By: Ryan Evans
Scott Brant took home all the gold as he won both main events at Costa Mesa for the second time this season.
It didn't appear as though Brant would win both main events because the first attempt to run the Scratch Main Event found Mike Faria at the front and in control when Eddie Castro lifted in turn two and stepped off the back of his bike, which ended up hitting the fall at high speed. Castro was put on the penalty line for the restart.
On the restart, Brant launched from the pole position and found traction all the way to turn one. Brant took the lead and Josh Larsen blasted under Faria to take second behind Brant. Brant maintained a safe cushion in front of Larsen until they took the white flag and Larsen began to close. Larsen couldn't get close enough, though, and Brant took the checkered flag. Faria finished third, Bobby "Boogaloo" Schwartz was fourth, and Castro was fifth.
Shaun Harmatiuk's 10 yard handicap placed him at the head of the field in the Handicap Main Event. Harmatiuk held the lead, but Randy DiFrancesco was closing fast when he experienced a problem entering turn three on the third lap. This handed second to Brant who began his own pursuit of Harmatiuk. Harmatiuk went very wide into turn three the next lap and by the time he recovered, Brant had taken the lead and several more riders went by. Brant opened up a big lead and cruised the rest of the way for the win. Shawn McConnell was second, Larsen finished third, Andy Northrup was fourth, and Faria was fifth.
After finishing an uncharacteristic fourth last week, David Lynch found his winning form and won his sixth Support Main Event of 2002. John Stunkard, who's battling Lynch for the season points championship, finished second, Billy Braden was third, Rick Valdez finished fourth, and Philip Williams was fifth.
Mark Baldwin piloted his two-valve Jawa to the victory in the Support B Main Event. Rusty Hall finished second, Steve Dziadus was third, Kim Stevens finished fourth, and Mark Robertson was fifth.
Racing to Costa Mesa for the first time this season was 2000 National Champion Charlie "The Edge" Venegas. Venegas suffered a mechanical problem in his Handicap Heat, but transferred out of his Scratch Heat, then finished fourth in the semi and third in the Last Chance. Venegas has only competed a handful of times since breaking his leg in an ice race in January 2001. He re-injured the leg last September while leading a Scratch Main at Costa Mesa.
The evening featured the popular Harley Races which provided extra entertainment for the large crowd. There will not be racing at Costa Mesa next week due to the Labor Day Holiday, but speedway returns on September 7 with Fan Appreciation Night.
RESULTS Support B Last Chance 115 - Mark Baldwin 228 - Shane Kump 102 - Jim Lavender 169 - Dan Wensloff Support B Main Event 115 - Mark Baldwin 164 - Rusty Hall 212 - Steve Dziadus 197 - Kim Stevens 227 - Mark Robertson Support Consolation 133 - Craig Collier 103 - Brent Smith Support Consolation 338 - Dave Delbridge 165 - Randy Kreps 163 - Rohn Zellner 178 - Eloy Medellin Support Consolation 182 - Rudy Laurer 118 - Scott Tidwell 112 - Bryan Baichtal 161 - Hector Quevedo Support Last Chance 117 - Billy Braden 148 - Chris Metoyer 106 - Robert Fiesler 180 - Malcolm Roe (fell) Support Main Event 131 - David Lynch 249 - John Stunkard 117 - Billy Braden 293 - Rick Valdez 239 - Philip Williams Handicap Main Event 10 - Scott Brant 40 6 - Shawn McConnell 40 2 - Josh Larsen 50 166 - Andy Northrup 30 9 - Mike Faria 50 14 - Eddie Castro 40 139 - Shaun Harmatiuk 10 12 - Randy DiFrancesco 30 Last Chance 2 - Josh Larsen 166 - Andy Northrup 43 - Charlie Venegas 6 - Shawn McConnell Scratch Main Event (restarted) 10 - Scott Brant 2 - Josh Larsen 9 - Mike Faria 11 - Bobby Schwartz 14 - Eddie Castro (penalty line)
