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Milwaukee. VVI,., February 1 1-1 :2. 2ClOCJ National Arenacross Series Rounds 1 9/20: Wisconsin Arena __Creeping Away By onto the step-up section to get past Antunez but his momentum carried him too high in the final comer, as Antunez pushed him high then dashed to the checkers. Antunez captured the win, followed by Demuth. Back behind the battle up front were Charley Bogard, Denny Stephenson and Jeff Willoh, who rounded out the PETE EMME Buddy Antunez is inching his way toward a fourth consecutive National Arenacross Championship after capturing three out of four main-event wins at the Wisconsin Arena. Thor Honda/Tuf Racing Team rider Josh Demuth was the only rider to knock Antunez off the top of the podium as he won the 250cc class on Friday night with an impressive race battle over Antunez. The Bill's Pipes/Suzuki/Axo/Motorious.com rider Antunez still holds a modest point lead over his teammate Denny Stephenson as they enter the second, and most crucial, half of the 34-round series. Pedro Gonzalez, who sits third in the points chase, sat out with an injury, leaving him well behind the leaders in the standings. Chad Pederson put his Thor/ Tuf Racing/Honda into the lead in the 125cc main event. Closely following him was his teammates Jeff Willoh and Demuth. Antunez gated fair and was found in fifth place rounding lap one. Demuth took over the lead by hounding Willoh and eventually getting past Pederson on lap six. It didn't take long for Antunez to reel in the leaders. By the halfway point, Antunez sat in second, as Pederson and WHloh fell back off the pace. Antunez tried to sneak his way past Demuth before the Wrenchead.com Catapult, but Demuth slammed his Honda into Antunez, slowing him down. Following the catapult, Antunez took to the inside, taking over the lead, and leaving Demuth mashing on the brakes to make way for Antunez. Moments later, Demuth took back his lead only to give it right back to Antunez in the same spot. Entering the last lap, Demuth made a last-ditch effort, as he tripled 50 MARCH 1. 2000' cue I as the new leader. Stephenson snuck past Demuth during the first lap for second. Antunez was mired mid pack, battling his way into the seventh position by the end of lap two. Demuth regained cO':!trol and reeled in Willoh by the halfway point of the 20-lap main event. WilJoh seemed to be having some trouble with lappers and downed riders. Demuth took advantage of Willoh, moving into first with a few laps remaining and never looked back. Demuth took the win, Willoh grabbed second and Antunez nailed third. "I rode really good this week and it paid [Above) Buddy Antunez (1) was the big winner in Milwaukee, winning three ou1 of the four main events. (Right) Josh Demuth was the only other rider other than Antunez to score a win. top five. Bogard set fast time in qualifying with a 23.917 second run. "I was running the inside," Antunez said, "and I knew he (Demuth) was coming off the wall doing the quad section, but I figured if I just hold my line and get to the corner and try to get underneath him, I could get the win." "I made a few mistakes out there, leaving the door open for Buddy, but that's racing," Demuth said. Demuth shot his Honda out to the lead in the 250cc main ahead of WilJoh. By the time the pack got through the whoops, Willoh emerged e n e vv s off," Demuth said. "I was lucky that the lappers were there and that I could get by them. I'm glad I took advantage of that." "I looked over and saw that the leaders had a big gap on me, so I just put my head down and kept charging," Antunez said. "I have to give credit to my mechanic, Ed Longacre, if it weren't for him I wouldn't be here." Willoh won the no-holds-barred Dash for Cash race over Demuth and Stephenson. SATURDAY After making his presence known on Friday night, Antunez had one thing on his mind: extending his points lead. The Suzuki rider got the 125cc win over Bogard, with Stephenson, Demuth and Willoh rounding out the top five. Thor/Honda/Tuf Racing's Chad Pederson nailed the holes hot in the 125cc main. Antunez followed but quickly moved into the lead by lap number two, and the deal was sealed. Bogard suffered a poor start but battled his way back by taking the inside line on Stephenson upon entering the whoop section. Stephenson would hang on to second, with Demuth coming from behind. Bogard then set his sights on the leader Antunez. Bogard dashed to the inside of Antunez through the whoop section only to clip the Tuff Blocks, almost sending his Suzuki off the track. Bogard regained control, but it was too little too late. Antunez captured the win, with Bogard three bike lengths back in second. Antunez got past early leader Willoh in the 250cc main early on. Stephenson found a little redemption to move up through the pack to get