Industry Hills Speedway

The Grand Arena
Industry Hills Expo Center
City of Industry, California

Connor Penhall Memorial Cup
June 10, 2023 - Industry Hills Speedway, City of Industry, CA, USA

The Thunderdome roared with the sounds of cheering and motorcycle racing as the annual Connor Penhall Memorial Cup returned to Industry. Always popular the grandstands were filled to capacity with a near sellout crowd. Here for the action, food, and drink Speedway is always a fun, family friendly night of entertainment.

Dedicated to the memory of his son Connor that was tragically killed by a drunk driver this event is a labor of love for Two Time World Speedway Champion Bruce Penhall. With the help of son Ryan Penhall, Connor Concrete Cutting & Coring, Office Manager, Tiana Radovich, Bruce Svatos, Industry promoter Kelly Inman and others they oversee every aspect that makes this tribute so special.

The name Penhall is well know and respected so a large number of Bruce’s friends attend. Ushered into a private area on the outside of turn four and the back straightaway that has its own grandstand and tables it’s a premier viewing location. Penhall provides free food and drink along with T-shirts and various items with Connors name on them. Very popular so many of Bruce’s former race competitors attend that this could easily be mistaken for a legend night. To numerous to name a few there included Mike Bast, Rick Miller, Dennis Sigalos, Billy Hamill, Billy Meister, Billy Gray, Ronnie Preston, Chris and Jay Agajanian and the events Grand Marshall, Bill Cody.

The Connor Penhall Memorial Cup is a premier event that pays over $15,000.00. The largest purse of the season here at Industry it attracts the best Speedway jockeys in the country. This year’s lineup was particular stellar and featured Eleven Time AMA National Champion, Billy Janniro, US Open Champion Austin Novratil, Two Time AMA Best Pairs National Champion Dillon Ruml, 2022 National Champion Max Ruml, Two Time National US Speedway Champion Broc Nicol, 1982 World Team Cup Champion Bobby Schwartz, 2020 AMA 250cc Youth National Champion Wilbur Hancock and others that included the man that has Speedway talking, fast youngster Slater Nightcap.

Needless to say the racing was fantastic. Numerous crashes and upsets the main event came down to former European based Americans Broc Nicol and Dillon Ruml along with Billy Janniro, and Slater Nightcap. The start led to a crash. A questionable call the referee excluded Lightcap. The restart was a monumental battle of side by side racing. When the checkered fell Dillon Ruml was the winner with Broc Nicol 2nd and Billy Janniro 3rd.

The night produced a host of monumental races that included the adorable Pee Wee class, 150 and 250 Juniors and Knobby Races. Do want to give a shout out to young Morgan Myers who won the Mini 125 Main Event. The young lady is showing a lot of promise and with more coaching from her racer dad Jake Myers she could go far in this sport.

All in all a wonderful, action filled night for all involved.

See all 300 pictures on Facebook

See the Main Event video on Facebook

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

Howie Zechner
Trailblazer - Industry Press officer

Finishing order of this event

Connor Penhall Memorial Cup Main Event; #3 Dillon Ruml, #98 Broc Nicol, #1 Billy Janniro, #28 Slater Lightcap (excluded)
Junior 250 Main Event; #226 Levi Leutz, #04 Owen Williams
Mini 150 Main Event; #175 Morgan Myers, #169 Kayd Fiore, #175x Maddux Myers
Pee Wee Main Event; #226 Braxtin McKeown, #297 Ezra Armbruster, #523 Brayden Mosley, #25 Jett Ferré, #218 Brinleigh McKeown, #177 Tanner Evans, #164 Addie Summers

Past Connor Penhall Memorial Cup Winners
2023 - Dillon Ruml
2022 - Max Ruml
2019 – Austin Novratil
2018 – Billy Janniro
2017 – Billy Janniro
2016 – Billy Janniro
2015 – Billy Janniro