Inland Motor Speedway
National Orange Show
San Bernardino, California

Speedway Billy Huspek Night
September 9, 2011
By: Ryan Evans
Photos by: Dorcey Wingo

Inland Motorcycle Speedway hosted the 2011 Speedway Billy Huspek Night and posters of our former wheelchair pilot were strategically placed around the venue. Billy was SoCal Speedways' No. 1 Fan!	IMS was honored to have The Most Decorated Speedway Champion of All Time, Mr. Ivan Mauger with us. Announcer Bruce Flanders asked Ivan some of the best questions during this chat, and over the PA system during Halftime, as well.	The only mud puddle at IMS, and wouldn't you know it? "If you build it, they will come."
During halftime's track maintenance, IMS was treated to a splendid question-and-answer session between two Greats: Ivan Mauger and Bruce Flanders!	First Div. Last Chance: Buck Blair takes his first ride at IMS this year to the Main Event, getting the drop on #321 Russell Green in four, #141 Josh Abbott in two, and #63 Michael Raines on the pole.	Main Event: #25 Jimmy Fishback drops the hammer from the pole, but he had to take the outside line to fly by the very quick #39 Buck Blair to win it. That was some great racing, guys and gals. Thank you!

2011 Speedway Billy Night - San Bernardino, CA, USA - September 9, 2011

Defending Western States Champion Jimmy "Little Animal" Fishback took home the main event victory on an action-packed Speedway Billy Night at Inland Motorcycle Speedway in San Bernardino.

Fishback and Colorado native "Battling" Buck Blair started evenly and entered turn one together. Blair found more traction on the ample cushion and went around Fishback for the lead as they entered turn three. Fishback tried to charge back underneath Blair on the front straight, but found his path cut off as they entered turn one the second time and he bumped into the leader. Blair maintained the lead through lap two but Fishback switched his attack to the outside line as they entered turn one. Fishback turned the table on Blair by passing him on the outside on the back straight. Fishback remained on the wide line throughout the race and Blair had no answer for him. Fishback was first to the checkered flag, Blair settled for second, "Fast" Eddie Castro finished third, Shawn "Mad Dog" McConnell was fourth, and Steve Russell finished fifth.

Fishback kicked off the evening with a win over Blair in the first heat. McConnell beat Josh Abbott for his first victory in the next heat. Michael Raines led event 13 for a lap before Castro passed him for the lead and the win. Blair trapped from gate five and held off Fishback to win event 14. Fishback beat Russell in event 23 for his second victory. Raines beat Castro in the final heat.

McConnell made the best start in the first semi and led the entire way with Castro in tow for the victory. Fishback won the second semi and Russell used a savvy cutback move in the first corner to get second and the other transfer into the main. Blair won the Last Chance to book the final spot in the main event field.

Mike Salyer led the Second Division Main Event into turn one but Mike Fuson slipped by on the inside to take the lead on the back straight. Troy McConnell got through traffic and hunted down Fuson. McConnell tried high and low but couldn't find a way past the leader. Fuson held on for the win, McConnell was second, Chris Jones finished third, and Salyer was fourth.

Steve "Beach Ball" Brown charged past Rick Huspek entering turn one to grab the lead in the Third Division Main Event. Kevin Fife weaved through the field and found himself behind Brown on lap three. Fife chased down the leader and took the lead the final time the exited turn two. Fife led the rest of the way for the victory. Brown held on to second, Kip McClain finished third, Dan Eddy was fourth, and Huspek finished fifth.

Braydan Galvin used the outside brilliantly in turn one to take the lead in the Youth Main Event. Galvin put together four smooth laps and was never challenged en route to the victory. Dalton Leedy finished second, Sebastian Palmese was third, and Maverick Molloy finished fourth.

Alyssa Smith led the Pee Wee Main Event until Jimmy Fishback IV passed her at the end of lap one. Sara Cords chased down the leader and made her move coming off the final corner. Cords narrowly defeated Fishback for the win as both riders received a loud ovation from the crowd. Dakota Shockley finished third, Smith was fourth, Luke Whitcomb finished fifth, and Mikey Ortega was sixth.

The Speedway Billy Memorial honors "Speedway Billy" Huspek a long-time dedicated speedway fan who was a fixture at Southern California speedway events and had become very popular with the competitors. Huspek passed away two years ago and has been honored at IMS the past three seasons.

RESULTS

Pee Wee Main Event
14 - Sara Cords
275 - Jimmy Fishback IV
34 - Dakota Shockley
31 - Alyssa Smith
27 - Luke Whitcomb
000 - Mikey Ortega

Youth Main Event
45 - Braydan Galvin
222 - Dalton Leedy
18 - Sebastian Palmese
34 - Maverick Molloy

Third Division Main Event
311 - Kevin Fife 30
211 - Steve Brown 10
316 - Kip McClain 30
349 - Dan Eddy30
226 - Rick Huspek 0

Second Division Main Event (restarted)
245 - Mike Fuson 10
114 - Troy McConnell 30
116 - Chris Jones 20
333 - Mike Salyer 0

First Division Heat Scoring123T
6 – Shawn McConnell 4FxF4
9 – Mike Faria 1R R 1
14 – Eddie Castro 2439
23 – Steve Russell F134
25 – Jimmy Fishback 43411
39 – Buck Blair 3418
41 – John Marquez F112
63 – Michael Raines 2248
141 – Josh Abbott 3227
321 – Russell Green 1326

Race Results
3: Fishback, Blair, Castro, Green (fell, remounted), Marquez (fell)
4: McConnell, Abbott, Raines, Faria, Russell
13: Casttro, Green, Raines, Russell, McConnell (fell, excluded)
14: Blair, Fishback, Abbott, Marquez, Faria (retired)
23: Fishback, Russell, Green, Marquez, McConnell (fell, remounted)
24: Raines, Castro (tape penalty), Abbott, Blair, Faria (retired)
Semi #1: McConnell, Castro, Green, Blair
Semi #2: Fishback, Russell, Abbott, Raines

First Division Last Chance
39 - Buck Blair
321 - Russell Green
141 - Josh Abbott
63 - Michael Raines (retired)

Speedway Billy Main Event
25 - Jimmy Fishback
39 - Buck Blair
14 - Eddie Castro
6 - Shawn McConnell
23 - Steve Russell