Costa Mesa Speedway
Orange County Fairgrounds
Costa Mesa, California
United States National Speedway Championships
September 23, 2023 - Costa Mesa
Photos, story and results by Howie Zechner
The 53rd U.S. National Championship
Max Ruml and Howie Zechner
Certainly the most important race of the season did not disappoint. Of course, how could it. International Speedway has been the promoter of this U.S. National Speedway Championships since 1937 World Champion Jack Milne and Harry Oxley built a race track here in the Costa Mesa ‘Bullring.”
Steve Bast won the first one on October 3, 1969. Always attracting Americas best the following year it was Rick Woods (9/25/70), then Mike Bast (10/9/71). The list is impressive and includes Bruce Penhall, Shawn and Kelly Moran, Alan Christian, Bobby Schwartz, Brad Oxley, Steve Lucero, Mike Faria, Chris Manchester, Sam Ermolenko, Greg Hancock, Charlie Venegas, Billy Hamill, Scott Brant, Billy Janniro, Ricky Wells, Bryan Yarrow, Aaron Fox, Broc Nicol and last year’s winner Max Ruml. The names speak for themselves. They were/are and always will be the best of the best.
This year’s 16 rider field keeps that tradition alive. These warriors include seasoned veterans that include multi time U.S. National Speedway Champions Billy Janniro, Bobby Schwartz, Aaron Fox, Broc Nicol and Max Ruml. Others may not have captured the National yet but their titles are just as impressive like Max Ruml’s little brother, former California State Champion Dillon Ruml.
Then there’s the new kids on the block. For many it’s their first U.S. National. But don’t get the idea they are a pushover. Slater Lightcap and Alex Martin are both AMA Under 21 Champions. Probably getting pointers for his 4 time World Speedway Champion dad, Wilbur Hancock is considered the most improved rider of the year. Then there’s Charlie Trana. Last year as a Junior he won the 250cc Speedway National Championship and now that he’s 16 years old a D1 racer on a 500cc machine. No disrespect to any I didn’t mention cause the field is stellar and any one of these Speedway aces could take home the title.
The format for this Championship simple. Four rider line up in back of a gate made of ribbons that stretch across the race track. Made from a thin paper product they break if I bike goes thru them before the referee hits the button to make the gate go up. Easy stuff, well not really cause the riders at the line are amped. Keyed up they must muster every ounce of disciple they have not to move. Anticipating the start or breaking the tapes means you’re out for that heat. Nothings impossible but winning after a heat exclusion seldom if ever happens.
What else makes this race so hard to win. Well first off it’s a one night, winner take all format. No 2nd or 3rd chances to make up for a poor race meet. If you don’t have yourself together here then you’re done. Does that mean extra pressure. Dam strait it does.
Then there’s the race track. It’s dirt and that means its ever changing. The best line moves and riders only have seconds to figure it out. Any miscalculation and your championship dreams are over.
Have to mention the machines these dirt pilots fly. Custom made lightweight frames hold a 500cc motor that develops over 80 horsepower. Run on alcohol fuel the entire machine weighs about 170 pounds. And did I mention these bikes have no brakes. Really, I’m not kidding.
Racing Speedway is an art because it totally backwards of any other competition. Why??? Well to slow down you have to give it more throttle. No honest I’m not lying. Coming into a turn the rider slides way forward on the frame, gives it full throttle, the rear wheel slides and when the wheel is sliding its slowing the machine down. Coming out of the turn the rider eases off on the throttle and the rear tire hooks up and the bike goes faster. It’s some kind of crazy but true.
Lastly it’s the riders. They all like and respect each other but when on the track its every man for himself. Speedway is not a contact sport but Costa Mesa is a small arena. Contact, crashes they happen. Fact is they are daily accordance. Most aren’t serious but they don’t wear those helmets, race suits and protective gear for no reason. One of this events racers Russell Green crashed through the wall in a serious incident earlier this year. Riders are however a sturdy bunch and Russell was back spinning laps a couple of months after the doctors put him back together.
Do want to relay there is one more thing that makes these riders do the impossible. It’s the fans. Speedway spectators are some of the most loyal, fun loving, supportive people in the world. Young, old, family friendly its another world where action and entertainment are one. Those that go know. Those that don’t are missing the thrill of the spill where seeing sometimes makes you ask how is that possible.
So how was the racing? In one word spectacular. Max Ruml brilliantly defended his title and will wear the number one again for a 2nd year. The kid Slater Lightcap almost pulled off the upset of the century but had to settle for 2nd. A turn two get-together where Billy Janniro crashed meant Broc Nicol could only muster a 3rd place finish. Broc was none to happy that the race was not halted and clearly felt that prevented him from a better podium position.
Video of all the 2023 United States National Speedway Championships main event and all the races may be watched on Facebook on the RAZ Video page.
See all 325 pictures on Facebook
Thanks for listening, See you where the Wheels Go Round. Howie Zechner
Below are the score Main Event and Consolation score results;
U.S. National Championship Final – #1 Max Ruml, #28 Slater Lightcap, #98 Broc Nicol, # 14n Billy Janniro
Consolation - #3 Dillon Ruml, #14 Eddie Castro, #30n Alex Martin, #7 Austin Novratil
Semi Final 1 - #14n Billy Janniro, #98 Broc Nicol, #3 Dillon Ruml, #30n Alex Martin
Semi Final 2 - #1 Max Ruml, #28 Slater Lightcap, #14 Eddie Castro, #7 Austin Novratil (broke tapes)
Support Main Event - #123 Jordan Vanderham, #249 John Wilder, #178 Eloy Medellin, #168 Mark Fillebrown
Support Consolation - #37 Joe Donaldson, #327 Tyler Moszer, #290 Harold Hartke
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