INDUSTRY HILLS, CA

"Battlin' Buck" Blair (below) turned in a flawless performance and captured the 2009 Industry Speedway Track Championship.

Blair and Charlie "The Edge" Venegas both entered the final undefeated. Blair won the coin toss for gate choice and wisely selected the pole. Blair launched off the line in front, with Venegas entering turn one on the outside. Blair quickly surged ahead on the back straight and left the California State Champion to battle the rest of the field for second. The Colorado native pulled away from everyone and cruised to the title. Tommy Hedden, just back from his U.S. Open victory in New York, finished second. "Fast Eddie" Castro was third, Venegas finished fourth, and Gary Hicks was fifth.

Blair kicked off the heats by beating Jimmy "Little Animal" Fishback for his first win. Shawn McConnell held off Tommy Hedden in the second heat. Venegas stalked and passed "Flyin' Mike" Faria to win the third heat. Hicks came from behind for a narrow victory over Bobby "Boogaloo" Schwartz to end round one.

Venegas started round two by beating Russell Green for his second straight victory. Hicks made it two in a row with a win over Fishback in the next heat.

Blair was leading heat 12, with McConnell behind him, before Tyson Burmeister charged under McConnell entering turn three the second time. McConnell and Burmeister clashed, and Burmeister hit the ground hard. The Dream Team member was down for several minutes before getting to his feet and restarting. Blair easily won the restart, with Burmeister getting an uncontested second. Burmeister then withdrew from the meeting due to an injury suffered in the crash.

Faria ended the second round by beating Castro.

Blair began the final round by beating Jason Ramirez for his third straight win. Castro beat Brad Pappalardo in the next heat. Venegas used the outside to pass Fishback and held on to match Blair's perfect score. Hedden beat Hicks in the final heat.

Venegas won the first semi, with Hicks following him into the main event. Blair and Hedden finished one-two in the second semi to transfer to the main.

Castro won the last-chance qualifier to book the final spot in the main.

Drew Coats led the Second Division Track Championship final for nearly two laps, but Kyle Hicks (103, above) came underneath him, pushed him wide, and took the lead, while Coats went down. The referee allowed the race to continue, and Hicks romped off with the victory.

Chris Jones (left) led all four laps and captured the victory in the Third Division Track Championship final.

Samuel Ramirez (right) led from start to finish and claimed victory in the Youth Track Championship final.

Victoria Matthews led the Pee Wee Track Championship final before Nick Varner took the lead on the back straight. Varner led for two laps before Samuel Ramirez took the lead. Samuel Ramirez then led the rest of the way to take the victory.

Brian Motis & Brandi McElroy got the best start and kept everyone at bay to win the Sidecar Track Championship final.

This was the final event of Industry Speedway's summer schedule. The next event at the venue will be the first of three consecutive winter season races on Saturday, November 28.

Results

SDCR: 1. Brian Motis/Brandi McElroy; 2. Sean Driggers/Missy Driggers; 3. Gerard Jackson/Dave German; 4. Joe Jones/Jimmy Olsen.

P/W: 1. Samuel Ramirez; 2. Nicky Reimer; 3. Nick Varner; 4. Victoria Matthews; 5. Alexis Harrison-Hicks.

YTH: 1. Samuel Ramirez (Hon); 2. Nicky Reimer (SDR); 3. Elijah Harrison-Hicks (Shu).

D-3: 1. Chris Jones (Jaw); 2. Kevin Johnson (Wes); 3. Kris Harlow (Jaw); 4. DeWayne Stark (Jaw); 5. Rod Requejo (Jaw).

D-2: 1. Kyle Hicks (Jaw); 2. Joey Holt (Jaw); 3. Butch Waymire (Jaw); 4. Drew Coats (Jaw).

D-1 LCQ: 1. Eddie Castro (Jaw); 2. Russell Green (Jaw); 3. Jimmy Fishback (JRM); 4. Mike Faria (Jaw).

D-1 MAIN: 1. Buck Blair (Jaw); 2. Tommy Hedden (GM); 3. Eddie Castro (Jaw); 4. Charlie Venegas (JRM); 5. Gary Hicks (GM).