Costa Mesa Speedway

Orange County Fairgrounds
Costa Mesa, California

SPEEDWAY
September 24, 2022 - Costa Mesa
Photo and results by Ryan Evans

The Costa Mesa Speedway Scratch Main Event at the tapes (inside - outside):
Austin Novratil, Max Ruml, Shawn McConnell, Aaron Fox.
The finishing order was Novratil, Ruml, Fox, McConnell.

Costa Mesa Speedway, CA, USA - September 24

Austin Novratil warmed up for the United States National Championship with a perfect night and by winning his fifth Scratch Main Event of the season at the world famous Costa Mesa Speedway.

Novratil was lined up in gate one, but had “Mad” Max Ruml, also unbeaten entering the main event, lined up next to him. Shawn “Mad Dog” McConnell was in gate three and two-time National Champion Aaron Fox was in gate four.

Ruml was off the starting line first but Novratil was right behind him. Ruml led through the first lap but couldn’t shake Novratil off his back tire. Novratil found more traction exiting turn two and made his move. Ruml wasn’t budging but Novratil leaned on him and moved him off the inside line. Novratil shot up the inside and took over the lead. Ruml went on the counterattack as they ended lap two and began lap three. Ruml hounded Novratil as they took the white flag. Ruml hoped to force a mistake on the final lap but was unable to do so. Novratil was first to the checkered flag with Ruml settling for second. Fox finished third and McConnell was credited with fourth after falling on the second lap.

Fox kicked off the evening by trapping from gate four and taking the win over Alex Martin. Six-times and defending National Champion Billy Janniro beat McConnell in event two. Ruml beat Under 21 National Champion Slater Lightcap in the next event. Novratil finished the first round with a runaway victory ahead of 16-year-old Justin Almon.

Fox beat Michael Wells to begin the second round. Janniro made it two wins in a row in the next heat. Ruml defeated McConnell for his second straight win. Novratil beat Lightcap to end round two with his second victory.

Fox made it three wins in three races by beating Lightcap to start round three. Janniro was comfortably leading the next heat but hit a rut on the starting line that threw him into turn one so fast that he had to lay his machine down to avoid disaster. He remounted but the field had passed him by. Mark Fillebrown was in the lead but Bobby “Boogaloo” Schwartz stalked him until he made a last-second pass to steal the victory and earn a huge ovation from the crowd. Ruml remained perfect by beating “Fast” Eddie Castro in event 23. Novratil concluded the heats with a win over McConnell to match the unbeaten Fox and Ruml.

Martin defeated Fillebrown in a runoff to fill the final spot in the semis.

Novratil and Fox finished one-two in the first semi and both transferred to the main. Janniro led Ruml the first three laps of the second semi but slowed after taking the white flag. Ruml was gifted the victory with McConnell finishing second to join him in the main.

Janniro started in gate four and swept around the outside in the first bend to take the lead in the Scratch Consolation. Lightcap tried his best to catch the leader but Janniro scored a comfortable victory. Martin finished third and Schwartz was fourth.

Harold Hartke led from start to finish and took home the victory in the Second Division Main Event. Tyler Moszer was second, Isaiah Canales finished third, and Andrew Russell was credited with fourth.

Jordan Vanderham put together four smooth laps and was victorious in the Third Division Main Event for the second straight time. Bryan Buffington finished second, Alan Bernklau was third, and Brent Smith finished fourth.

Hudson Jones was the early leader in the Mini 150 Main Event. Ryder Schultz started 20 yards back but was closing on the leader entering turn three. Schultz went to the outside and squeezed between Hudson Jones and the wall to take the lead as they concluded lap one. Schultz never looked back from there and raced away with the victory. Hudson Jones held on to second and Ryder Schultz was third.

Joe Jones and Tom Summers romped to yet another victory in the Sidecar Main Event. A ferocious battle behind the victors ended up with Ace Kale and Thomas Yergler coming home second, Kevin Holman and Brent Smith finishing third, and Kevin Kale and Tracy Gallagher getting fourth.

This was the final event prior to the 52nd United States National Championship this Saturday. The National Championship will feature 16 of the best racers in the country. COVID-19 restrictions have kept the event from being held since 2019. Janniro has waited three years for a chance to equal the seven titles won by the legendary Mike Bast. Will he make history? Novratil, winner of the most mains at Costa Mesa Speedway in 2022, Ruml, who has won two Scratch Mains at Costa Mesa in 2022 and nine at Industry Hills Speedway will provide formidable competition. Other competitors for this huge event include former two-time Champion Fox, McConnell, Schwartz, Gino Manzares, and Northern California’s Louie Mersaroli and they will all battle for the crown and the biggest piece of the $12,000 purse.

Scratch Main Event
7 - Austin Novratil
5 - Max Ruml
46 - Aaron Fox
6 - Shawn McConnell (fell)

Scratch Consolation
1 - Billy Janniro
28 - Slater Lightcap
30 - Alex Martin
11 - Bobby Schwartz

Semi #1: Novratil, Fox, Lightcap, Schwartz
Semi #2: Ruml, McConnell, Martin, Janniro

Second Division Main Event
290 - Harold Hartke
327 - Tyler Moszer
106 - Isaiah Canales
296 - Andrew Russell (retired)

Second Division Consolation
159 - Kevin Fiore
178 - Eloy Medellin
163 - Ron Davis
170 - Hayley Gudgel

Third Division Main Event
123 - Jordan Vanderham
77 - Bryan Buffington
69e - Alan Bernklau
103 - Brent Smith

Mini 150 Main Event
22 - Ryder Schultz
15 - Hudson Jones
5 - Brandon Soto
169 - Kayd Fiore (non starter)

Sidecar Main Event
1 - Joe Jones/Tom Summers
357 - Ace Kale/Thomas Yergler
11 - Kevin Holman/Brent Smith
07 - Kevin Kale/Tracy Gallagher

First Division Heat Scoring 1 2 3 T
1 – Billy Janniro 3 3 1 7
5 – Max Ruml 3 3 3 9
6 – Shawn McConnell 2 2 2 6
7 – Austin Novratil 3 3 3 9
11 – Bobby Schwartz 1 1 3 5
14 – Eddie Castro 1 0 2 3
28 – Slater Lightcap 2 2 2 6
30n – Alex Martin 2 1 1 4
37 – Joey Donaldson 0 0 0 0
46 – Aaron Fox 3 3 3 9
137 – Justin Almon 2 Nr F 2
168 – Mark Fillebrown 1 1 2 4
182 – Rudy Laurer 0 F 1 1
214 – Michael Wells 0 2 1 3
249 – John Wilder 1 2 0 3
309 – Johnny Oakden 0 1 0 1

Heat Results
1: Fox, Martin, Wilder, Laurer
2: Janniro, McConnell, Schwartz, Wells (fell, remounted)
3: Ruml, Lightcap, Castro, Oakden
4: Novratil, Almon, Fillebrown, Donaldson
12: Fox, Wells, Fillebrown, Castro
13: (restarted) Janniro, Wilder, Oakden, Almon (non-starter, restart)
14: Ruml, McConnell, Martin, Donaldson
15: Novratil, Lightcap, Schwartz, Laurer (fell)
21: Fox, Lightcap, Martin, Oakden
22: Schwartz, Fillebrown, Janniro (fell, remounted), Donaldson
23: Ruml, Castro, Laurer, Wilder
24: Novratil, McConnell, Wells, Almon (fell)
Runoff: Martin, Fillebrown