VICTORVILLE, CA

Gary Hicks capped off an excellent evening of racing by capturing the Spring Classic main event at Wheel2Wheel Raceway in Victorville, California.

Hicks and Jimmy Fishback both entered the main event with 11 points, but Fishback held first gate choice since he had defeated Hicks earlier in the evening. Fishback chose gate three, and Hicks decided to start one spot inside, in gate two. After careful consideration, Buck Blair chose gate one, which left Jason Ramirez with gate four.

Hicks left the starting line first when the tapes went up, but Fishback was planted on his right hip. Hicks held the lead on the back straight, but Fishback tried to use the steep Wheel2Wheel banking to swoop around the outside of the leader. Hicks subtly moved into Fishback's line to take away his momentum at the end of lap one. Hicks remained low, with the former Youth National Champion trying to muster enough speed on the outside to take the lead. All of Fishback's efforts proved fruitless, however, as Hicks held him back the rest of the way for the victory. Blair finished third and Ramirez was fourth.

The first heat required three tries, with Fishback being penalized for the third attempt. Former National Champion Charlie "The Edge" Venegas was handily leading when his bike sputtered to a halt. Venegas' troubles allowed Fishback to take his first win of the evening.

Blair led the second heat for two laps before Hicks blasted underneath exiting turn four to take the lead and start his evening off victoriously.

Heat 16 saw Venegas' miserable evening continue as he suffered a broken chain, while Hicks raced away with his second straight win.

Fishback kept pace with Hicks by notching his second victory in the next heat.

Fishback and Hicks waged a magnificent four-lap battle in heat 20, with the riders tussling just inches apart at times. Fishback got the better of Hicks to remain the only undefeated rider. Ramirez scored a blistering victory ahead of Blair, while Venegas' disaster of an evening continued with another mechanical failure.

Hicks defeated Blair to earn his third win of the evening. Fishback looked like he was going to stay perfect, but Venegas went high along the banking in turn four and made an incredible pass to overtake the leader and take the win.

Dylan Black and Ramirez were the first two riders eliminated in the Signify Designs Last Man Out Challenge, leaving Venegas and Blair for the two-lap final challenge. Blair made the best start, but Venegas went to work on the outside and found enough grip in turns three and four to propel him past the Colorado native at the end of lap one. Blair had no answer and Venegas took the win.

National Champions Joe Jones & Jimmy Olsen won three of their four heats and scored a dominant victory in the Sidecar main event. Brian Motis & Dave German finished second, Kevin Brown & Matt Davis were third, and Dylan Beard & Edwin Soto were fourth.

Results

SDCR: 1. Joe Jones/Jimmy Olsen; 2. Brian Motis/Dave German; 3. Kevin Brown/Matt Davis; 4. Dylan Beard/Edwin Soto.

PEEWEE/POWDERPUFF: 1. Ally McGrath (Honda); 2. Summer Fehrman (Yamaha); 3. Dakota Shockley (Yamaha).

YTH: 1. Major Davis (Honda).

D-3: 1. Tim McGrath (JAWA/CZ); 2. John Pavia (JAWA/CZ); 3. Tony De Almeida (JAWA/CZ); 4. Kevin Johnson (JAWA/CZ); 5. Jake Myers (JAWA/CZ).

D-2: 1. Kyle Hicks (JAWA/CZ); 2. Rick Fehrman (JAWA/CZ); 3. Tim McGrath (JAWA/CZ); 4. Michael Raines (JAWA/CZ).

LAST MAN OUT CHALLENGE: 1. Charlie Venegas (GM); 2. Buck Blair (JAWA/CZ); 3. Jason Ramirez (JAWA/CZ); 4. Dylan Black (JAWA/CZ).

D-1: 1. Gary Hicks (GM); 2. Jimmy Fishback (GM); 3. Buck Blair (JAWA/CZ); 4. Jason Ramirez (JAWA/CZ).