United States Under 21 National Champion Ricky Wells took home top honors after winning a thrilling battle in the main event of the Joker Machine 2008 Perris Raceway Season Opener.

Jimmy Fishback, Tommy Hedden, and Wells entered the main event tied with 15 points.  Fishback won the luck of the draw and selected the pole.  Wells then chose gate two, Hedden picked gate three, and Nate Perkins, who qualified via the Last Chance, was left with gate four.

Wells got the best start but was flanked by Hedden on the outside and Fishback on the inside entering turn one.  Wells drifted to the outside exiting turn two and Fishback found enough traction to take a slight lead on the back straight.  The riders were even through the completion of lap one, but Fishback surged ahead coming out of turn two the second time.  Wells had enough speed on the back straight to lead entering turn three. 

The riders finished lap two still locked in their side-by-side battle.  On lap three, Fishback found too much traction in turn two, lifted and lifted into Wells' racing line.  Wells reacted quickly and cut under Fishback, but Perkins entered the fray by blasting up the inside and became the new combatant for Wells.  T

he pair took the white flag simultaneously, but Perkins held a slight advantage when they went down the back straight.  Wells went deep into turn three while Perkins hugged the inside line.  As they charged to the checkered flag, Wells found just enough traction to surge ahead for the victory.  Perkins had to settle for second, Hedden finished third, and Fishback was fourth.

Tim Gomez began the day by defeating Perkins in the first heat.  Hedden handed Wells his only defeat in heat two.  Fishback beat Kenny Ingalls to finish round one.

Wells started round two with a win over Ingalls and Perkins.  The next heat had to be restarted after Travis Henderson hit the turn four wall and cartwheeled over the top.  He was up right away and was able to restart.  On the restart, Hedden stalked Greg Ayers for two laps before using the outside to pass him for his second win.  Fishback held off Gomez to win the final race of the second round.

Perkins began the third round with his first victory.  Fishback beat Hedden in a battle of unbeaten riders in the next heat.  Wells was victorious over Ayers to complete round three.

Wells started the final round by defeating Ben Essary for his third win.  Hedden matched Well's three wins by beating Gomez in the next heat.  The final heat required three starts to complete.  Fishback led the first two attempts before red flags halted both tries.  He got the best start the third time, but left an inside gap that Perkins exploited to take the lead and the win.

Perkins won the Last Chance and a fierce battle behind him ended with Ingalls edging Gomez for second.

Donnie Robinson was the initial leader in the Second Division Main, but Ryan Tovatt pushed his way past on the inside to take the lead at the end of lap one.  Tovatt never looked back and was first to the checkered flag.  Russell Green had a hard-earned second, Robinson finished third, Alex Wood was fourth, Steve Bowen finished fifth, and Jim Painter was sixth.

Monte McKeon led all four laps en route to the Third Division Main Event win.  Mike Nutting was second, Tony DeAlmeida finished third, and Jeff Shaffer was fourth.

Brad Pappalardo got the best start in the Youth First Division Main Event, but was immediately under attack from defending Youth National Champion Jason Ramirez.  Ramirez applied the pressure, but Pappalardo was up to the task through two laps.  Exiting turn two Pappalardo hit a bump which opened a narrow gap that Ramirez went through for the lead.  Ramirez held off Pappalardo all the way to the finish.  Joey Holt finished third and Dylan Black was fourth.

Chad Hoyt was dominant in winning the Youth Second Division Main Event.  Samuel Ramirez finished second and Major Davis was third.

The next event at Perris Raceway will be Sunday, April 13 at 2:00 p.m.