By Marty Kelly
Owego, NY, June 19, Year?
Rodney Payne is quickly and not so quietly becoming a legend in speedway circles around these parts. His double win in Sunday night's Champion Speedway regular speedway show only added to his aura.
For Payne the season has been a breeze. He's now won two "doubles" at Champion and one more sweep of the Handicap and Scratch main events will allow Payne to tie Norm Robinson for double wins in a season. Robinson tripled on successive weekends last year in an unparalleled stretch of speedway riding brilliance.
But look out for Payne ! "I just come to ride" says the soft spoken 19 year old. "when I am out there I don't look over my shoulder. I don't hot dog it. I just go." And does he ever.
Payne bested Mark Pleu in winning the Handicap main as Pleu turned in his best performance in two years.
In the Division 1 main it was a dogfight between the experienced Norm Robinson, the captain of the Rochester Racing Team which suffered through two straight losses to Payne's Owego Team in eight days, couldn't get even in the four lap final. Rocket Rodney burst past Robinson on the slight Champion straightaway on the second lap and that was it. And Robinson knew it.
For promoters Jack Crawford and Joe Beesecker, it was a record night. Over 37 riders signed in for the program, the heaviest field ever for Championship Speedway.
Results:
Handicap: Rodney Payne, Mark Pleu, Norm Robinson,
Jonny Leahle, Mike Lauterborn, Ivan Blacks.
Division 1: Rodney Payne, Norm Robinson, Hank Bassett, Gene Bonsignore.
Division II: Gary Ford, Bob Haskell, Ken Weiss, Dave Richards.
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