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Photos below are Allan Alvord
Colorado native "Battling" Buck Blair and track promoter Shawn "Mad Dog" McConnell each took home main event victories from the Kelly Moran Memorial at Inland Motorcycle Speedway in San Bernardino . Blair, starting in gate three, left the starting line side-by-side with former National Champion "Flyin" Mike Faria, who had started from gate five. The duo went through turns one and two together and battled down the back straight for the lead. Their inside-outside battle continued through turns three and four and to the conclusion of lap one. Blair found a little more traction as they exited turn two the second time and surged ahead. Faria then found himself under fire from "Fast" Eddie Castro who took second on the third lap. Castro turned his attention toward the leader but couldn't gain any ground. Blair was first to the checkered flag, Castro settled for second, Steve Russell was third, Faria finished fourth, and Shawn McConnell was fifth. Rick Valdez beat fellow ten-yard starters Troy McConnell and Geoff Herkner into turn one to lead the beginning of the Handicap Main Event. Valdez held the lead for two laps before a crash brought out the red flag just as the field was starting to converge on him. Shawn McConnell began the restart just ten yards behind Valdez and took the lead right away. Another red flag came out after an incident that sent Castro into the turn two wall very hard and brought a halt to the race. Castro walked away but would take no part in the restart. Shawn McConnell would begin the second restart at the tapes and five laps remaining. The result from there was rather predictable and Shawn McConnell did nothing to change the obvious. Shawn McConnell cruised to the victory, Blair finished second, Troy McConnell was third, Herkner finished fourth, and Valdez was fifth. Mike Salyer led the Second Division Main before Mike Fuson took over on the back straight. Brandon Leedy came from the 30 yard line and caught Fuson. Leedy patiently waited for Fuson to make a mistake and when that didn't happen he began to pressure the leader to try to force an error. Leedy's efforts would prove to be in vain as Fuson held off every challenge and held on for the win. Salyer finished third, Mitch Pierson was fourth, and Joe Donaldson finished fifth. Steve "Beach Ball" Brown wasted little time in taking the lead in the Third Division Main from Rick Howard. Brown had Kip McClain planted on his back tire right away. McClain went to the outside several times but couldn't find a way past until turn four on the fourth lap. McClain swept around the outside and took the lead as they took the white flag. McClain led the final lap to secure the victory. Kevin Fife finished second, Brown was third, Tony DeAlmeida finished fourth, Howard was fifth, and Dan Eddy finished sixth. Shea Bendykowski led all four laps en route to victory in the Youth Main Event. Sebastian Palmese finished second, Maverick Molloy was third, Adam Herkner finished fourth in his first speedway meeting, and Braydan Galvin was fifth. Brett Day led from start to finish and captured the Pee Wee Main Event. Jimmy Fishback Jimmy Fishback IV was second, Sara Cords finished third, Luke Whitcomb was fourth, and Mikey Ortega finished fifth. National Champions Joe Jones and Jimmy Olsen and Dan Jones and Brandi McElroy both entered the A Final of round one of the National Sidecar Championship with 11 points. Both teams entered turn one together and the inevitable contact slowed both rigs down along the inside. Dylan Beard and Crystal Laurie took advantage by using the outside line to take the lead on the back straight. The hopes of Dan Jones and McElroy ended in turn four when they went into the infield. Joe Jones and Olsen set after the leaders, but couldn't make up any ground. Beard and Laurie were victorious, Joe Jones and Olsen were second, Shawn Driggers and Missy Driggers finished third, and Dan Jones and McElroy were credited with fourth. The Kelly Moran Memorial honors the legendary two-time National Champion who entertained fans with his spectacular style on the track and made many friends with his magnetic personality off the track. The next event at IMS is the Western States Championship. National Champion Billy "The Kid" Janniro is schedule to compete against defending Western States Champion Jimmy "Little Animal" Fishback and the regular competitors at IMS. The Western States Championship was originally the final event of the IMS regular season, but an extra event has been added to the calendar. IMS will now host the Trailblazers/Legends Night on Friday, October 14. The AMA National Flat Track Series will be in Pomona the following night and many motorcycle dignitaries past and present are expected to attend the speedway race to take in the action. RESULTS Sidecar National Scoring 1 2 3 4 F T Sidecar National Championship Round 1 B Final Sidecar National Championship Round 1 A Final Pee Wee Main Event Youth Main Event (restarted) Third Division Main Event Second Division Main Event Handicap Main Event (restarted twice) Scratch Main Event |
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