COSTA MESA, CA

This Saturday at Costa Mesa Speedway was a special one: It paid tribute to a man and his family that were a very big part of the Speedway scene for many years and among the guiding forces of Sidecar racing. John Matherson lost his life a year and a half ago in a motorcycle accident. For the second year, this night was dedicated to him and what he contributed to racing for both very young and old. The Mission Motorsports John Matherson Cup was all about celebrating a life that was cut short far too early but that still gives joy to so many. Joe Jones & Jimmy Olsen (1, above) successfully defended their Sidecar title, and on the skinny-bike side of the program, Jimmy "Little Animal" Fishback (25, below) added his name to the perpetual trophy.

It was an all-Scratch program, with three rounds of racing and the top 10 advancing to the two semis. The first semi was all Fishback's. A great gate gave him a lead that was too much to overcome. "Gorgeous Gary" Hicks gave it one heck of a go, but four laps on the bullring is just not enough time to make up the difference. Not to worry, though: Both were headed to the main. "Flyin' Mike" Faria and Jason Ramirez were headed to the pits to get ready for the last-chance qualifier. Unfortunately, the night was over for Gino Manzares.

The second semi had defending Matherson Cup champ Shawn McConnell on the pole, with Shaun Harmatiuk in two, Tyson Burmeister in three, and Bobby "Boogaloo" Schwartz and "Battlin' Buck" Blair on the outside. The first start at a go saw Blair get a little too anxious, and he broke the tapes. You can't do that; he was done for the night. They loaded in again, and this time McConnell got the start he needed, and he was away, with Schwartz right behind him. They swapped the lead on the second lap, and on the white-flag lap McConnell, on the inside, regained it, and he never looked back. Those two were headed to the main. Harmatiuk and Burmeister would get another shot in the LCQ.

Faria drew the pole in the LCQ, with Harmatiuk in two, Ramirez in three, and Burmeister in four. This was a war. First-year rookie Burmeister exploded out of the gate and rode like a seasoned vet as he held off Faria, who literally rode double with him the whole way. Faria did everything to move him off the groove, but Burmeister held his ground, and he would be the final man in the main.

They rolled to the line for the Scratch main, and it was McConnell on the pole, with Hicks in two, Fishback in three, and Schwartz and Burmeister on the outside. They loaded in, the light went green, and the tapes came up. Fishback got the start of the night, with Hicks in hot pursuit. McConnell was trying to get the inside working but just couldn't find any racing room and waited for a mistake that never came. The only battle was the one being waged for fourth between Schwartz and Burmeister, and on the last lap it was Burmeister who came out on top. Fishback claimed the Matherson Cup, with Hicks and McConnell second and third, respectively.

Joe Jones & Jimmy Olsen drew the pole for the Sidecar main, and that was all they needed to successfully defend their crown. The number one is on their bike for a reason. Dave Alexander & Matt Davis held off the Driggers, Sean & Missy, for second. Brian Motis & Chris Leavitt rounded out the field in fourth.

Dylan Black held off Rudy Laurer and Drew Coats to win the Support main. On back, it was Damon Barry and Justin Hassan.

Results

SCR: 1. Jimmy Fishback (Jaw); 2. Gary Hicks (Jaw); 3. Shawn McConnell (GM); 4. Tyson Burmeister (Jaw); 5. Bobby Schwartz (GM).

SDCAR: 1. Joe Jones/Jimmy Olsen (Suz); 2. Dave Alexander/Matt Davis (Yam); 3. Sean Driggers/Missy Driggers (Yam); 4. Brian Motis/Chris Leavitt (Yam).

SUP: 1. Dylan Black (Jaw); 2. Rudy Laurer (Jaw); 3. Drew Coats (Jaw); 4. Damon Barry (Jaw); 5. Justin Hassan (Jaw).

P/W 50s: 1. Nick Varner (Hon); 2. Michael Wells (Hon); 3. Gino Scopellite (Yam); 4. Justin Krips (Hon); 5. Tristan Britt (Suz).

P/W MOD: 1. Jacob Wondolowski (Suz); 2. Nicky Reimer (KTM); 3. Brian Pintar (Suz).

JR D-1: 1. Rocco Scopellite (Jaw); 2. Samuel Ramirez (Jaw); 3. Maxwell Ruml (Jaw).

JR D-2: 1. River McDougall (Hon); 2. Nicky Reimer (Hon); 3. Maxwell Ruml (Hon); 4. Samuel Ramirez (Hon).

JR D-3: 1. Dillon Ruml (Hon); 2. Hayley Perrault (Hon); 3. Michael Wells (Hon); 4. Brian Pintar (Hon).