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Uniondale. N.V., Februsry 4-6.2000 PJ1 National Arenacross Series Round 17 & 1 B: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum By MICHAEL JAMES PHOTO BY KARL OCKERT F reezing cold temperatures didn't keep thousands of New York arenacross fans from converging on the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York for rounds 17 and 18 of the National Arenacross Series, where they saw a yellow sweep. Bill's Pipes/Motorious.com/ Suzuki-backed Buddy Antunez and St. Louis Powersports/Suzuki's Charlie Bogard both claimed wins during the two nights of racing. FRIDAY Heat winners Antunez, Tuf/Thor/ Honda's Josh Demuth and Bogard rocketed toward the first turn in the 125cc main, but the surprise leader turned out to be Husqvarna factorysponsored D~ve Kratz. He looked set to run away with it, but he lost the front end after only a lap. Greg Rand, on the St. Louis Powersports Suzuki and Jeff Willoh, on the Tuf/Thorbacked Honda, got taken out in the resulting pileup. Bromley Suzuki's Barry Carsten inherited the lead and seemed intent on running away with the win, as he pulled away from the riders behind him. By lap five, however, Carsten looked back and saw Stephenson gaining ground. Antunez, meanwhile, was tearing 18 .FEBRUARY 23',; 2000' cue • e his way up through the pack, taking huge chances but finding himself in fourth near the halfway point. Antunez' charge took him to Stephenson's rear wheel just past the halfway mark and, after making the pass, Antunez tried to reel in Carsten. With lapped traffic now playing a factor, Carsten took a wide line around Team Green's Jeromy Buehl, who had fallen, and promptly tipped over when the top of the berm gave way. Antunez had done the near impossible: coming from deep in the pack to take the win. Stephenson held on for second, and Gonzalez held on for third. Carsten finished fourth, followed by Willoh, Plano Honda's Brad Woolsey, Team Green's Mike Katin, Bogard, Rand and Kratz. "I went down in the first lap and just rode my butt off to get back where I was," Antunez said. "Second sucks," Stephenson said. "I should've won that thing. I was gone, I got hung up behind Barry Carsten, and he was taking some weird lines, and I couldn't get around him, and Bud got my. I am glad to get my Bill's Pipes/Motorious.com Suzuki up front but second sucks!" "I had a tough time out there with all the ruts: Gonzalez said. "The Suzukis got by me, and I need to keep those guys behind me." Jeff Willoh, on the Tuf/Thor- neVIl's backed Honda, nabbed the holeshot in the 250cc main, followed by Gonzalez, Antunez, Rand and Stephenson. On lap five, Antunez took an outside line through the whoops and set up for an inside pass on Gonzalez in the next turn. Two laps later, Willoh fell victim to the same maneuver, while Stephenson dumped it in the whoop section. Meanwhile, Bogard had a groove in the double-double section and had all the fans gasping when he uncorked the biggest jump of the night. He was the first person to safely clear the double-double in one leap, a deft feat that would playa major part in the weekend's raCing. Bogard passed Gonzalez and Willoh and settled in for the second spot at the flag. Had the race been two laps longer, he most likely would've zapped Antunez, as well. Gonzalez, by the end of the race, got around Willoh and held on for third place. Willoh, Demuth, Stephenson, Carsten