Inland Motorcycle Speedway
National Orange Show
San Bernardino, California

Bobby Schwartz Tribute Night
July 31, 2009 - IMS, San Bernardino
By: Ryan Evans

Jimmy “Little Animal” Fishback capped a perfect night by winning the main event on Bobby Schwartz Tribute Night at Inland Motorsport Speedway in San Bernardino.

Fishback started in gate one but saw former National Champion “Flyin” Mike Faria beat him into turn one. Faria led down the back straight but Fishback went by on the inside entering turn three. Fishback controlled the lead at the end of lap one, but Faria was hung out on the outside which allowed Tommy Hedden and Shawn McConnell to get by as well. Fishback was never threatened the rest of the way and completed his evening undefeated. Hedden finished second, McConnell was third, Faria finished fourth, and Shaun Harmatiuk was fifth.

Neil Facchini kicked off the evening with a win over Hedden. Youth National Champion Brad Pappalardo led event two before Eddie Castro used the outside to take the lead and the win. Rick Valdez led for a lap before Fishback went by for the lead and the victory. Shaun Harmatiuk beat John Marquez in event four. Tim Gomez beat Faria to end round one.

Fishback opened round two by beating McConnell. Hedden chased Philip Harmatiuk for two laps before getting by for the win. Tyson Burmeister beat Faria for his first win in event 10. Gomez made it two in a row with a win over Facchini. Bobby Schwartz beat Dukie Ermolenko to end the second round.

Fishback began the third round with his third straight win. Burmeister beat Russell Green for his second straight win. Faria beat Hedden in event 17 for his first win. Facchini held off Schwartz for his second victory. Shaun Harmatiuk beat Ermolenko to end round three.

Fishback started the final round with his fourth consecutive victory. Green beat Marquez in the next heat. Hedden scored his second win in event 24. McConnell beat Josh Abbott for his first win. Faria ended the heats with his second win.

Faria won the first semi with Hedden getting second to transfer to the main event as well. Fishback and McConnell finished one-two in the second semi to transfer to the main. Shaun Harmatiuk won the Last Chance to take the final transfer to the main.

Nicky Reimer was dominated his competition en route to victory in the Youth Main Event. Maxwell Ruml finished second, Jacob Wondolowski was third, Gabe Price finished fourth, and Dillon Ruml was fifth.

Wondolowski was victorious in the First Division Pee Wee Main Event with Reimer getting second and William Ballesteros finishing third.

Tristan Pickard won the Second Division Pee Wee Main Event while Hanna Smith finished second and Jimmy Fishback IV was third.

Bobby Schwartz Tribute Night was dedicated to the legendary racer who has collected many championships in his 37 years of speedway competition. At the top of his accomplishments are two World Best Pairs Championships, two National Championships, and a World Team Cup victory. Schwartz has not only had many accomplishments on the track, but he has provided help and guidance to many of the top American speedway racers. Included in the long list of riders who have benefitted from Schwartz’s help are former World Champions Greg Hancock and Billy Hamill. IMS promoters Jason Bonsignore and McConnell wanted to honor the man who has meant so much to American speedway.

RESULTS      
Second Division Pee Wee Main Event   
31 - Tristan Pickard   
9 - Hanna Smith   
275 - Jimmy Fishback IV      

First Division Pee Wee Main Event (restarted)   
251 - Jacob Wondolowski   
41 - Nicky Reimer   
7 - William Ballasteros 	(retired)   
3 - Nick Varner 		(non starter)      

Youth Main Event   
41 - Nicky Reimer   
356 - Maxwell Ruml   
251 - Jacob Wondolowski   
13 - Gabe Price   
111 - Dillon Ruml      

First Division Scoring		1	2	3	4	T 
6 – Shawn McConnell 2	2	0	3	7   
9 – Mike Faria 2	2	3	3	10   
11 – Bobby Schwartz 1	3	2	1	7   
14 – Eddie Castro 3	2	2	2	9   
15 – Dukie Ermolenko 0	2	2	1	5   
21 – Brad Sauer 2	0	0	1	3   
25 – Jimmy Fishback 3	3	3	3	12   
30 – Tim Gomez 3	 3	1	1	8   
40 – Tommy Hedden 2	3	2	3	10   
41 – John Marquez 2	0	0	2	4   
86 – Neil Facchini 3	2	3	0	8   
139 – Shaun Harmatiuk 3	1	3	1	8   
141 – Josh Abbott		0	1	1	2	4   
145 – Brad Pappalardo 1	0	1	0	2   
149 – Philip Harmatiuk 0	1	1	0	2   
184 – Tyson Burmeister		F	3	3	2	8   
221 – Gino Manzares 1	 1	1	2	5   
293 – Rick Valdez 1	1	0	0	2   
321 – Russell Green		1	0	2	3	6      

Race Results   
1: Facchini, Hedden, Green, Abbott   
2: (restarted) Castro, McConnell (penalty line), Pappalardo, Ermolenko   
3: Fishback, Sauer, Valdez   
4: S.Harmatiuk, Marquez, Manzares (tape penalty), Burmeister (fell)   
5: Gomez, Faria, Schwartz, P.Harmatiuk   
8: (restarted twice) Fishback, McConnell, S.Harmatiuk, Green   
9: Hedden, Castro (tape penalty), P.Harmatiuk   
10: Burmeister, Faria, Abbott, Pappalardo   
11: (restarted) Gomez, Facchini, Valdez, Marquez (fell, remounted)   
12: Schwartz, Ermolenko, Manzares, Sauer   
15: Fishback, Castro, Abbott, Marquez   
16: Burmeister, Green, Gomez, Sauer   
17: (restarted) Faria, Hedden, Manzares, McConnell (penalty line)   
18: Facchini, Schwartz, Pappalardo   
19: S.Harmatiuk, Ermolenko, P.Harmatiuk, Valdez   
22: (restarted) Fishback, Manzares, Gomez, Pappalardo   
23: Green, Marquez, Ermolenko   
24: Hedden, Burmeister, Schwartz, Valdez   
25: McConnell, Abbott, Sauer, P.Harmatiuk   
26: Faria, Castro, S.Harmatiuk, Facchini   

Semi #1: Faria, Hedden, S.Harmatiuk, Facchini, Schwartz (tape penalty)   
Semi #2: Fishback, McConnell, Castro (tape penalty), Gomez, Burmeister      

First Division Last Chance   
139 - Shaun Harmatiuk   
14 - Eddie Castro   
30 - Tim Gomez   
86 - Neil Facchini      

First Division Main Event (restarted)   
25 - Jimmy Fishback   
40 - Tommy Hedden   
6 - Shawn McConnell   
9 - Mike Faria   
139 - Shaun Harmatiuk