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Denver". CO . Febr"uary 1 8/1 Sf 2CXX) National Arenacross Series Rounds 21/22: Denver Coliseum S t e p ha~t::IJiii ~ lead, taking Antunez with him. Pederson now ran third. Once again, Bogard was on the move, and he eventually relegated Pederson to fourth. Pederson's woes continued, when Stephenson rode around the former leader. Up front, Demuth w'!s in control, but Antunez had him worried, however not as worried as when Demuth came upon a lapped rider 50 feet from the finish line and nearly crashed. The lapped rider bobbled right in front of Demuth, forcing the leader to get on the brakes hard and come within inches of endoing. But Demuth quickly got everything back under control and grabbed the win just inches ahead of Antunez. Both Bogard and Stephenson got around Willoh to land the third- and fourthplace finishes, respectively. Willoh ended up fifth, ahead of Pederson and Hodges. In the Dash for Cash, Stephenson pretty much finished out the race right where he started - in the lead. But Pederson made it close, finishing right behind Stephenson in second, followed by Gonzalez and Demuth. SATUROAY Denny Stephenson came away with a pair of wins at the Denver Arenacross. ebraska's Denny Stephenson was a Mile High after sweeping both main events Saturday night, as well as Friday's Dash for Cash, at Denver's Coliseum, for rounds 21 and 22 of the National Arenacross Series. Stephenson, on the Bill's Pipes/Axo/ Motorious.com Suzuki, surely felt right at home at the Mile High city, as he gained a few precious points on series leader Buddy Antunez. Antunez, aboard his Ed Longacretuned Suzuki, didn't come away empty handed, though, as he won Friday's 125cc main event win and finished right behind Josh Demuth's Thor/Tuf Racing Honda in the 250cc main. Also having a Rocky Mountain good time was Travis Hodges, aboard the Ancae/R&S/One/Pro Circuit/Fox Honda. His good starts and hard battling earned him his first podium finish of the year, which came in Friday's 125cc main. A large number of local riders came out to race, including Andrew Short, on the Team Green/AXO/T.O. Kawasaki/Subway-backed KX, who made both 125 and 250cc mains on Friday. Kevin Hall, on the F&S Suzuki/Goat/No Fear RM, and Bobby Fitch, on the FMF/Fay Myers/GS Sports Honda, also each qualified for Saturday's big show. Pedro Gonzalez returned to action after breaking his ankle a few rounds ago, and Charlie Bogard raised some eyebrows after posting the fastest qualifying times in both 125cc and 250cc classes. N 22 MARCH 8, 2000' cue • FRIOAY Stephenson jumped out to an early lead in the 125cc main event, while Hodges, Kawasaki-mounted Jeromy Buehl, Antunez, Honda riders Chad Pederson and Jeff Willoh, and Bogard filed in behind the Suzuki rider. Bogard was the first to make a move by being the only rider to quad a rhythm section, which carried him passed Willoh and Pederson. Antunez decided to make his move and soon had control of second place. He was then eyeing Stephenson, when Bogard went to the ground while trying to get around Hodges. The race eventually boiled down to a showdown between Stephenson and Antunez. With two laps to go, Antunez railed the start corner and entered a whoop section just ahead of Stephenson. From there, Antunez forged ahead of Stephenson and held on for the exciting win. Hodges finished a welldeserved third, followed by Willoh and Bogard. The Arenacross boys were ready to go at it again in the 250cc main, but this time it was Pederson nailing the holeshot, followed by Demuth, Antunez, Willoh, Bogard, Stephenson and Mike Katin Jr. The race for the lead got exciting when Pederson and Demuth dueled through the whoops side by side, with Demuth eventually pulling into the e neVIl's A sell-out crowd filled the Coliseum Saturday night, and the fans were about to be treated to some of the best racing of the weekend. Hodges started things off in the 125cc main with the holeshot, followed by Antunez, Willoh, Demuth, Gonzalez and Katin. A few riders were left behind after crashing, one of which was Bogard, who tangled with a nother rider. Demuth slammed into Hodges in a turn, but it was Willoh who came out in the lead. Shortly thereafter, Antunez left the gas on longer in the whoops and passed Demuth for second place. The top fi.ve riders were rubbing tires everywhere, then Stephenson, who