PERRIS, CA

The Southern California Flat Track Association closed out the 10-round 2009 series in crisp temperatures on a still night. Wes Powell (33, above) is a series regular and a strong local racer in the Pro class. Proving this point, he took the lead out of the start on the eighth-mile Perris short track. Following in his draft were Joe Steffen in second and Jeff Evans third.

The competition for second heated up while Powell was running strong at the point, apparently untouchable. Evans' pressure was too much for Steffen, who slid back into third, but Steffen was not off the hook yet, as Jim Woods (37, above) also hammered by him, taking third, as Steffen faded back to fourth.

Approaching the halfway point of the 20-lap race, Powell was still in clean air as he powered around the track in the lead. The donnybrook for second had not cooled down; Woods finally powered past Evans for second. Powell kept his machine soil-sample-free all the way to the checkers for a workmanlike win. Woods finished second, with Evans third and Steffen fourth.

The Bush brothers, David (88B, above) and Robert (44S), have been running roughshod over the competition during the series, and it was more of the same on this night. In the Over 35 Vet class, David Bush led the pack through the corners on lap two, with Josh Evans second, Frank Aragaki (19) third and Robert Bush fourth as the top four guns flew single file around the speedy oval. Josh forced his way past David, but David quickly counterpunched and retook the lead. The two racers continued their jousting, but David Bush prevailed for the win, with Josh Evans second, Robert Bush third and Aragaki fourth.

David Bush also topped the Open Amateur contest for his second win of the night. His brother Robert Bush was second.

Besides running in the Pro class, Joe Steffen (6, above) also put on a show in the Senior Over 50 class. He was in first soon after the green flag flew, while Elliott Iverson pulled into the second spot and Bartels' Harley-Davidson's Al Steele was in third. Steffen plowed on for the win. Steele raced past Iverson for second, and Iverson was third at the checkers.

In the Vintage 250 Two-Stroke contest, Steffen power-slid his steed gracefully and fast, stamping out a large lead by lap two and taking it to the finish for his second class win of the night.

The Southern California Flat Track Association will be hosting a non-series holiday race on December 12. This will be the last race of 2009. Plans are still afoot for a new track adjacent to the present location, and it will be running a full slate of races for 2010. For more info, please go to www.southerncaliforniaflattrack.com.

Results

YTH 50: 1. Justin Hanson.

125 NOV: 1. Corey Baum; 2. Andrew Kessinger.

250 NOV: 1. Nick Gil.

250 2-STRK VINT: 1. Joe Steffen; 2. Carl Whitt; 3. Daniel Stinson; 4. Bruce Heiland; 5. Michael Fritz.

OPEN NOV: 1. Rich Hanson; 2. Harly Legowski.

OPEN AM: 1. David Bush; 2. Robert Bush; 3. Jim Lundgren; 4. Dave Reinhard; 5. Josh Evans.

PRO: 1. Wes Powell; 2. Jim Woods; 3. Jeff Evans; 4. Joe Steffen; 5. Paul Herman.

4-STRK: 1. Daniel Iha; 2. Billy Katkov.

VET 35+: 1. David Bush; 2. Josh Evans; 3. Robert Bush; 4. Frank Aragaki; 5. Jim Ottele.

SR 50+: 1. Joe Steffen; 2. Al Steele; 3. Elliott Iverson; 4. Daniel Kane; 5. Bill Wright.

S/SR 60+: 1. Dennis Kanegae; 2. Mel Stoner; 3. Alan Girdler.

CLSC VINT: 1. Lenny Rodriguez; 2. James Kohls.

BOMBER: 1. Dave Reinhard.

KNOBBY: 1. Rich Hanson.