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Arrowhead Motor Speedway
Orange Show Pavilion
San Bernardino, California
Total Image Challenge
Arrowhead Speedway
August 7, 2002
From Ryan Evans
Josh Larsen captured the Scratch Main and the Total Image Challenge in convincing fashion at Arrowhead Motor Speedway in San Bernardino Wednesday night.
Larsen drew the pole for the Scratch Main Event. Alongside Larsen was 1999 Junior National Champion Eric Carrillo in gate two, Scott Brant in three, and Eddie Castro was lined up on the outside. Brant's race ended when the tapes went up as he suffered an engine failure at the line. Larsen was first into turn one, but Castro was making a run on the outside on the back straight. Larsen took the high line away from Castro as they entered turn three which temporarily slowed the diminutive rider. Larsen found the necessary traction and opened a sizable lead. Castro tried inside and outside but couldn't get close as Larsen captured his third Arrowhead Scratch Main of the season. Castro was second, Carrillo finished third, and Brant was credited with fourth.
The Handicap Main was a five-rider affair after Randy DiFrancesco was forced to withdraw after suffering an engine failure on one bike and bending another. Three of California's youngest and brightest lined up on the 20 yard line while two of it's wily veterans were lined up on the 50. 2000 Junior National Champion Bryan Yarrow beat Carrillo and Shaun Harmatiuk to turn one and assumed the lead while Brant got a better start than Larsen and would lead the charge from the back. Yarrow quickly opened ground on his teenage peers, but Brant was making a frantic assault around the outside and had second place on the third lap. Brant quickly caught Yarrow, but he wasn't going to simply hand over the lead. Yarrow rode a wide race track and held off Brant for two laps, but Brant didn't give up. Brant went to the outside as they took the white flag and made completed his pass as they exited turn two. Brant then dropped to the low line entering turn three to secure his hold of the lead and then held off Yarrow for the victory. Carrillo finished third, Larsen was fourth, Harmatiuk was fifth, and DiFrancesco was credited with sixth.
The Total Image Challenge featured Larsen, Bobby Schwartz, Randy DiFrancesco, and Shaun Harmatiuk, who replaced Gary Hicks after the latter suffered an engine failure. Harmatiuk was the first rider eliminated, and then Schwartz was next. This left Larsen and DiFrancesco and when the tapes went up Larsen exploded into the lead. DiFrancesco tried valiantly, but Larsen pulled away to win the two-lap race.
Neil Facchini has led several Second Division Main Events in the past month only to have it slip away. Facchini finally changed that as he rode a solid five laps to win the main, but it was very close. Matt Browne weaved through the field from the 30 yard line and made a run at Facchini coming off the final corner. It was so close neither rider was sure who had won, but Facchini crossed the line first. Rod Lenz finished third, Rick Valdez was fourth, Rudy Laurer finished fifth, and Billy Braden was sixth.
The Second Division B Main Event began with Rusty Hall in the lead. Hall held the lead for two laps, but his racing line was getting wider with each turn. On the back straight on lap three Steve Nelson made him pay as he shot underneath for the lead. Nelson rode the final lap and a half flawlessly as he went on to win his second main event of 2002. Michael Novratil was second, Hall finished third, DeWayne Stark was fourth, Steve Dziadus finished fifth, and Geoff Herkner was sixth.
In Junior action Mark Carrillo traveled from Northern California and took the trophy back home as he dominated the main event. Third generation speedway racer Dario Galvin, who is showing tremendous improvement each week, finished second, Miles Calvin was third, Krystal Cramer was fourth, and Logan Calvin was fifth.
Next week marks the biggest event in the short history of Arrowhead Motor Speedway. It will be Round One of the AMA U.S. National Championship Series with 22 of America's best riders in the field. Current National and 1996 World Champion Billy Hamill, 1997 World and 3-time National Champion Greg Hancock, Ryan Fisher, and Billy Janniro will be flying from Europe to compete. Representing the domestic riders are current SRA and 2-time National Champion Chris Manchester, 3-time National Champion Mike Faria, 2-time National Champion Bobby Schwartz, former National Champion Bart Bast, Arrowhead Points Leader Scott Brant, Costa Mesa Points Leader Josh Larsen, Eddie Castro, Gary Hicks, Bobby Hedden, and Eric Carrillo. There will also be 8 riders attempting to qualify for the final two spots in the field. The qualifying races start at 7:15, the riders' parade will be at 7:45, and the first race is at 8:00.
RESULTS
Second Division B Main Event
202 - Steve Nelson 10
181 - Michael Novratil 10
164 - Rusty Hall 0
244 - DeWayne Stark 0
212 - Steve Dziadus 0
208 - Geoff Herkner 10 (fell, remounted)
Second Division Consolation
338 - Dave Delbridge 20
126 - Doug Lupo 0
118 - Scott Tidwell 10 (non starter)
174 - Tomasz Hampel 10 (non starter)
Second Division Consolation
214 - Steve Murray 10
123 - Chad Newlee 30
165 - Randy Kreps 10
336 - Bill Green 20
178 - Eloy Medellin 10 (penalty line)
128 - Doug Benjamin 30 (non starter)
Second Division Main Event
201 - Neil Facchini 0
211n - Matt Browne 30
196 - Rod Lenz 10
293 - Rick Valdez 20
182 - Rudy Laurer 30
117 - Billy Braden 20 (retired)
Junior Main Event
24n - Mark Carrillo
5 - Dario Galvin
99 - Miles Calvin
27 - Krystal Cramer
- Logan Calvin
Total Image Challenge
2 - Josh Larsen
12 - Randy DiFrancesco
11 - Bobby Schwartz
139 - Shaun Harmatiuk
Handicap Main Event
10 - Scott Brant 50
8n - Bryan Yarrow 20
75n - Eric Carrillo 20
2 - Josh Larsen 50
139 - Shaun Harmatiuk 20
12 - Randy DiFrancesco 30 (non starter)
Scratch Consolation
139 - Shaun Harmatiuk
27n - Chris Kerr (fell)
12 - Randy DiFrancesco (non starter)
3 - Gary Hicks (non starter)
Scratch Main Event
2 - Josh Larsen
14 - Eddie Castro
75n - Eric Carrillo
10 - Scott Brant (engine failure)
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