Industry Hills Speedway

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

9th Connor Penhall Cup Memorial
March 1, 2025 - Industry Hills Speedway
From Facebook and Howie

The Thunderdome was alive with the sounds of cheering and motorcycle racing as the Connor Penhall Memorial Cup returned to Speedway at Industry Racing. A favorite with spectators and racers alike this 9th annual lived up to its reputation as Industry’s most popular and richest event of the season.

Created to honor the memory of Bruce Penhall’s son Connor who was tragically killed on April 5, 2012 by a drunk driver while working for a Caltrans subcontractor cutting concrete along the westbound San Bernardino (10) Freeway this event is a labor of love and respect for the Two Time World Speedway Champion and his family. With the help of his son Ryan Penhall, Connor Concrete Cutting & Coring, Office Manager, Tiana Radovich, Bruce Svatos, Industry Racing promoter Kelly Inman and others they oversee every aspect that makes this tribute so special for the public, racers and VIP’s that attend.

How you ask? Well, how does a $16000.00. purse sound. The largest payoff of the season here at Industry and possibly the entire American Speedway circuit it brings out most every hot-shoe that slides this side of the Mississippi and for the first time this year even an overseas ace, Anton Karlsson from Sweden.

Of course, with that kind of money on the line it’s for sure the no contact rule will get a workout before a winner is crowned.

While no one wants to see anyone hurt this aggressive racing is welcomed by the spectator who craves the contact that sometimes happens when you put riders on a small 1/8 dirt track and have them race lightweight 500cc alcohol powered machines that have no brakes.

Indeed, any night these riders race is an unbelievable sight but with this kind of purse and other goodies like a one-of-a-kind special painted Troy Lee helmet, huge trophy’s and bragging rights to this premier event it keeps referee Steve Lucero on his toes. Fortunately, Steve is a two time National and three-time California State Champion who’s been there and done that so he’s not only seen the shenanigans but probably used them himself back in his racing days when we called him "Bad Boy.”

The 2025 Grand Marshal was Rick Miller. An acknowledged top tier Speedway veteran who racer with and against his friend Bruce Penhall. After a successful twelve-year professional motorcycle racer career Rick Miller became a Stuntman and worked in over fifty feature films and well over three hundred commercials, as well as countless music videos and print shoots. In addition to his performances in automotive and motorcycle commercials, Rick worked as Lance Armstrong’s driver/bicycle double on his Subaru campaigns.

The name Penhall is well known and respected so many of Bruce’s friends and former race competitors attend. Ushered into a private area on the outside of turn two 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 other various items with Connors name on them. Too numerous to name and I’m not big on name dropping because I forget so many I shouldn’t but Dennis Sigalos, Billy Meister, Billy Gray, Ronnie Preston, Chris and Jay Agajanian, Craig De Phillippi, Ernie Aragon, and Margo King are just a few that come to mind. Also, there on this night was Storage Wars cast member Barry Weiss. A regular here at Industry, for the last few years Barry has been putting up some large purses including last weeks $1000. Last Man Out event.

Two, four-time World Speedway Champions, Barry Briggs and Greg Hancock attended. While both were there to enjoy the event, one could not help but notice that Greg spent most of the night helping/pit crewing for his boys Division 1 Wilbur Hancock (won heat four, 8 points total), and 150cc Mini class Karl Hancock (finished 2nd in all three on his races).

A complete youngster field of Pee Wee, Mini 150 and 250 Juniors competed. Extremely popular with the Industry crowd last week a special Gumball Rally was held just for them on a Sunday. On that afternoon donations for the kids topped nine thousand dollars plus another 2K in free services. As stated, everyone loves the younger racers.

A treat to watch and hear I need to mention the New Zealand sidecars as these 1000cc monsters are always popular with the fans. Good racing but no surprises as the #1 team of Joe Jones & Tom Summers won all their heat races and main.

And who was best in Division 1 you ask? Well, that’s a good question as all who were on the card are competent Division 1 racers.

With 15 points after a win in each round National AMA Champion, Broc Nicol was high point man and arguably the crowd favorite. He has finished 2nd in this event 4 or 5 times and desperately wanted to win on this night but an unexpected third place finish in the first Semi kept him out of the main. As the saying goes "There is no joy in Mudville.” We feel your pain Broc Nicol.

Having already won the Connor Penhall Memorial Cup two times #5 Max Ruml had 14 points and was 2nd high scorer after dropping one point with a second in heat four. Max likes Industry and is a master here. It showed as he won the main and event. Congratulations.

Probably should mention that the night included what may be one of the wildest crashes we have witnessed here in many a moon. Coming out of turn two in heat three #21 Brad Sauer lifted and slammed head first into the crash wall at full speed. Fortunately, these 4x8 panels are installed in a manner that allows them to give and break free so Brad was not injured although it did end his racing for the night. See photos below.

Swedish racer and nice person Anton Karlsson also deserves to be mentioned as he finished twelfth in the Connor Penhall Memorial Cup with 6 points (1,1,2,1,1) in five heats. Considering the tracks, he normally races are three, four or more times larger than ours he did an excellent job in learning and staying out of trouble. Hope you come back again and bring a friend. All would benefit from more overseas racers competing in the Connor Penhall Memorial Cup.

All in all, the entire night was filled with the non-stop action that makes Speedway motorcycle racing one of the most intense sports on the planet. Below this report are the finishing orders of all the racers and heats.

Want to see for yourself well go to the RAZ Video Production, Facebook page and have a look cause this night and many more are there. Here is the link.

See all pictures from the March 1, 2025 Connor Penhall Memorial Cup on Facebook:

Thanks for listening, see you where the wheels go round.

Harald “Howie” Zechner
Press Officer – Industry Racing

9th Connor Penhall Cup Memorial

Connor Penhall Cup Winner Max Ruml

Connor Penhall Cup Winner Max Ruml

Junior 250 Main Brady Landon

Mini 150 Main Brandon Kemmerly

Pee Wee Main Koa Noopheng

Semi Final 2 - Unknown Photographer