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National Arenacross Series Round 17-18: Hampton Coliseum "This time, I didn't get the start I wanted," Demuth said. "I got third behind Huffman and Hofmaster and was able to get by Hofmaster for the second. It was hard to pass tonight, so I was only able to work up to second for the runner-up position." "It was awesome to get my first win," Huffman said. "I got lucky on the second start, after the first start was red-flagged. I got into second behind Hofmaster and was able to make a pass on him during the first lap. Then I started to look forward and ride my own race. I knew Josh Demuth was getting close, but I kept going. J put in some hard laps. In the end, I got a little tired and tight because I knew 1 was going to win one. I am happy to get that first win and hope to get a few more before the end of the season." Rounding out the top five was Evan Laughridge in a strong fourth place and Lange in fifth. Lange rebounded from his fifthplace ride in the 125cc main with a wire-to-wire romp in the 250cc event. No one ever challenged him on his way to victory. Taking a distant second was Chad Johnson, followed closely by Justin Brayton - both infrequent podium visitors so far this year. "' had a good race," said a tired Brayton. "I pulled the holeshot, but then Lange got by me. I was in second trying to stay with him for a few laps until he started to check out. Then I started to tighten up, and Chad Johnson passed me. After that, I tried to just hold on to a third-place finish." "I had a good start on my Hammertime KX250," Johnson said. "My Pirelli tires really hooked up on the track, and I was able to make my way up to second, which felt good. I came out fifth and didn't get tired and was able to make some good passes halfway through the race. I got two good passes on Brayton and Hofmaster for second, then I stayed behind Lange until the end." "I was able to sneak around [Brayton] for the lead after a lap," Lange said. "Then I started to ride my own race after that. I tried not to make any mistakes, and I rode safe to the finish ... Buddy Antunez and Hofmaster rounded out the top five. race in the process. The other mainevent winner was Washington's Ryan Huffman, winning the first main event of the weekend at only his fifth arenacross of the year. Demuth, however, got his 20th win of the year in Virginia. STORY AND PHOTOS BY RAYMOND GUNDY HAMPTON, VA, JAN. 24-25 !losh Demuth has been laying to the competition in the National Arenacross Series for the second year in a row, and coming into Hampton, Virginia, he looked infallible. However, Canadian Darcy Lange was the big winner on the weekend, coming away with two wins to Demuth's one and closing up the points (!!) waste 14 FEBRURY 12, 2003' eye FRIDAY Tommy Hofmaster led the 125cc main off the start, with Huffman and Demuth in tow. However, Huffman made a move soon afterward and took the lead. followed closely by I e n e vv s Demuth, who also passed Hofmaster. At the finish, it was an all-fourstroke 125cc podium, as all the riders were YZ250F mounted. Huffman took the win, followed by Demuth and his teammate Hofmaster. "I was able to pull the holeshot and take the lead until Ryan Huffman tripled out of the rhythm section into the turn before the Catapult," Hofmaster said. "After that move, he was able to take the lead from me." SATURDAY Demuth led off the start of the 125cc main, and in an infrequent happening, Lange actually caught and passed the defending champ for the lead. Demuth got some dirt in his rear brake, which led to Lange's pass. Finishing on the podium for an uncharacteristic first time this year was Suzuki-mounted Jeff Willoh. "My Fun Center Suzuki RM125 was running great out there," Willoh