Champion Speedway

344 East River Drive
Owego, New York 13827

AMA Speedway National Championship Series Round 2
Champion Speedway, Owego, NY
September 5, 2021

Below are the official results from the National Championship round at Champion Speedway.

5 - Max Ruml: 3-3-3-3-3=15-3-3 = 21
7 - Austin Novratil: 3-3-R-3-3= 12-2-2 = 16
24 - Gino Manzares: 2-3-3-3-2=13-3-Fx = 16
1 - Billy Janniro: 2-2-3-2-3=12-2-Fx = 14
27 - Blake Borello: 1-3-2-3-2=11-1-/ = 12
309 - Johnny Oakden: 0-2-3-2-3=9-1-/ = 10
138 - Spencer Portararo: 3-2-2-2-Fx=9-0-/ = 9
71 - Len McBride: 2-2-F-1-2=7-N-/ = 7
101 - Redmond Bohannon: 3-1-1-1-Nr=6-/-/ = 6
33 - Mike Cortese: X-1-2-1-2=6-/-/ = 6 (Qualifier)
171 - Brian Hollenbeck: 2-2-0-Fx-1-/-/ = 5
327 - Dave Oakden: 1-0-1-2-Fx=4-/-/ = 4
38 - Jerry Harman: E-0-2-1-E=3-/-/ = 3 (Reserve)
007 - David Meldrum: 1-1-F-0-1=3-/-/ = 3
3 - Dalton Oakden: F-0-1-0-1=2-/-/ = 2 (Reserve)
196 - Alex Heath: 0-0-1-Fx-F=1-/-/ = 1 (Qualifier)
27 - Pat Cliff: 1-/-/-/-/=1-/-/ = 1 (Reserve)

Kelly Inman AMA Flat Track Commission

From Patrick Bedford Celebration of Speed Magazine October Issue #34.

Wow! To say the 2021 Speedway National Championship Series was unusual may be an understatement. What initially appeared to be a one race final at Fast Fridays in Auburn
California turned into a three race series with 2 of the 3 rounds in New York. East Coast promoter Jason Bonsignore decided to petition the AMA for two rounds. One each at Action Park and Champion Speedway.

The American Motorcyclist Association granted Bonsignore his request and in late July Championship contenders were told to get ready to go to New York Labor Day weekend. Riders and teams seeking the number one plate quickly gathered their equipment and scheduled their journey across Country. As can be expected, the New York rounds gave a few in state racers the chance of testing their skills and chasing their dreams.

U.S. AMA Speedway National Championship First round at Action Park East left some scratching their heads.

Riders that made the trip to the first round in New York at Bonsignore's "Action Park East" track questioned the track safety. Rider's indicated the track condition was not conducive to a National Championship. As result the riders gathered and agreed to race because fans were already in the grandstands. To have outright canceled the event would have been a blemish on all involved. However, it was determined by the riders and the AMA Referee onsite to abolish the race as a National round. Apparently the track was rough and showed no indication that it would do anything but continue to deteriorate throughout the evening. Naturally, some agreed and some disagreed. However, the decision was made and finalized. Therefore Action Park East results were disregarded and round two was set to move on to the following night at Bonsignore's other track Champion Speedway.

Round two at Champion Speedway was set to get underway. Unfortunately, rain was also set in the forecast. After a couple of heats the rain set in and flooded the track. Many promoters would have called it a day and canceled. However Bonsignore and crew were determined to get this event in the books. The rain stopped and the track crew went to work. within a couple of hours they had a track and were ready to race. The racing was well worth the wait. The event was live streamed. As a result, the West coast fans and fans from all over were able to subscribe to the PPV and watch a National round. The front runners of Janniro, Ruml, Manzares and Novratil quickly displayed their skills and gapped the points from the rest of the field. Janniro began to struggle a little. However, Ruml, Manzares and Novratil were in a 'dog fight" for the top spot. Local riders were lead by Johnny Oakden and Spencer Portararo. The one rider standing in their way was young gun and, recent SON U21 rider, Blake Borello. The last few rounds, fog began to move in a settle on the track. From the LiveStream it was beginning to get difficult to see.

The event was completed. The West Coast riders left New York after a rough track, Rain, delays and Fog. As for Bonsignore he was most likely relieved to have gotten a good round of racing in after getting thrown everything possible his way. Racing is tough and promotion can be tougher. Jason Bonsignore deserves credit for his efforts.

The leader board after one round in New York:
1) Max Ruml 21
2) Gino Manzares 16
3) Austin Novratil 16
4) Blake Borello 12
5) Johnny Oakden 10
6) Spencer Portararo 9
6) Len McBride 7
7) Redmond Bohannon 6
8) Mike Cortese 6
9) Brian Hollenbeck 5
10) David Oakden 4
11) David Meldrum 3
12) Dalton Oakden 2

From the editor:

Lots of rain, racing was postponed for about 3 hours, they were able to get the track in pretty good shape...

In the final, Janniro hit the wall coming out of turn 2 as they went three abreast on lap one. Just as they started the last lap Gino hit the wall near the start finish line and the race was called. (Or something like that.)

The unofficial results of AMA Speedway National Championship Round 2 (Round 1 in Action Park East, Greene was canceled)
1. Max Ruml 15 – 1st in the final
2. Austin Novratil 12 – 2nd in the final
3. Giovanni Manzares 13 – excluded in the final
4. Billy Janniro 12 – fell/excluded in the final
5. Blake Borello 11
6. Johnny Oakden 9
7. Spencer Portararo 9
8. Len McBride 7
9. Redmond Bohannon 6
10. Mike Cortese 6
11. Brian Hollenbeck 5
12. Dave Oakden 4
13. Jerry Harman 3
14. David Meldrum 3
15. Dalton Oakden 2
16. Alex Heath 1
17. Pat Cliff 1