Costa Mesa Speedway
Orange County Fairgrounds - Costa Mesa, CA

2000 Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa Speedway
June 17, 2000
From Ryan Evans

Andy "The Enforcer" Northrup stopped Charlie Venegas' winning streak at three with a hard earned Scratch Main Event victory at Costa Mesa. Northrup and Venegas were lined up in gates three and four, respectively, and it was "The Edge" who was first to turn one. Venegas couldn't stay on the inside groove and when he drifted wide Northrup used the low line to take the lead. Venegas battled valiantly on the outside for a lap but couldn't find the grip necessary to regain the lead. This allowed the rest of the field to pass Venegas as well. Dukie Ermolenko tried in vain to catch Northrup, but the man who is a police officer by day, stretched his lead all the way to the checkered flag. Shawn McConnell finished third, Chris Manchester finished fourth, and Venegas finished fifth.

The Handicap Main featured all back yardage riders as there were two riders on the 40 yard line, three on the 50, and three on the 60. Jim Estes beat Manchester off the 40 yard line and led into turn one followed by Northrup from the 50, and Venegas from the 60, but the referee determined that Venegas had too good of a start and ordered a restart with Venegas lining up on the 80 yard line. This time it was Manchester who led the field into turn one with Estes in tow. Manchester quickly opened up ground on Estes because Estes was busy fighting off the very determined Northrup who was seeking a double main event victory. Estes withstood the challenge for 4 laps but as he entered turn three Northrup bumped him off the line and took over second in a move that should've brought out a red, but the referee allowed the race to continue. McConnell capitalized and took over second, but he wasn't going to catch Manchester who was long gone and looking very much like the former Overseas Champion that fans remember. "Fast" Eddie Castro finished third, Randy DiFrancesco finished fourth, and Estes finished fifth.

Randy Skinner made an auspicious return to action by capturing the Support Main Event. Skinner, who has missed the first two months of the season because of an off-season injury, didn't show any signs of rust with a smooth performance to win the main. Paul Hitchcock was second, Sean Larned was third, and Danny Holt was fourth.

The Support B Main Event was undoubtedly the most action-packed race of the evening with several lead changes, none of which due to a rider falling, and passing throughout the field. The last two laps saw first-year rider Randy Kreps, Johnny Lupo, and longtime veteran Bill Green swap the lead several times. Green led as they went into turn three the final time but drifted wide. Kreps and Lupo made the same mistake and as the trio exited the turn a three-man drag race saw Green come out victorious by inches. Lupo was credited with second and Kreps with third.

The Support B Consolation had one of the wildest and scariest crashes seen at the legendary Costa Mesa oval. When the riders entered turn one Eloy Medellin fell down and Ed Martinez was left with absolutely nowhere to go. Martinez used the prone Medellin as a ramp and jumped several feet into the air and straight toward the turn two wall. Fortunately, Martinez was able to get the bike down and avoid a disaster. Martinez was down for several minutes but got up on his own and participated in the restart.

Crystal Kramer continued to show her fellow juniors that she was one lady who will not be messed with as she rode to victory in both Junior heats. In the second heat, Skyler Greyson put up a challenge, but Kramer held him back to secure the victory.

This coming week features two races on the Southern California speedway schedule as the riders return to the Ventura Raceway Friday Night. "The Commotion by the Ocean" is a 1/5-mile banked oval that will provide exciting, high-speed racing. That is followed by the annual 25-lap main event at Costa Mesa on Saturday Night.

RESULTS

Support B Consolation
198 - Mike Boyle 20
153 - Craig Muzio 10
269 - Ed Martinez 20
178 - Eloy Medellin 20
147 - Winston Williams 20
160 - Jeremy Toepfer 10

Support B Main
336 - Bill Green 20
125 - Johnny Lupo 20
165 - Randy Kreps 10
211 - Doug Lupo 20
107 - Monte McKeon 10
168 - Howard Larson 10

Support Main
383 - Randy Skinner 
114 - Paul Hitchcock
226 - Sean Larned
220 - Danny Holt

Junior Heat #1
 27 - Krystal Cramer
  2 - Skyler Greyson
 99 - Miles Calvin
198 - Justin Boyle (fell)

Junior Heat #2
 27 - Krystal Cramer
  2 - Skyler Greyson
 99 - Miles Calvin
198 - Justin Boyle (non-starter)

Handicap Main
130 - Chris Manchester 40
  6 - Shawn McConnell 60
 14 - Eddie Castro 50
 12 - Randy DiFrancesco 50
 56 - Jim Estes 40
 11 - Bobby Schwartz 60
166 - Andy Northrup 50
 43 - Charlie Venegas 60 (penalty line) (retired)

Scratch Main
166 - Andy Northrup
 15 - Dukie Ermolenko
  6 - Shawn McConnell
130 - Chris Manchester
 43 - Charlie Venegas