleep." Willoh said of the crash last week. '" don't remember a thing." He also spoke of Pedro Gonzales' crash. "'t was weird. Me and Pedro were talking about that jump after practice. I said that it was stupid and I wasn't going to do it. and he agreed. The next thing I know. he tried to jump it and cased it right in front of me and broke both of his wrists. The Dash for Cash Series is heating up. After losing the DFC Championship last year to Josh Demuth by only a few pOints. Richmond Kawasaki's Darcy Lange is now in the driver's seat after winning Friday's race. Lange holds that series points lead over Demuth. 40-28. Tommy Hofmaster is in third with 26. (Kaw); 3. Evan Laughridge (Suz); 4. Tommy Hofmaster (Yam). JUMP-OFF: 1. Robby McQulIrry (Yam): 2. Tom Kelley (Suz): 3. Justin Johns (Yam). KAWASAKI 65 INVT'L: I. Christopher Tracy; 2. Mike Wadel; 3. Luke Hobson; 4. Klay Stephenson; 5. Tanner McDaniel; 6. 5kylar Phillips; 7. Jordan Heathcock: 8. Gavin Stover; 9. Cody Fincher; 10. lack Patterson; 11. Corey Akins: 12. Levi Best; 13. Taylor Copeland; 14. Shawn Yeager. NATIONAL ARENACROSS SERIES POINT STANDINGS (Arter 7 of 14 rounds): 1. Josh 5. Zack Patterson; 6. Corey Akins; 7. Taylor Copeland; 8. Kyle Qualls; 9. Brandon Wroten; 10. Jeff Mikeworth; 1 I. Mason Maxey: 12. Mlirk Wroten; 13. Joe Looney; 14. Sandy Klinger; 15. Steven Parker. Saturday 125 PRO: I. Josh Demuth (Yam); 2. Buddy Antunez (Suz): 3. Jason Thomas (Kaw); 4. RYlJn Huffmlln (Yam); 5. Chris Whitcraft (YlJm); 6. Kody Molitor (Yam); 7. Tommy Hofmaster (YlJm); 8. EVlln Laughridge (Suz); 9. Darcy Lange (Kaw): 10. Brandon BlIrtz (Hon); I I. Chad Johnson (Kaw); 12. Jeff Willoh (Suz): 13. Robby McQuarry (Yam); 14. Justin Brayton (Hon); 15. Tom Kelley (Suz). 250 PRO: 1. Darcy Lange (Kaw); 2. Josh Demuth (Yam); 3. Justin Brayton (Hon): 4. Tommy Hofmaster (Yam); 5. Chris Whitcraft (YlIm); 6. Chad Johnson (Kaw); 7. Buddy Antunez (Suz): 8. Tom Kelley (5uz); 9. Jeff Willoh (Suz); 10. Jason Thomas (KlJw); II. Ryan Huffman (Yem): 12. Blake Keeton (Hon): 13. Robby McQuarry (YlIm); 14. Brandon Bartz (Hon); 15. EVlln Laughridge (Suz). DFC: I. Justin Brayton (Hon); 2. Darcy Lange mu 1] 1] cB Demuth (520/16 wins): 2. Darcy Lange (457/7); 3. Tommy Hofmaster (38313); 4. Buddy Antunez (381); 5. Justin Brayton (239): 6. Jeff Willoh (237): 7. Chad Johnson (229): 8. Evan Laughridge (215): 9. (TIE) Pedro Gonzalesl Phil Lawrence (208/1); 1I. Tom Kelley (164): 12. Isaiah Johnson (149): 13. ChriS Whitcraft (144): 14. 81ad Hagseth (138); 15. Ryan Huffman (130): 16. Kelly Smith (113): 17. Gavin Grayck (lOg): 18. Jason Thomas (108): 19. Rusty Holland (J 00): 20. Brandon Bartz (79). Own Race Justin Brayton The American HondalTamer Billet/StormLakeHonda.com-sponsored rider had one of his better weekends at Memphis, as he finished Friday night with an eighth and a fifth in the 125 and 250cc finals, respectively. On Saturday, the Iowan started off the night right by winning the $600-plus Dash for Cash and finishing on the podium in the 250cc final in third. "I've been getting good starts and just not fading towards the end of the races," Brayton said from the podium Saturday. "If I could do this consistently, I think I could finish this series in the top five; that's the goal. I've been working hard, and it's starting to payoff." §cB Jason Thomas Florida's Jason Thomas, who is in his first full year of Arenacross racing, is still just getting used to the tight action. The former Superiors pilot was injured at the opening round, returned at round five and has been playing catch-up ever since. The friendly" JT Money," as he is known to some, pulled off his first podium of the series on Saturday night in the 125cc class. "I had to come from a second-row start in that one, but I worked my way to the front," he said. "I'm still trying to figure [this series] out. I'm not sure what's wrong. I'm the only guy left on this team, and now I have to hold up the fort." 1] cB@ Chris Whitcraft The privateer from Ohio keeps plugging away and had a strong weekend. Two top lOs on Friday coupled with two fifth-place finishes on Saturday have the Sport Cycles/Pro Action/Tag-sponsored rider in 13th in the points, and he is closing in on several of the injured riders that are out for the season. 1] 1] ~ Ryan Huffman Washougal MX/No Fear's Huffman is now full-steam ahead in the Arenacross Series, and his results are often impressive. The Oregonian scored a podium finish on Friday in the 125cc class and a fourth on Saturday, again in the 125cc class. He also scored the fastest lap times in practice on Saturday. cue' e n e vv S • JANUARY 29. 2003 27