Wrenchead.com National Arenacross Series
Final Rounds: Reno Livestock Center
Antunez pulls it (ltt - barely
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The winning Motorious.com/Bill's Pipes/Suzuki team. Buddy Antunez (center) won
his fourth National Arenacross title.
Friday, well, the championship could've
ended up going to Antunez'
Motorious.com/Suzuki/Bill's Pipes/AXO
teammate Denny Stephenson, who
won both main events Saturday night.
When aU was said and done, though,
Antunez won the championship - and
the $25,000 that goes with it - with
just 17 points to spare over Stephenson, 1138 to 1121. For finishing second in the series, Stephenson pocketed $15,000.
Team Tuf/Thor/Honda rider Jeff
Willoh made sure that the Suzukis
didn't steal all the glory in Reno, as
Willoh merited two trips to the podi·
urn. Willoh made his mark with a
third place in Friday's 125cc main
and a second-place showing in Saturday's 125cc main. Because of
Willoh's consistent riding this season,
he will carry the number-three plate
next year. In the meantime, he'll find
ways to spend his $10,000 from the
championship purse.
Charlie Bogard was also a big winner on the weekend. The St. Louis
Powersports/MSR/Dunlop-backed
racer just missed the podium in Fri-
By
JOHN SILVA
PHOTOS BY KINNEY JONES
RENO,NV, MAR. 31·APR. 1
elieve it or not, Buddy Antunez
came real close to not winning this
year's National Arenacross Championship. Hard to believe because'he
had such a huge lead in the point
standings going into the final
round(s), but had Antunez cased a
triple jump on Friday, instead of on
Saturday like he did, things might
have changed drastically.
A healthy Antunez came into the
Reno Livestock Center for the final
round of the Wrenchead.com National Arenacross Series looking to wrap
up his fourth Arenacross title, and he
got just that after winning the first
main event of the night on Friday,
and he went on to place second in the
250cc main. The following day, while
practicing for Saturday evening's
races, Antunez came up short over a
risky triple jump and badly tweaked
his ankle. It was so sore that Antunez
had to reluctantly withdraw from the
night's program. Had this happened on
B
32
APRIL 19, 2000'
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After clinching the title the night before, Antunez was knocked out of Saturday
night's racing when he cased this triple jump during practice and injured his ankle.
