Costa Mesa Speedway

Orange County Fairgrounds
Costa Mesa, California

52nd United States National Speedway Championship
October 1, 2022 - Costa Mesa
Story by Howie Zechner
Results and Photo By Ryan Evans

The United States National Championship Final at the tapes (inside - outside):
Billy Janniro, Max Ruml, Aaron Fox, Gino Manzares.
The finishing order was Ruml, Manzares, Janniro, Fox

52nd United States National Championship - Costa Mesa, CA, USA - October 1

Anticipation, consummation, exhilaration, turmoil, agony, celebration, and satisfaction all played a part in 52nd United States National Speedway Championship.

Every Speedway lover from rider to fan and sponsor was ready as two years had passed since this event was last held on September 28, 2019. In this fast paced sport where races take a mere minute this 1,099 day absence was a lifetime that all involved looked forward to correcting.

With 52 years of tradition it was a heavy lift getting the track and promotion together but International Speedway got it done with a twelve thousand dollar purse, Thanks Jaleen and Brad Oxley for all your hard work and dedication.

After all Brad Oxley little thing like being in a major motorcycle crash in Baja Mexico, weeks in the hospital, and rehabilitation that continues to this day along with doctors bills that will haunt you forever were no excuse to contemplate the unthinkable.

There were other history markers on this year’s October 1, 2022 agenda. With six U.S. National Speedway Championship titles would Billy Janniro win another and tie the Mike Bast record of seven. Maybe, could happen, NOT. Billy’s the man, but on this night a win in his first race and the Semi along with a second in heats 2, 3, 4, 5, equaled a third in the main event.

Well maybe Austin Novratil. He’s been on fire and has won more Costa Mesa main events than any other racer this year. A good positive outlook it could go his way but didn’t. First round, a crash with Aaron Fox and Austin was done for the night. So sorry bud. Hopefully the shoulder injury will be a quick mend.

Of course a few A listers like Max Ruml and Aaron Fox sucked all the air out of the rumor mill.

Then there’s Manzares. A top notch rider Gino just got back from racing in Sweden. Rumor has it he will race there next year but so far he’s not confirming.

Kids Slater Lightcap or Alex Martin winning were also debated as was the Bobby Schwartz experience factor. The truth is there were 16 riders on the program and all could be a spoiler or champion if lady luck helps.

So who did what you ask? Well to no one’s surprise Max Ruml won. Max is a powerhouse but an engine failure in heat one and a 2nd in heat two delighted the odds makers. Winning heats 3, 4, 5, the Semi then Main all celebrated Mad Max triumphant victory. Watch the Division 1 main event video HERE

Winning Heat races 1, 2, 3, 4 and a 2nd in heat 5, the Semi then Main many credit Gino Manzares as the man of the night. They point out that if the National were run on a score rather than going to a Semi and Final, Gino Manzares would be the new National Champion.

Got to give some love to Aaron Fox who with the exception of a 3rd place in heat 3 won 1, 2, 4 and 5 along with a Semi 2nd and 4th in the Main.

Support Class racing was also on the program with #249 John Wilder winning the Main Event. Watch the Division 2 main event video HERE.

Two more races and the time of Speedway and Costa Mesa will sunset till next spring. So join this Saturday October 8 for Harley Night Finals and the Sidecar World Championships or October 15 for the Fall Classic with Speedway, Sidecars and Juniors.

Thanks for Listening, See you where the wheels go round.

Howie Zechner, Press Officer

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United States National Championship Final
5 – Max Ruml
24 – Gino Manzares
1 – Billy Janniro
46 – Aaron Fox

Semi Final 1
5 – Max Ruml
46 – Aaron Fox
6 – Shawn McConnell
15 – Dukie Ermolenko (retired)

Semi Final 2
1 – Billy Janniro
24 – Gino Manzares
28 – Slater Lightcap
25n – Tyler Warren

Support Main Event
249 – John Wilder
168 – Mark Fillebrown
182 – Rudy Laurer
159 – Kevin Fiore (fell)

National Championship Heat Scoring 1 2 3 4 5 T
1 – Billy Janniro 3 2 2 2 2 11
5 – Max Ruml E 2 3 3 3 11
6 – Shawn McConnell 1 2 3 2 1 9
7 – Austin Novratil FX - - - - 0
11 – Bobby Schwartz 0 1 0 F 0 1
12 – Randy DiFrancesco 1 0 1 1 1 4
14 – Eddie Castro 0 3 T 0 1 4
15 – Dukie Ermolenko 2 2 2 0 3 9
24 – Gino Manzares 3 3 3 3 2 14
25n – Tyler Warren 1 1 2 2 2 8
28 – Slater Lightcap 3 3 F 1 3 10
30n – Alex Martin 2 1 2 1 1 7
46 – Aaron Fox 3 3 1 3 3 13
173 – Rees Todd 2 0 0 1 2 5
188 – Louie Mersaroli 1 1 3 2 0 7
214 – Michael Wells 2 0 1 3 0 6
37 – Joey Donaldson (Reserve) 0 0 0 0 0 0
182 – Rudy Laurer (Reserve) 1 - - - - 1

Heat Results
1: (restarted twice) Lightcap, Todd, DiFrancesco, Castro (penalty line)
2: Janniro, Martin, Warren, Schwartz
3: (restarted) Manzares, Ermolenko, McConnell, Ruml (engine failure)
4: (restarted) Fox, Wells, Mersaroli (fell, remounted), Donaldson, Novratil (non-starter, restart)
5: Lightcap, Ruml, Schwartz, Donaldson
6: Fox, McConnell, Martin, DiFrancesco
7: Manzares, Janniro, Mersaroli, Todd
8: Castro, Ermolenko, Warren, Wells
9: Manzares, Martin, Wells, Lightcap (fell)
10: Mersaroli, Ermolenko, DiFrancesco, Schwartz
11: Ruml, Warren, Fox, Todd
12: (restarted) McConnell, Janniro (penalty line), Laurer, Donaldson, Castro (tape exclusion)
13: Fox, Janniro, Lightcap, Ermolenko
14: Manzares, Warren, DiFrancesco, Donaldson
15: (restarted) Wells, McConnell, Todd, Schwartz (fell)
16: Ruml, Mersaroli, Martin, Castro
17: Lightcap, Warren, McConnell, Mersaroli (fell, remounted)
18: Ruml, Janniro, DiFrancesco, Wells
19: (restarted) Ermolenko, Todd, Martin (penalty line), Donaldson
20: Fox, Manzares, Castro, Schwartz

Overall Standings

1. Max Ruml
2. Gino Manzares
3. Billy Janniro
4. Aaron Fox
5. Slater Lightcap 10+1 pts
6. Shawn McConnell 9+1 pts
7. Dukie Ermolenko 9 pts
8. Tyler Warren 8 pts
9. Louie Mersaroli 7 pts
10. Alex Martin 7 pts
11. Michael Wells 6 pts
12. Rees Todd 5 pts
13. Eddie Castro 4 pts
14. Randy DiFrancesco 4 pts
15. Bobby Schwartz 1 pts
16. Austin Novratil INJ
R. Rudy Laurer 1 pts
R. Joe Donaldson 0 pts

Support Main
1. John Wilder
2. Mark Fillebrown
3. Rudy Laurer
4. Kevin Fiore
Eloy Medellin 2 pts
Harold Hartke 1 pts
Brad Moreau 0 pts