AUBURN, CA

Charlie Venegas (above) came up big again Friday night at the Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway in Auburn, California. The self-assured veteran racer made it look easy in the Scratch main event against some of the best talent at Fast Fridays.

Starting in lane two, Venegas got the best gate and left Billy Janniro (coming out of lane three) and Bart Bast (coming out of lane one) to battle neck and neck for second place, and Russell Green (coming from lane four) just behind them, as he rode a perfect race. Venegas remained composed, riding the inside line increasing his lead as Janniro and Bast chased him. Janniro finished second, just ahead of Bast. Green finished fourth.

"I've been dreaming about this for a month, getting beat second, falling off trying - it's all I need for the rest of the year," said Venegas. "The bike was running strong; it's my number-four engine, but I think it's the engine for next week's championship."

Venegas will be racing in the Fast Fridays Track Championships on September 11 against 16 of the top season points leaders. Venegas, last year's winner, will be looking for his fourth consecutive Fast Fridays Track Championship title. Going into Friday's racing, Bast led in the points standings with 2,171, Billy Janniro had 1,966, and Kenny Ingalls had 1,304. Venegas trailed next with 1,202, but don't count the veteran out, because he never does.

The 2009 Challenge Elimination Series wrapped up with an exciting exhibition as the five finalists of the series lined up. Ben Essary, Charlie Venegas, Billy Janniro, Greg Hooten and Kenny Ingalls raced for the $700 purse. The riders raced one lap, and the last-place rider was dropped - until the final two riders rode two very fast laps for the title. Ingalls went down first, Hooten was next, and Essary was third to exit, leaving Janniro and Venegas, who put on a great show, with Janniro winning by just inches - too close for most to call.

Mark Carrillo (23, above) was back to riding well after losing an engine two weeks before, picking up the Handicap main-event checkered flag for the second time this season.

"My dad is the one who gets the engines really going good for me, and this one was great tonight," said Carrillo, who will also be racing for the track championship on September 11.

Carrillo held off back-yardage riders Billy Janniro, Alex Marcucci, Kelly Kerrigan, Matt Becker and Bart Bast for his win.

Racing was fast in Division Two and Division Three, as both divisions have tight points races going as the top eight racers go into the track championships for their divisions. Danny Poli won the Division Two main event; Danny Turner was second and Richard Fehrman was third. Division Three was won by Casey Cornilsen; second was John Gauthreaux, and Billy Vaughn took third.

Cody Ciciarelli, in his seventh trip to the winners' podium this year, won the Division One Youth main event. P.J. Byrne was second and Tyler Warren was third.

Results

D-1 SCR: 1. Charlie Venegas; 2. Billy Janniro; 3. Bart Bast; 4. Russell Green.

D-1 HDCP: 1. Mark Carrillo; 2. Matt Becker; 3. Bart Bast.

D-2: 1. Danny Poli; 2. Danny Turner; 3. Richard Fehrman.

D-3: 1. Casey Cornilsen; 2. John Gauthreaux; 3. Billy Vaughn.

D-1 YTH: 1. Cody Ciciarelli; 2. P.J. Byrne; 3. Tyler Warren.

D-2 YTH: 1. Jamison Dilkey; 2. Ryan Vaughn; 3. Gage Geist.

CHALLENGE C'SHIP: 1. Billy Janniro; 2. Charlie Venegas; 3. Ben Essary; 4. Greg Hooten; 5. Kenny Ingalls.