By: Ryan Evans
Josh Larsen ran away from the field and captured the Scratch Main Event at Costa Mesa Saturday Night.
Jim Estes, who transferred to the Scratch Main after an impressive Last Chance victory, was first to turn one but Larsen went under Estes on the back straight. Eddie Castro went past Estes in turn three and chased after Larsen. Larsen was not going to be caught, however, and his lead got bigger with each lap. Ryan Fisher passed Castro for second, but had no chance to catch the former World Finalist who took the victory. Fisher was second, Castro finished third, Brad Oxley was fourth, and Estes was fifth.
Kitt Nay's 20 yard handicap placed him at the front of the eight-man Handicap Main Event. Nay was bidding for his third Handicap Main Event of the year, but Estes ended his hopes on the third lap when he went under the 20 year old as they entered turn one. Nay didn't go away easily, as he and Estes were next to each other when they entered turn three when the two riders, along with Shawn McConnell, made contact and forced all three to go down. The five other riders all laid their machines down in manner that made the whole incident look like a predetermined synchronized display. The crowd gave the riders a standing ovation.
Nay was deemed the cause and would start at the back on the restart. Estes started at the front and the race would restart with six laps remaining. Estes calmly rode a smooth race and was well on his way to his second Handicap Main victory in three weeks when his engine packed up on the seventh lap and forced him to slide off in turn one. McConnell didn't squander the chance as he took the lead and went to take the win. Scott Brant, last week's Handicap Main Event winner, was second, Fisher was third, Castro was fourth, and Larsen was fifth.
Sean McDougall made a great trap from the gate five to take the early lead in the Support Main Event. McDougall rode a very smooth five laps to earn his third Support Main Event victory of the year. Rudy Laurer finished second, Mark Hitchcock was third, John Stunkard was fourth, and Randy Kreps was fifth.
Wesley Mounts was the first rider into turn one in the Support B Main Event, but had to contend with Shane Kump who tried to make the pass on the outside. Kump took the lead at the end of the first lap and opened up some breathing room on Mounts. Rohn Zellner passed Mounts for second, but wasn't able to challenge for the lead as Kump ran away with the victory. Mounts finished third, Michael Novratil was fourth, Todd Brown was fifth, and Doug Benjamin, last week's winner, was sixth.
RESULTS Support B Main Event 228 - Shane Kump 10 163 - Rohn Zellner 20 145 - Wesley Mounts 10 181 - Michael Novratil 10 211 - Todd Brown 10 (penalty line) 128 - Doug Benjamin 20 (fell, remounted) Support Consolation 118 - Scott Tidwell 0 338 - Dave Delbridge 10 196 - Rod Lenz 10 148 - Chris Metoyer 10 296 - Tom Rossano 0 269 - Ed Martinez 10 293 - Rick Valdez 0 (fell, excluded) Support Last Chance 182 - Rudy Laurer 106 - Robert Fiesler 117 - Billy Braden (penalty line) 178 - Eloy Medellin (fell) Support Main Event 243 - Sean McDougall 182 - Rudy Laurer 177 - Mark Hitchcock 249 - John Stunkard 165 - Randy Kreps Handicap Main Event 6 - Shawn McConnell 40 10 - Scott Brant 40 36 - Ryan Fisher 50 14 - Eddie Castro 40 4 - Josh Larsen 50 15 - Dukie Ermolenko 40 216 - Kitt Nay 20 56 - Jim Estes 30 (engine failure) Last Chance Race 56 - Jim Estes 10 - Scott Brant 6 - Shawn McConnell 15 - Dukie Ermolenko Scratch Main Event 4 - Josh Larsen 36 - Ryan Fisher 14 - Eddie Castro 5 - Brad Oxley 56 - Jim Estes
