Tim Gomez (30) turned in a solid performance and captured his first Scratch main-event victory at the Stallone's Cycles Spring Classic at Wheel2Wheel Raceway in Victorville, California.

Buck Blair was off the line first, but Gomez found more traction entering turn one and pulled down to the pole in front of Blair to take the lead. Blair gave chase on the back straight, but Gomez stuck to the inside to fend off the challenge. Gomez withstood the inside attack for another lap before Blair switched to the outside entering turn one. Gomez was equal to that task, and Blair's quest ended on the back straight when he suffered a flat tire and slowed to a stop. Gomez cruised the final lap for his maiden victory in the first division. Michael Hull finished second, Robbie Sauer (center) was third, and Blair was credited with fourth.

Four rounds of heats that utilized the Olympique format began with Hull beating Russell Green and John DeFries. Blair earned his first victory, over Gomez and Sauer. John Marquez (left) led all four laps to get an impressive win in heat eight. Sauer took advantage of starting in the front and defeated Green and Blair. Heat 13 had to be restarted, but only after a great laydown by John Marquez saved his and Green's bodies and bikes. Gomez scored his first win of the evening after passing DeFries and holding off Sauer.

The final round began with an excellent three-rider battle among former junior riders Green, Gomez and Hull. Green led the entire way while facing constant pressure from Gomez and Hull, who battled side by side for four laps behind the 16-year-old. Green was first to the finish line, with Gomez just beating Hull to the line for second. Blair started at the back but used the outside to win the final heat.

In a break from the status quo, two riders transferred from the Last Chance Qualifier into the main event. Hull got a great start and took the win. Sauer finished second and followed Hull into the main.

Former National Championship participant Tony "The Tiger" Bienert spun a few practice laps recently and decided to return to racing. He chose to compete in the second division to, in his words, "get the cobwebs out," and his performance resulted in this being his last appearance in that division. J.C. Masters led the main for three laps before being passed by Steve Bowen. Then Bowen came under pressure from Bienert, who had patiently worked his way through the pack from the 30-yard line. Bienert made a brilliant move in the final corner and charged passed Bowen to snatch the victory. Masters was third, Steve Dziadus finished fourth, Rick Fritch was fifth, and Dylan Black was credited with sixth.

Tony De Almeida stalked Paul Thornton for three laps before taking the lead and going on to the Division Three victory. Thornton settled for second and Rick Huspek finished third.

Results

D-3: 1. Tony De Almeida (Jaw); 2. Paul Thornton (Jaw); 3. Rick Huspek (Jaw).

D-2: 1. Tony Bienert (Jaw); 2. Steve Bowen (Jaw); 3. J.C. Masters (Jaw); 4. Steve Dziadus (Jaw); 5. Rick Fritch (Jaw).

D-1 LCQ: 1. Michael Hull (Jaw); 2. Robbie Sauer (Jaw); 3. John Marquez (GM); 4. Russell Green (Jaw).

D-1 MAIN: 1. Tim Gomez (GM); 2. Michael Hull (Jaw); 3. Robbie Sauer (Jaw); 4. Buck Blair (Jaw).