The Firecracker Derby changed locations, but the Scratch Main winner was the same as Buck Blair was victorious for the second year in a row in front of a boisterous crowd at the Desert Empire Fairgrounds in Ridgecrest.

Blair, who won last year's Firecracker Derby in Victorville, got a good start from the outside, but it wasn't quite good enough to get across FastEddie Castro in turn one.  Castro held the lead on the back straight with Blair planted on his back tire.  Castro led through the first lap, but was under immense pressure from Blair.  Castro parked just a bit on the exit of turn four and Blair moved him off the inside and seized the lead.  Castro recovered, but Blair had an insurmountable lead and led to the checkered flag.  Castro settled for second, Greg Ayers finished third, and Neil Facchini was fourth.

Marvin Sonnier led the Handicap Main Event for nearly one lap, but Facchini surged past Sonnier and Travis Henderson with a burst of speed coming out of turn four.  Facchini came under fire from Castro on lap three.  The diminutive rider tried kept the pressure on the former Under 21 National Champion the entire distance, but Facchini was up to the challenge and crossed the finish line first.  Castro was second, Blair finished third, Henderson was fourth, Ayers finished fifth, and Sonnier was sixth.

Ayers and Facchini were the first two riders eliminated in the Last of the Mohicans/Ministry Clothing Last Man Out Challenge leaving Blair and Castro for the two-lap battle.  Blair was first to turn one with Castro in tow.  Castro gave everything that he could to overcome the leader, but Blair held him off for the win.

The Joker Machine/Finish Line Flooring Superpole was held prior to the race meeting with 10 First Division riders competing.  Ayers, who went fourth, was the leader with a time of 12.84 seconds when Castro, the final competitor, took to the track.  Castro electrified the crowd with a time of 12.62 seconds and dramatically steal the victory away from Ayers. 

Scott York led the Second Division Main Event with little threat the first lap.  Lee Edwards charged from the back via the outside and was within striking distance of the lead.  Edwards stayed wide entering turn three, but his bid ended when he slid off.  York was uncontested the rest of the way and took home the victory.  Matt Davis finished second, Steve Dziadus was third, Mark Sincavage finished fourth, and Edwards was fifth.

Tony DeAlmeida led the Third Division Main Event for a lap and a half before Jonni Jade took over the lead entering turn three.  Jade never looked back from there and was victorious.  Tim McGrath finished second, DeAlmeida was third, Paul Thornton finished fourth, and Rick Huspek was fifth.

The Firecracker Derby was the second speedway event to be held in Ridgecrest in 2008 after a 25 year absence.  As was the case with the event held in April, the Firecracker Derby filled the stands and had the spectators and powers-that-be begging for more speedway in the future. 

The next speedway event at the Desert Empire Fairgrounds will be the Ridgecrest Track Championship and Round One of the Sidecar National Championship on Friday, October 16.