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Arrowhead Motor Speedway
Orange Show Pavilion
San Bernardino, California
2002 Week Eleven
Arrowhead Speedway
June 26, 2002
From Ryan Evans
Josh Larsen single-handedly ended Scott Brant's seven-week main event victory streak by capturing the Handicap Main and Scratch Main at Arrowhead Motor Speedway in San Bernardino Wednesday.
Rudy Laurer, in his first Handicap Main Event of the year, took the lead at the start. Larsen, Brant, and Eddie Castro started from the 50 and the rider who could get to turn one first would have the best chance at winning. That rider was Brant, who got to turn one first, just ahead of Larsen. Laurer held off John DeFries for the lead for a lap and a half, but the back yardage riders were already on their back tires. Brant decided to attack Laurer and DeFries from the outside, while Larsen remained low. DeFries took the lead, but it held it ever so briefly as Larsen swept by on the inside. Brant was able to gain second, but had to chase Larsen for four laps to try to get the lead. Brant applied the pressure, first on the outside, and then on the inside, but Larsen wasn't fazed as he held off all of Brant's challenges and won his first Handicap Main Event of 2002. Castro finished third, DeFries was fourth, Bobby "Boogaloo" Schwartz was fifth, and Laurer was sixth.
The Scratch Main Event would be one last opportunity for Brant to extend his winning streak to seven. Larsen had other plans, however. Already with one main event victory in his pocket, he was certainly hungry for another. Larsen started from the pole, Castro was in gate two, Brant was in three, and Shawn McConnell was on the outside. Larsen, Castro, and Brant entered turn one evenly, but Larsen's inside position put him on the best line and he blasted into the lead on the back straight. Castro pressured Larsen from the inside, while Brant tried up high for two laps. Neither rider was able to make Larsen flinch as he opened up ground on them. Larsen cruised all the way to the checkered flag to complete his double main event victory, the first time that has happened at Arrowhead in 2002. Castro was second, Brant was third, and McConnell finished fourth.
The Total Image Challenge Race made its debut at Arrowhead and the competitors were Larsen, McConnell, Brant, and Castro. All four riders entered turn one together and stayed in a tight pack throughout the one lap race, but it was Brant who was eliminated first. The second race began with all three riders in a tight bunch, but McConnell ended up third and had to head to the infield. The final match proved to be a classic as Larsen and Castro diced for two laps. Larsen down low and Castro on the outside. They were side-by-side the entire way, but Castro inched ahead to take the win and hand Larsen his only defeat of the evening. The crowd went crazy and gave the pair a much-deserved standing ovation.
Scott Tidwell jumped to the early lead ahead of Rohn Zellner in the Second Division Main Event. Tidwell opened up ground on Zellner, who eventually succumbed to Hideaki Ota. Ota, who won last week's main event, set his sights on Tidwell. Tidwell was not going to be denied, however, and never allowed Ota to seriously challenge him. Tidwell went to win his first main of 2002, Ota finished second, Zellner was third, Eloy Medellin finished fourth, Rick Valdez was fifth, and Billy Braden finished sixth.
Rusty Hall took the lead at the start of the Second Division B Main Event. Hall was pressured for three laps, but looked as thought he would hold off all of the challengers. Things changed after Hall took the white flag as he left room for Neil Facchini on the inside. Facchini took advantage and went into the lead. Geoff Herkner also passed Hall and made a bid for Facchini's lead in the last corner. Facchini wasn't going to let his hard-earned lead slip away, though, and he took the checkered flag first, Herkner had to settle for second, Hall was third, Jeffrey Badders finished fourth, Steve Nelson was fifth, and Kevin Templeton was sixth.
Next week will bring three visitors to Arrowhead Motor Speedway. Chris Manchester will make his second appearance of the season. Along with Manchester will be one of the original San Bernardino track's all-time fan favorites, three-time National Champion "Flyin'" Mike Faria. Faria will be making his debut at the track, which opened in 2001. Joining Manchester and Faria next week will be 2001 Arrowhead Season and Track Champion Ryan Fisher, who will be returning from England. Fisher currently rides for the Coventry Bees in the British Elite League and will be competing in the World Under 21 Semifinals next month.
RESULTS
Second Division B Consolation
350 - Kodiak Calkin 0
244 - DeWayne Stark 0
222 - Tim Marsh 0 (fell)
212 - Steve Dziadus 0 (non starter)
Second Division B Main Event
201 - Neil Facchini 10
208 - Geoff Herkner 10
164 - Rusty Hall 0
119 - Jeffrey Badders 0
202 - Steve Nelson 10 (fell)
155 - Kevin Templeton 10 (fell)
Second Division Consolation
336 - Bill Green 0
128 - Doug Benjamin 30
165 - Randy Kreps 10
296 - Tom Rossano 0
181 - Michael Novratil 0
103 - Brent Smith 10
147 - Winston Williams 10 (non starter)
Second Division Main Event
118 - Scott Tidwell 0
240 - Hideaki Ota 10
163 - Rohn Zellner 0
178 - Eloy Medellin 10
293 - Rick Valdez 20
117 - Billy Braden 10 (fell, remounted)
Juniors
3 - Justin Boyle 10
10 - Tim Gomez 0
Total Image Challenge Race
14 - Eddie Castro
2 - Josh Larsen
6 - Shawn McConnell
10 - Scott Brant
Handicap Main Event
2 - Josh Larsen 50
10 - Scott Brant 50
14 - Eddie Castro 50
316 - John DeFries 10
11 - Bobby Schwartz 40
182 - Rudy Laurer 0
Scratch Consolation
11 - Bobby Schwartz
24 - Bobby Krips
316 - John DeFries
182 - Rudy Laurer
Scratch Main Event
2 - Josh Larsen
14 - Eddie Castro
10 - Scott Brant
6 - Shawn McConnell
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