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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1508846
Ruml Defends Speedway Title "M ad" Max Ruml was victorious in an action- packed main event and success- fully defended his SRA United States National Championship at the world-famous Costa Mesa Speedway, September 29. Ruml had the first choice of starting position for the Na- tional Championship Final. He pondered over gates one, two and four before settling on gate one. Six-time SRA U.S. National Champion Billy "The Kid" Jan- niro, seeking to tie the legendary Mike Bast with a seventh title, quickly selected gate four. 2017 SRA National Champion Broc Nicol picked gate three, and that left 18-year-old Slater Lightcap with gate two. Ruml and Janniro entered turn one together, with Janniro going to the outside dirt Ruml hug- ging the inside pole, and Nicol searching for a path between them. Ruml and Janniro were even when they exited turn two, but Janniro surged ahead and dropped in front of Ruml entering turn three. His momentum car- ried him a little wide through turn four. Janniro led at the end of lap one, but Ruml had more traction and charged up the inside enter- ing the first corner, but all four racers were in tight formation. He bumped into Janniro, and both racers lost a little traction. This allowed Nicol to make an outside run much like when he won his title six years ago. Ruml took the lead entering turn three; his focus on Janniro allowed Lightcap to sneak up the inside, and they were three-wide at the end of the second lap with Nicol still within striking distance. Ruml assertively cut down in front of Lightcap to take control by mere inches. Janniro straight- ened, went wide, and effectively ended his and Nicol's chances to win the title, but they continued to battle for third. Ruml separated himself from the pack on the back straight and was comfortably ahead as he took the white flag. Janniro and Nicol tangled en- tering turn one with Nicol going down. Ruml calmly completed the final lap and was first to the checkered flag. Lightcap was thrilled with his second place and the best night of his young career. Janniro crossed the finish line third, but the referee ruled that he had caused the final-lap crash and awarded third to Nicol. Ruml's victory makes him the ninth different racer to win consecutive titles in the 53-year history of SRA National Champi- onships. Ryan Evans Final 1. Max Ruml 2. Slater Lightcap 3. Broc Nicol 4. Billy Janniro WIND IN THE P48 Max Ruml successfully defended the AMA Speedway National Championship.