Champion - Owego, New York, USA - May 24, 2008

It was a great opening night at Champion, good weather, very good crowd, good racing. Tuff McBride went undefeated until the main event when Aaron Hesmer stepped up his game and made a great start from the outside to take home his first Scratch Main ever at Champion.

The event was also in honor of one of Hesmer's friend's, the late Patrick Ahlund, so it was a nice ending for Aaron to take the win. Patrick was a speedway racer originally from Sweden who had moved to Canada and was very helpful to many fellow riders. He was tragically killed in a car accident several years ago while in Sweden to watch speedway. Hesmer actually worked hard for the win as he had to come through the last chance after losing his semi.

The racing was quite good and will only get better seeing as how riders like Len McBride, Warren Diem, Gene Bonsignore, Josh Carr, Mike Buman and Jesse Diem were not racing and most of them should be over the next few weeks. Crowd favorite, "Dangerous" Dan Harbst should also be back next Saturday. Action Park also went over very well until rain hit halfway through the program. McBride, Hesmer and Mittl had won the D-1 heat run up to that stage.

Main
1. Hesmer
2. McBride
3. Mittl
4. Harman
5. Donholt

Support A was won by Ray Barondick which was great to see him have a successful return from injury. "Jammin" Jeff Garlinghouse also put in a strong performance. Cole Farwell put in what may have been the most exciting ride of the night in the final as he rode on the edge of death for 4 laps before bouncing off the wall spectacularly and ending his night.

Support B was won by "Rocket" Robin Wilt from PA.

Zach Peters won the junior speedway.

Next event is this coming Saturday at Champion.

Eastern Speedway Promotion