The Bullet Blazes to a Great Eight at Industry!

Industry Racing
Industry Hills Expo Center

Story by Ryan Evans
Photos by Jim Thorn/BackItInPhotos.com
CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA, AUG. 22, 2012

Former World Champion Billy “The Bullet” Hamill topped another perfect evening by winning his eighth Industry Racing Scratch main event of the season and taking home the Last Of The Mohicans Last Man Out Challenge Championship!

Billy Hamill (left) leads Austin Novratil (center) and Tyson Burmeister (right) in the Division One main event at Industry Racing.

Hamill’s unbeaten night afforded him the opportunity to pick his starting position first in the main event, and he chose gate one. Former National Champion Charlie “The Edge” Venegas selected gate two and former Under 21 National Champion Austin Novratil picked gate four, which left Tyson Burmeister with gate three.

Hamill exploded from the tapes and led the pack into turn one. Venegas led the triumvirate that chased the leader on the back straight. Hamill was unmoved by the throng of opponents chasing him and quickly established a sizable lead. Venegas separated himself from Novratil and Burmeister to secure second, but he couldn’t make an impact on Hamill’s lead. Hamill was first to the checkered flag, Venegas finished second, Burmeister was third, and Novratil finished fourth.

Aaron Fox kicked off the heat races with a win, over Burmeister. Venegas held off “Battlin’ Buck” Blair in the second heat for his first win of the evening. Hamill defeated “Fast Eddie” Castro in event three. Shawn “Mad Dog” McConnell was awarded the victory to end the first round.

Burmeister started the second round with a victory, ahead of Venegas. Next, Blair defeated Fox for his first win of the night. Hamill made it two for two by beating Under 21 National Champion Gino Manzares. McConnell beat Novratil in the last heat of round two for his second straight win.

Blair opened the final round of heats with a win over McConnell. Novratil got a much-needed win in event 24. Hamill remained perfect by defeating Fox. Venegas beat Castro to end the heats.

Venegas held off a hard-charging Burmeister in the first semi, and both riders moved on to the main event.

Hamill easily won the second semi, while Novratil made a shrewd move in turn two and took second to also transfer to the main.

Blair led the Consolation race before McConnell went underneath him on the second lap and took the win.

Shawn McConnell passes Buck Blair on the inside in the Consolation race.

The Last of the Mohicans Last Man Out Championship began with eight competitors in two elimination heats. Those heats whittled the field down to Hamill, Blair, Burmeister and Venegas for the final. Venegas was the first rider eliminated, followed by Burmeister. The final two-lap challenge was all Hamill’s, as he made a great start from gate four and took the victory. Blair got second.

A crash on the first attempt to run the Second Division main event left Geoff Herkner and “Rattlesnake Steve” Bowen with bent machinery and on the sidelines for the restart. Danny Baker led that restart from start to finish and won the main for the second week in a row. Tim McGrath finished second.

Danny Baker leads Tim McGrath in the Division Two main event.

Dan Eddy put together four smooth laps and was victorious in the Third Division main event. Paul Thornton finished second, Chris Wiggins was third, Rick Howard finished fourth, and Rick Huspek was fifth.

Dan Eddy (outside) battles Rick Howard (inside) in the Division Three main event.

The Youth 250cc main event required four starts, and the final attempt began with three riders on the penalty line and one in the pits with a broken bike. Broc Nicol calmly held off Max Ruml for five laps for the win. Kurtis Hamill was third, Dillon Ruml finished fourth, Hayley Perrault was fifth, and Dalton Leedy was credited with sixth.

On the fourth attempt at the Youth 250cc main event, Broc Nicol (inside) battles Max Ruml (outside).

After suffering a rare defeat during one of his heat races, Braydan Galvin worked his way through the traffic from his 70-yard handicap, passed Courtney Crone at the end of lap four, and went on to score the victory in the Youth 200cc main event. Crone held on for second, Michael Wells was third, Maverick Molloy finished fourth, Sebastian Palmese was fifth, and Tristan Britt was sixth.

Braydan Galvin (45) leads Courtney Crone (4) in the Youth 200cc main event.

“Lightning Luke” Whitcomb defeated Jake Troutt to win the Pee Wee main event.

Luke Whitcomb (7) topped the Pee Wee main event.

Jeff Medberry & Josh Bennett scored an impressive victory in the Sidecar main event, with Dave Alexander & Casey Driggers finishing second, Dylan Beard & Crystal Beard coming in third, and Dan Jones & Matt Davis getting fourth.

The Sidecar main-event win went to Jeff Medberry & Josh Bennett (44). Dylan Beard & Crystal Beard (5150) ended up third.

The next event at Industry Racing will be the 37th California State Championship, which will bring an end to the 2012 season at the venue. Defending State Champion Billy “The Kid” Janniro will be trying to win his third straight title. Former State Champions Venegas, Schwartz, and “Flyin’ Mike” Faria are also slated to be a part of a 20-rider program that will include McConnell, Castro, Manzares, Burmeister, Novratil, Blair, Fox, and Northern California’s Tommy Hedden.

Industry Hills Expo Center
City of Industry, California
Results: August 22, 2012

SIDECAR MAIN: 1. Jeff Medberry/ Josh Bennett; 2. Dave Alexander/ Casey Driggers; 3. Dylan Beard/ Crystal Beard; 4. Dan Jones/ Matt Davis.

PEE WEE MAIN: 1. Luke Whitcomb (Suz); 2. Jake Troutt (Yam).

YOUTH 200 MAIN: 1. Braydan Galvin; 2. Courtney Crone; 3. Michael Wells; 4. Maverick Molloy; 5. Sebastian Palmese.

YOUTH 250 MAIN: 1. Broc Nicol (Jaw); 2. Max Ruml (JRM); 3. Kurtis Hamill (JRM); 4. Dillon Ruml (Jaw); 5. Hayley Perrault (Jaw).

DIVISION 3 MAIN: 1. Dan Eddy (Jaw); 2. Paul Thornton (Jaw); 3. Chris Wiggins (Jaw); 4. Rick Howard (Jaw); 5. Rick Huspek (Jaw).

DIVISION 2 MAIN: 1. Danny Baker (Jaw); 2. Tim McGrath (Jaw).

LAST OF THE MOHICANS LAST MAN OUT CHAMPIONSHIP: 1. Billy Hamill (GM); 2. Buck Blair (JRM); 3. Tyson Burmeister (GM): 4. Charlie Venegas (Jaw).

DIVISION 1 CONSOLATION: 1. Shawn McConnell (GM); 2. Buck Blair (JRM); 3. Eddie Castro (Jaw); 4. Aaron Fox (GM).

DIVISION 1 MAIN: 1. Billy Hamill (GM); 2. Charlie Venegas (Jaw); 3. Tyson Burmeister (GM); 4. Austin Novratil (Jaw).