was nowhere to be found at the start, finally got in on the action, getting by Hodges for fourth. The race was certainly up for grabs at this point, then Gonzalez tripled past Stephenson. But Suddenly, the white flag came out and Antunez crossed the finish line thinking the race was over. Stephenson, Willoh and Demuth kept racing and rode past the bemused rider. Stephenson finished off his comefrom-behind ride with a popular win over Willoh, Demuth and Antunez. Mike Katin rounded out the top five. Antunez explained later that he saw two white flags. Gonzalez left the gate first in the final 250cc main, but Katin dropped inside and took the lead going down the whoop section. Stephenson, Gonzalez, Demuth, Buehl, Antunez and Bogard filed in behind the Kawasaki rider. Katin was still holding down first, but a victory-hungry Stephenson was nipping at his heels. Stephenson went for the kill and ran away from th.e pack. Meanwhile, Buehl and Willoh battled, while Demuth and Antunez passed Katin. Bogard came storming up and was working on Antunez for eN fourth, eventually passing him. Denver Coliseum Denver, Calorado Resubs: February 18/19 [Rounds 21/22 of 34] Pedro Gonzalez returned to action after breaking his ankle. Friday 125 Pro: 1. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 2. Denny Stephenson (Suz); 3. Travis Hodges (Kaw); 4. Jeff Willoh (Hon); 5. Charley Bogard (Suz); 6. Chad Pederson (Hon); 7. Pedro Gonzalez (Kaw); 8. Josh Demuth (Ron); 9. Jeromy Buehl (Kaw); 10. Ronnie Clark (Yam); 11. Mike Katin Jr. (Kaw); 12. Bryan Piccirelli (Hon): 13. Andrew Short (Kaw); 14. Kevin Johnson (Yam); 15. Brad Woolsey (Hon). 250 Pro: 1. Josh Demuth (Hon); 2. Buddy Antunez (SUI); 3. Charley Bogard (SUI); 4. Denny Stephenson (Suz); 5. Jeff Willoh (Hon); 6. Chad Pederson (Hon); 7. Travis Hodges (Kaw); 8. Jeromy Buehl (Kaw); 9. Mike Katin Jr. (Kaw); 10. Jon Hedden (KTM); 11. Andrew Short (Kaw); 12. Tiger Lacey (Suz); 13. Pedro Gonzalez (Kaw); 14. Brad Woolsey (Hon); 15. Kevin Johnson (Yam). ope: 1. Denny Stephenson (Suz); 2. Jeff Willoh (Hon); 3. Josh Demuth (Hon); 4. Charley Bogard (Suz); 5. Buddy Antunez (Suz). KAWASAKI 65« INVITATIONAL: 1. Cody Gilmore; 2. Ike Jost; 3. Jake Erickson; 4. Vinny Ramirez; 5. Jace Nuckles; 6. Dian Klinger; 7. Zach Larson; 8. Zachary Larsone; 9. Ricky Draper; 10. Kyle Walker: 11. Bryce Shondeck: 12. Ricky LaMontagne; 13. Matthew Nicely; 14. Aaron McClintock. Saturday . 125 Pro: 1. Denny Stephenson (Suz); 2. Jeff W;lIoh (Hon); 3. Josh Demuth (Hon); 4. Buddy Ant nez (Suz); 5. Mike Katin Jr. (Kaw); 6. Travis Hodges (Kaw); 7. Jeromy Buehl (Kaw); 8. Charley Bogard (Suz); 9. Ronnie Clark (Yam); 10. Pedro Gonzalez (Kaw); 11. Bryan PiccireJli (Hon); 12. Kevin Johnson (Yam); 13. Chad Pederson (Hon); 14. Bobby F;tch (Hon). 250 Pro: 1. Denny Stephenson (Suz); 2. Josh Demuth (Hon); 3. Pedro Gonzalez (Kaw); 4. Charley Bogard (Suz); 5. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 6. Kevin Johnson (Yam); 7. Mike Katin Jr. (Kaw); 8. Jeff WHloh (Hen); 9. Jeromy Buehl (Kaw): 10. Travis Hodges (Kaw); 11. Bryan Piccirelli (Hon); 12. Kevin Hall (Su,); 13. Jon Hedden (KTM), 14. T;ger Lacey (Suz); 15. Chad Pederson (Hon). ope: I. Denny Stephenson (Suz); 2. Pedro Gonzalez (Kaw); 3. Jeromy Buehl (Kaw); 4. Charley Bogard (Suz). KAWASAKI 65« INVITATIONAL: 1. Cody Gilmore; 2. Jake Erickson; 3. Ike Jost; 4. Vinny Ramirez; 5. Alex Malott; 6. Zachary Larson; 7. Justin Grossnickle; 8. Aaron McClintock; 9. Jace Knuckles; 10. Bryce Shondeck; 11. Chapman Fiene; 12. Zach Larson; 13. Dian Klinger; 14. Ricky Draper. NATIONAL ARENACROSS SERIES POINT STANDINGS (After 22 of 34 rounds): 1. Buddy Antunez (740/15 Wins); 2. Denny Stephenson (708/9 wins); 3. Pedro Gonzalez (557/5 wins); 4. Jeff Willoh (467); 5. Jeromy Buehl (421); 6. Charley Bogard (417/4); 7. M;ke KaUn (409); B. Josh Demuth (400/4 wins); 9. Travis Hodges (346); 10. Chad Pederson (257/1 win); 11. Brad Woolsey (254); 12. Barry Carsten (188); 13. J;m Chester (183); 14. Greg Rand (174): 15. Nick Wey (170/4 wins); 16. Kevin Crine (157); 17. Ty Wallace (128); 18. Tommy Holmaster (122); 19. J;mmy W;]son (119/1 w;n); 20. Bryan Piccirelli (112). Stephenson was back in his face the very next corner. Then Demuth slipped in the whoops and Stepheson moved up to third. Upcoming Rounds: Round 23/24 - Sacromento, Califomia, February 25-27 Round 25/26 - Salt Lake City, Utah, March 3-5