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Industry, CA., June 25, 2008- Track champion Charlie "the Edge" Venegas started from the inside lane at the starting gate in a five-rider speedway cycle feature Wednesday in front of 835 spectators. The 41-year old San Bernardino resident shot into the lead entering the first turn and withstood a strong passing attemp in turn two by 16-year old Ricky Wells, a U.S Under 21 natrional champion, who started from the fourth lane. The duo waged a close battle all four laps before Venegas edged Wells by one length. Buck Blair, the only rider able to defeat Venegas at Industry this season, finished third. Bobby Schwartz, 51, and Shawn McConnell, 49, finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Venegas, who started 500-cc Division 1 speedway cycle racing two decades ago, earned more than $700 for his night's work. His earnings included his share of the 50/50 raffle that went to the first two finishers, plus his earnings as winner of the Last of the Mohicans four rider race. The last rider in that unique race is eliminated after each of the first two laps. The final two riders race two laps for the winner's share of money put up by a group of fans wearing Mohican haircuts.
Bryan Buffington, of Orange, took charge of the Division 2 main on lap 2 and defeated first lap leader Steve Bowen in a four-rider race. Covina resident Ron Mongenel, who races his Speed Truck at the Irwindale half-mile on Saturdays, led all four laps of the 500-cc Division 3 main for newer riders. It was his second D-3 feature trophy, with his first coming during his first season in 2006. Austin Novratil led every lap of the four-rider youth division main for riders under 16 using 250-cc cycles. Nicky Reimer, a 9-year old from Seal Beach, won his second pee-wee main of the season on a 50-cc mini cycle.
During one of the two semi-final races that advanced the first two finishers in each race to the main event, John Marquez, from Elsinore, made contact with the crashwall. He fell to the track leaving the fourth turn while battling Blair for second position. Marquez suffered a compound fracture of his right foot and hobbled to the infield where he received medical attention. Under the red flag, Marquez was assisted to the pits by men on each side as he walked on his uninjured foot. He was taken by car to a local hospital for treatment before racing concluded.
The final event of the evening was a demonstration for ten minutres by four freestyle motorcycle riders led by World freestyle Association (WFA) champion Dan Pastor, of Long Beach. The four riders took turns launching off a metal ramp at turn four and landing on a large dirt hill in the infield. They performed aerial tricks seen for years at the X-games on ESPN and landed successfully to the applause of an appreciative audience. The ten-minute performance concluded at 9:30 pm. Afterwards, many spectators visited the jumpers and speedwasy racers in the pits..
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