VICTORVILLE, CA

Colorado native "Battlin' Buck" Blair used a stunning move to become the first rider to win the Eliminapolis 500 twice at Wheel2Wheel Raceway in Victorville, California.

Charlie "The Edge" Venegas, "Fast Eddie" Castro, Jimmy Fishback, and the Venus MC/Team Sideways/Premier Gear/CT Racing.com/Black Flys-backed Blair made up the field for the final, which uses a last-man-out format.

The first start found Castro left behind and an obvious first elimination. The three remaining riders were in tight formation on the second start, with Fishback being eliminated by a narrow margin.

The final start had Venegas in gate three and Blair in his preferred gate four. Venegas made a better start, but Blair was on his rear fender entering turn one. Venegas wisely pushed up the racetrack in an effort to block the outside. It looked as though the move had paid off, but Blair squeezed through the tiny gap that Venegas left along the fence and took the lead on the back straight. Venegas tried to regain the lead as they entered turn three but was thwarted by the new leader. Blair held off the former National Champion on the final lap to seal the victory.

The heats kicked off with Michael Hull getting the best start before falling in turn one; Fishback avoided Hull and took the lead and his first win. Blair defeated Neil Facchini in the next heat. Venegas finished round one with a victory over Castro.

Round two started with Fishback defeating Austin Novratil for his second straight win. Blair held off Tim Gomez for his second win in a row in event 26. The second round ended with Venegas beating Hull to keep pace with Fishback's and Blair's perfect scores.

The final round opened with Gomez using the outside in the first bend to go around Fishback and on to victory. Venegas beat Blair in the penultimate heat, leaving himself as the only undefeated rider. Castro ended the heats with a win over the Sauer brothers, Brad and Robbie.

Venegas stormed to victory in the first semi, with Castro following him into the main. Blair and Fishback finished one-two in the second semi to book their places in the main.

Dylan Black led all four laps to capture the Second Division main event. Tim McGrath finished second, Rick Fehrman was third, and Paul Hitchcock finished fourth.

Aaron Fox made his Victorville debut a success by winning the Third Division main event. Kevin Johnson was second, Paul Thornton finished third, and Mike Fuson was credited with fourth.

Samuel Ramirez made a beautiful outside pass to take the lead in the Youth First Division main event, but he had an engine failure, which handed the win to Max Ruml.

Dylan Ruml won both his heats and completed his perfect night by winning the Youth Second Division main event. Hayley Perrault finished second and Nick Varner was third.

Ally McGrath held off Julie Morrison to win the Pee Wee/Powderpuff main event.

National Sidecar Champions Joe Jones & Jimmy Olsen scored a dominant victory in the Sidecar main event. Brian Motis & Brandi McElroy were second, Gerard Jackson & Dave German finished third, and Kevin Brown & Matt Davis were fourth.

Results

SDCR MAIN: 1. Joe Jones/Jimmy Olsen; 2. Brian Motis/Brandi McElroy; 3. Gerard Jackson/Dave German; 4. Kevin Brown/Matt Davis.

PEE WEE/POWDERPUFF MAIN: 1. Ally McGrath (Honda); 2. Julie Morrison (Yamaha); 3. Summer Fehrman (Yamaha); 4. Dakota Shockley (Yamaha).

YTH D-2 MAIN: 1. Dillon Ruml (Honda); 2. Hayley Perrault (Honda); 3. Nick Varner (Honda).

YTH D-1 MAIN: 1. Max Ruml (JAWA/CZ); 2. Samuel Ramirez (JAWA/CZ).

D-3 MAIN: 1. Aaron Fox (JAWA/CZ); 2. Kevin Johnson (JAWA/CZ); 3. Paul Thornton (JAWA/CZ); 4. Mike Fuson (JAWA/CZ).

D-2 MAIN: 1. Dylan Black (JAWA/CZ); 2. Tim McGrath (JAWA/CZ); 3. Rick Fehrman (JAWA/CZ); 4. Paul Hitchcock (JAWA/CZ).

D-1 CONSI: 1. Tim Gomez (GM); 2. Michael Hull (JAWA/CZ); 3. Brad Sauer (JAWA/CZ); 4. Austin Novratil (GM).

D-1 MAIN: 1. Buck Blair (JAWA/CZ); 2. Charlie Venegas (JAWA/CZ); 3. Jimmy Fishback (GM); 4. Eddie Castro (JAWA/CZ).