Philip Harmatiuk and Ryan Brant each captured National Championships at the Clubman Amateur National Championships at Perris Raceway.
The Second Division National Championship Final required two starts to complete. Allen Doss and Philip Harmatiuk battled side-by-side for the lead before Harmatiuk secured the lead after Doss drifted too wide in turn four. Tyson Burmeister fell in turn one on the third lap and brought out the red flag. On the restart, Doss and Harmatiuk battled again for the lead before Harmatiuk pulled ahead at the end of lap one. Dylan Black moved into second and had eyes on the lead. Black never got close enough to challenge Harmatiuk who led to the checkered flag. Black settled for second, Burmeister was third, Doss finished fourth, and Brian Pappalardo, competing on his son’s 250, was credited with fifth.
Michael “No Throttle” Novratil, who was undefeated entering the Third Division National Championship Final, led at the start. Ryan Brant, in his first speedway meeting on a 500, remained within striking distance on the first two laps. Brant, the son of former National Champion Scott Brant, turned up the heat on Novratil on the third lap and threatened his lead. He stayed on Novratil’s back tire entering the final corner and made his move exiting the final corner. Brant cut up a narrow opening on the inside and both riders charged to the finish line with Brant winning by inches. Novratil had to settle for second, Tim McGrath finished third, Billy Vaughn was fourth, and Mike Schultz finished fifth.
Both champions received giant trophies in the shape of a rocket in honor of 76 year old competitor, Hugh “The Rocket” Randolph. The trophies were on display at Costa=2 0Mesa the previous evening and were admired by the competitors and met with jealousy from the First Division riders.
The meeting also staged the First Division “Sandbagger” Main Event. The trophy itself featured a bag of sand and the sarcastic inscription “I won the First Division Main at a Second Division Event”. Jason Ramirez entered the main as the top scorer and looked to have the trophy in his possession, but he drifted from the cherished inside line entering turn three and allowed Russell Green to take the lead. Green never looked back and led to the finish. Ramirez finished second, Greg Ayers was third, and New York’s Mikey Buman finished fourth.
Austin Novratil led all four laps en route to victory in the Youth First Division Main Event. Gino Manzares finished second and Youth National Champi on Brad Pappalardo was third.
Rocco Scopellite led the Youth Second Division Main Event before Samuel Ramirez made a spectacular outside pass on lap two and took the lead. Ramirez made no mistake from there and went on to victory. Scopellite finished second and Major Davis was third.
The next event at Perris Raceway will be the 2008 Team Speedway Championships on Sunday, November 2 at 2:00 p.m. It is the final speedway event of 2008 at Perris Raceway.
