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Last Updated: Nov 28th, 2010 - 10:22:29 |
“Battling” Buck Blair scored the biggest victory of his career by winning the 38th Orange County Fair Derby at the world famous Costa Mesa Speedway.
Austin Novratil, bidding to be the youngest Fair Derby winner, started on the inside with 2008 Fair Derby Champion Jimmy “Little Animal” Fishback and Blair immediately to his right. The trio entered turn one simultaneously, but Novratil’s race ended when he spun around and went down. Fishback and Blair were side-by-side on the back straight and into turn three. Fishback lifted in turn four, narrowly missed Blair, and righted himself just before hitting the wall. Blair capitalized by assuming the lead, but Fishback wasn’t finished. The former Youth National Champion tried the inside line and outside cushion for three laps but couldn’t find a way past the Colorado native. Blair crossed the finish line first, Fishback finished second, Shawn “Mad Dog” McConnell was third, Tyson Burmeister finished fourth, and Novratil was credited with fifth.
Former Youth National Champion Brad Pappalardo benefitted from an engine failure by Gary Hicks to win the first heat. Mike Faria led the second heat for a lap before Novratil went by on the inside for the lead and the win. Bobby “Boogaloo” Schwartz led the third heat until Fishback used the outside to take the lead and he was awarded the victory when a crash brought a halt to the race on the last lap. Steve Russell defeated Blair to end the first round.
Blair opened the second round with a win over John Marquez and Brad Sauer. Faria held off Novratil to win the next heat. Burmeister passed Schwartz on the second lap to win event 11. McConnell used the ample outside dirt to pass Fishback and win the final heat of round two.
Burmeister started the final round with the best start but Fishback blew past him on the outside and went on to his second win. Faria defeated Blair in event 18 for his second straight win. Novratil defeated Schwartz in the penultimate heat for his second victory. Castro closed out the heats with a victory over McConnell.
McConnell made the best start in the Last Chance but had Castro, the defending Fair Derby Champion, breathing down his neck. McConnell, a two-time Fair Derby Champion, withstood Castro’s onslaught and held on for the win and the final spot in the main.
The first attempt to run the Support Main Event ended in a heap in turn one with Rick Valdez getting the worst of the carnage. Valdez would restart, but had to borrow a bike from Geoff Herkner to do so. Valdez showed his mettle by leading the second attempt but his bid for victory ended with a waving red flag after Dylan Black crashed in turn four. Joey Holt led the third attempt and left little doubt the entire four laps. Holt raced away to complete his perfect night with a main-event victory. Aaron Fox finished second, Valdez was third, Eloy Medellin finished fourth, and Black was credited with fifth.
National Champions Joe Jones and Jimmy Olsen led from start to finish and claimed victory in the Sidecar Main Event. Brian Motis and Brandi McElroy were second, Gerard Jackson and Dave German finished third, and Scott Driggers and Casey Driggers were fourth.
The Fair Derby was held on the Opening Night of the annual Orange County Fair, which is held on the fairgrounds on which Costa Mesa Speedway runs its events. It always attracts a large crowd and is also a showcase for speedway to potentially gain new fans because all fair patrons are admitted free into the speedway venue.
The next speedway event at Costa Mesa is the Jack Milne Cup on Saturday, August 21. The event honors the 1937 World Speedway Champion who was instrumental in getting Costa Mesa Speedway started in 1969. The event will also include Amateur Afternoon racing as well. McConnell is the defending Jack Milne Cup Champion.
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