Janniro Jaunts to Perfection

FST Sand & Gravel Night
Inland Motorcycle Speedway

Story by Ryan Evans
Photos by Jim Thorn/BackItInPhotos.com
SAN BERNARDINO, CA, MAY 4, 2012

National Champion Billy “The Kid” Janniro turned in a flawless six-for-six performance and won both main events on FST Sand & Gravel Night at Inland Motorcycle Speedway in San Bernardino, California.

Billy Janniro (1) had a perfect evening on FST Sand & Gravel Night at Inland Motorcycle Speedway.

Former National Champion and hometown rider Charlie “The Edge” Venegas launched into the lead from gate four, with Janniro, who started in gate five, not far behind. Venegas used the outside through turns one and two for more traction and to block Janniro’s preferred line. Janniro went deeper into turn three than Venegas and cut back to the inside as they exited turn four to hold a brief lead entering turn one for the second time. Janniro used the inside while Venegas remained wide and found enough traction to go around the outside and into the lead again.

Janniro stalked Venegas through the end of lap two and then went for the cutback move exiting turn two and made it stick as they entered turn three. Venegas tried to fight back on the final lap, but Janniro was first to the checkered flag, and both riders received a loud ovation for an excellent performance. “Battlin’ Buck” Blair was third, Shawn “Mad Dog” McConnell finished fourth, and Tyson Burmeister was fifth.

The Division One last-chance qualifier win went to Tyson Burmeister (26).

Steve Russell, starting on the 20 yard line, led the eight-rider Handicap main-event field into turn one. Janniro, the only rider starting on the 50-yard line, immediately went to the outside. As Russell held his lead on the back straight, Janniro was already carving his way through the field and into third. Janniro went to the outside to get second and then set his sights on Russell.

Conventional wisdom would have Janniro using the inside to pressure Russell into making a mistake, but anyone who has seen Janniro race over the years knows he thrives on defying conventional wisdom. The track had plenty of dirt on the outside, which encouraged Janniro to follow his own instincts to use that path. Russell’s inside line allowed him to remain in front until lap four, when Janniro went around him for the lead.

Billy Janniro (1) goes for the dirt to win the Handicap main event.

Ever the showman, Janniro remained outside over the final four laps and romped to a victory that was cheered by the appreciative crowd. Russell still scored an impressive second. Burmeister finished third, Tim Gomez was fourth, McConnell finished fifth, and Venegas was sixth.

Billy Janniro (1) completes his perfect night at IMS with the Handicap main-event victory.

Kayle LeoGrande backed up his Third Division main-event victory at the season opener by leading all five laps to win the Second Division main event. Rudy Laurer finished second, “Rattlesnake Steve” Bowen was third, Tim McGrath finished fourth, Chris Jones was fifth, and Mike Fuson was credited with sixth.

Kayle LeoGrande (185) leads Mike Fuson (245, on the outside), Lewis Hughes (244) and Chris Jones (outside rear) in the Division Two main event.

Jake Hansen led the first lap of the Third Division main event before Davey Shaw took over the lead. Shaw had no chance to relax, though, as J.D. Myerscough was breathing down his neck right away. Myerscough showed incredible patience as he waited for his opening. That moment came when Shaw drifted wide in turn two on the fourth lap, and Myerscough charged up the inside on the back straight and secured the lead entering turn three. Myerscough led the final lap to claim the victory. Shaw held on to second, Mike Salyer finished third, Ron Davis was fourth, Hansen finished fifth, and Stephen Simrak was sixth.

J.D. Myerscough (155) makes an outside move on Stephen Simrak en route to the Division Three main-event victory.

Max Ruml and Dalton Leedy entered turn one together in the Youth 250cc main event, but Ruml pulled into the lead on the back straight. Ruml never looked back and stretched his lead with each lap for a dominant victory. Dillon Ruml finished second, Leedy was third, and Hayley Perrault finished fourth.

Max Ruml (inside) and Dalton Leedy (outside) battle in the Youth 250cc main event.

Adam Herkner led the six-rider Youth 200cc main event at the start and was contending with Dryden LeoGrande. Braydan Galvin started on the 50-yard line, a handicap matched only by Janniro, and calmly swept around the outside of his opponents before going after the leader.

Galvin took control at the end of the fourth lap and raced away with the victory. Herkner ended up an impressive second, Dryden LeoGrande was third, Courtney Crone finished fourth, Maverick Molloy was fifth, and Sebastian Palmese finished sixth.

Matching the handicap yardage of Janniro, Braydan Galvin (45) came from the 50-yard line to win the Youth 200cc main event.

Joe Jones & Jonny Glover jumped into the lead at the start of the Sidecar main event, with Kevin Brown & Nick Hertrick in tow. Jones & Glover opened up some ground on Brown & Hertrick, who had their hands full with Dylan Beard & Crystal Beard. The Beards made a great outside pass for second, but by then Jones & Glover had established an insurmountable lead. Jones & Glover cruised to the victory, Beard & Beard were second, Dual Anderson & Matt Davis finished third, and Brown & Hertrick were fourth.

Joe Jones & Jonny Glover (1) battle Kevin Brown & Nick Hertrick (5150) in the Sidecar main event.

Sara Cords (14) took the checkers in the Pee Wee main event.

The evening featured some excellent racing on a well-prepared track after the previous week’s event was canceled due to the facility’s being flooded from heavy rains. Despite battling a flooded racetrack throughout the week, Benny Mears and the entire IMS track crew provided an excellent track for the racers to perform for the spectators.

The next event at IMS is Ken Maely Night on Friday, May 11, which will honor the legendary figure in speedway and flat track.

Inland Motorcycle Speedway
San Bernardino, California
Results: May 4, 2012

SIDECAR MAIN: 1. Joe Jones/ Jonny Glover; 2. Dylan Beard/ Crystal Beard; 3. Dual Anderson/ Matt Davis; 4. Kevin Brown/ Nick Hertrick.

PEE WEE MAIN: 1. Sara Cords; 2. Jonas LeoGrande.

YOUTH 200 MAIN: 1. Braydan Galvin; 2. Adam Herkner; 3. Dryden LeoGrande; 4. Courtney Crone; 5. Maverick Molloy.

YOUTH 250 MAIN: 1. Max Ruml (JRM); 2. Dillon Ruml (Jaw); 3. Dalton Leedy (Jaw); 4. Hayley Perrault (Jaw).

DIVISON 3 MAIN: 1. J.D. Myerscough (Jaw); 2. Davey Shaw (Jaw); 3. Mike Salyer (Jaw); 4. Ron Davis (Jaw); 5. Jake Hansen.

DIVISION 2 MAIN: 1. Kayle LeoGrande (GM); 2. Rudy Laurer (JRM); 3. Steve Bowen (Jaw); 4. Tim McGrath (Jaw); 5. Chris Jones (Jaw).

HANDICAP MAIN: 1. Billy Janniro (GM); 2. Steve Russell (GM); 3. Tyson Burmeister (GM); 4. Tim Gomez (GM): 5. Shawn McConnell (GM).

DIVISION 1 LCQ: 1. Tyson Burmeister (GM); 2. Tim Gomez (GM); 3. Eddie Castro (JRM); 4. Bobby Schwartz (GM).

SCRATCH MAIN: 1. Billy Janniro (GM); 2. Charlie Venegas (Jaw); 3. Buck Blair (JRM); 4. Shawn McConnell (GM); 5. Tyson Burmeister (GM).