Fast Fridays Speedway

Gold Country Fairgrounds
1273 High Street
Auburn, California

Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
Venegas repeats Scratch Main win
By Michael Kirby (Story & Photos)
AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, July 30, 2021

Announcer Mike 'Roondog' Rooney and Photographer Michael Kirby
(Vladimir Kruk Photo)

Charlie Venegas has come alive and found his groove winning his second in a row scratch main event at the Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway in Auburn Ca. Venegas won his first scratch main on July 16 then the North vs. South Challenge happened the last week without a scratch main, and Friday night Venegas was on it again. Venegas 54, a veteran of nearly 25 years on a speedway bike and with a racing resume way too long to list was perfect in the scratch program Friday night.

Venegas, lucky in the lane draw lined up in number one, next in two was Tyler Warren, in three was Billy Janniro and way out in four was Louie Mersaroli. From the gate Venegas got a good start and hopped onto the track’s well worn blue groove in turn one and just rode it like a magic carpet to the end. Giving chase was the pesky Warren but on the dusty track there was not much of an option for passing and the skillful Venegas took the checker flag and made two victory laps. Warren was second, Janniro third and Mersaroli who slid out in lap three finished fourth. The streak continues with all scratch main event wins coming out of lane one. Winning two scratch mains this season Venegas joins Bart Bast and Billy Janniro who also has two scratch main wins this season.

Tyler Warren who has only been in the line-up three times this season at Fast Fridays this season looked like he hasn’t missed a beat, winning the handicap main event. Tough all night in both the handicap and scratch programs Warren was perfect in the handicap program winning his heat race, semi-final and the main event. Louie Mersaroli was second and Bart Bast was third.

In an event that has really become a crowd favorite Team SOS increased their lead in the Team Challenge over Team CHP. The event is an opportunity to watch team racing, three races with teams of two racing against each other and scoring points for finish position.

In the first race Bart Bast and Louie Mersaroli of Team SOS presented an excellent example of team racing working together to keep Billy Janniro and Blake Borello of Team CHP at bay to pick up a first and second place finish adding five points to their score. Rheten Todd also picked up a first place finish for Team SOS adding three points. Charlie Venegas won his race and picked up three points for Team CHP. Venegas also leads the series for both teams with an individual score of 11 points. The total score for the fourth round was Team SOS 13 and Team CHP 5. Team SOS now has a commanding lead in the series leading 41-31. The challenge series continues August 13 and ends with the final on August 20.

Rees Todd, a consistent top three finisher in Division II took the Division II main event, his fourth of the 2021 season. Greg Moore was second and Derik Denzin was third. Jeff Powell was first in the Division III main event, his second Division III main event of the season. Powell won his heat race also. Marc Denniston was second and Tim Rott was third in Division III.

Up from Southern California, Slater Lightcap made the trip worthwhile winning the Youth 250 main event. Alex Martin was second and Levi Leutz was third. National AMA 2020 Youth 150 champion Nick Hohlbein showed why he wears the number one plate on his bike winning the Youth 150 main event. Hohlbein was perfect in his class winning all his races for the evening. Caden Cavrikas was second and Jameson Hutchinson was third.

Extreme Sidecars return to Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway next week on August 6.

Fast Fridays Results for 07-30-21

Scratch Main Event
1-Charlie Venegas, 2-Tyler Warren, 3-Billy Janniro, 4-Louie Mersaroli

Handicap Main Event
1-Tyler Warren, 2-Louie Mersaroli, 3-Bart Bast

Division II Main Event
1-Rees Todd, 2-Greg Moore, 3-Derik Denzin

Division III Main Event
1-Jeff Powell, 2-Marc Denniston, 3-Tim Rott

Youth 250 Main Event
1-Slater Lightcap, 2-Alex Martin, 3-Levi Leutz

Youth 150 Main Event
1-Nick Hohlbein, 2-Caden Cavrikas, 3-Jameson Hutchinson

SOS Team Challenge Round Four
Team SOS 13 Team CHP 5
Total Series Score
Team SOS 41 Team CHP 31

	Nick Hohlbein won the Youth 250 main event. Hohlbein is the current AMA National 150 Youth champion.
	Scratch Start
	Journeying up from Southern California Slater Lightcap won the Youth 250 scratch main event.
	A consistent top three finisher in Division II Rees Todd won the Division II main event.
	Finding his groove at Fast Fridays Charlie has won the scratch main event two times in a row.
	Charlie Venegas (red) leaves the scratch main event start line and won the scratch main event Friday night. The win is the second in a row for Venegas.
	Jeff Powell won the Division III main event his second of the season.
	Tyler Warren had a great night winning the handicap main event and finishing second in the scratch main event.