 |
|---|
| American Speedway | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Perris RacewayPerris, CaliforniaSalute to America Night MAX RUML DOES THE DOUBLE AS PERRIS SPEEDWAY SALUTES AMERICA! Former Team USA World Cup star Max Ruml took the honors for the second event in a row in the ‘Salute to America Night’ at Perris Raceway on 19th September. The Division 1 program had 13 entrants, each competing in three heats to transfer 8 of the field to sudden death semi finals. Max was the second highest scorer with 11 points, being defeated by the unbeaten Gino Manzares in round 2. Dillon Ruml qualified third with 10 points, with 4th being a tie between 61 year old veteran Eddie Castro and 16 year old rookie Kyle Cunningham. Bike trouble held Austin Novratil to 8 points, with two wins and a pre start mechanical failure. The final two qualifiers were 20 year old rookie Rheten Todd and youngster Michael Wells. Semi 1 was truly a moment to savor where the veteran Castro got a superb start and held off Manzares for 4 laps. Manzares was gracious in defeat, punching the air in awe of the superb ride of his rival. Semi Final two had three of the big guns drawn together, with the Ruml brothers and Novratil joined by Todd. Max got the gate from his brother which mean ‘Showtime’ was on with the thrill merchant Novratil having to do it hard way. On lap two Novratil went too wide going into Turn 1 in pursuit of Dillon, with a spectacular tumble ending his challenge. Though he got up and walked away the fall ended Novratil’s evening with the Ruml’s cruising into the final. Max was first out of the gate in the Main event but Manzares was initially hot on his tail and looking for the outside line. After a couple of close laps the older Ruml brother eased away to cruise to the win. Dillon Ruml was third and Castro fourth. Max Ruml and Manzares met once more in the Inaugural ‘Red White and Blue Match Race Challenge. The riders were racing for the trophy of a helmet in the colors of the American Flag. In the best of three two lap challenge Ruml out gated Manzares twice and held off the challenge for his rival. Ruml returns to defend the helmet in October with Manzares, as the runner up in the Main, earning a rematch. Aside from Division 1, there was plenty of other action. 11 Sidecars came out to race in the National Points final, the only event of about 30 scheduled points races to survive the pandemic. Both the #1 team of Joe Jones & Josh Flammia and the 64 team of Dillon Osborne and Jamie Morabito were unbeaten in three rounds of heats. Other heat winners were Kevin Kale / Tracey Gallagher, Bryan Motis / Gino Manzares and Lawrence McNutt / Sammy Tetrault. The top 4 in points went to a Main event that would likely decide the #1 team for 2021. The multi champion Jones and Flammia got the best start but a superb charge out of turn 2 saw Osborne and Morabito drive into first place. The champions fought back hard but could not get close enough to attempt a pass, so new champions were crowned in Osborne and Morabito. Motis and Manzares came home in third. Division 2 featured 10 entries, with each getting two heats leading to an A Main or B Main. A few of the Division 1 rookies were doubling up to assist their transition. Rheten Todd won two heats, with his brother Rees winning one and veteran Rudy Laurer taking another. The Main event saw a superb start from the 63 year old Laurer to take a very popular victory. Hayley Perrault won the B Main. Brent Smith won both Division Three heats but David Newsham won the Main event. Five riders entered the growing Vintage / Upright class. Mike Lupo won both heats from the 40 yard line but could not get by Don Nemarnik who won the Main event from the 0. Levi Leutz took a clean sweep in the 150cc Mini Speedway Class. Slater Lightcap won both 250cc Junior Heats but Alex Martin won the Main. Asa Gonzalez from Northern California swept the Pee Wee Class. Richard Pollack won all three Hooligan races. Alex Martin was the winner of the 150cc Mini Bike TT track class, the 125cc group was won by Adam Johnson, Colt Foster was the winner of the Open Flat Track class in a packed 14 rider Main event. This was the third annual Salute to America event which is held every September as close to 9/11 as possible. At intermission about 25 riders took to the track waving American flags in a patriotic rider parade celebrating America and American Speedway. All Main event winners took their victory lap with the Stars and Stripes Flag. The monthly Perris program continues with the October 24th race which will be a one off event to decide the 2020 Team League Champions. The initial League season was cut short due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Results: Division 1 Main Semi 1: Eddie Castro, Gino Manzares, Michael Wells, Kyle Cunningham Heat Points: Gino Manzares 12, Max Ruml 11, Dillon Ruml 10, Eddie Castro 9, Kyle Cunningham 8, Austin Novratil 8, Michael Wells 6, Rheten Todd 6, Rees Todd 4, Sara Cords 4, Mark Fillebrown 4, Kayle LeoGrande 3, Mike Miller 2. Division 2 Main B Main Division 3 Main Upright / Vintage Main (re run) 150 Mini Speedway Main 250 Junior Speedway Main Sidecar National Points Final Heat Points: Pee Wee Main
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
