VICTORVILLE, CA

"Battlin' Buck" Blair and Robbie Sauer both scored main-event victories at the Firecracker Derby at Wheel2Wheel Raceway in Victorville, California.

Blair got a lightning-quick start from gate one in the Scratch main to take the lead. "Fast Eddie" Castro tried the high line through the first corner and then switched back to the low line in turns three and four to try to get past the leader, but the Colorado native found ample traction to maintain his lead. Those would prove to be the only chances that Castro would get. He remained within striking distance, but Blair afforded him no opportunities and sped to victory. Castro settled for second, Tim Gomez finished third, and Michael Hull was fourth.

Sauer started at the front of the Handicap main-event field, and his lead appeared tenuous at best when Gomez stuck a wheel underneath him entering turn one. Sauer took the lead back on the back straight. He then drifted up into his preferred outside line in turn three and secured the lead at the end of lap one. Blair also went to the outside and went around Gomez for second. Blair immediately set his sights on the leader and had plenty of time to work on him. Sauer was equal to the task, however, and none of Blair's attacks over three laps could shake the Bakersfield native's composure. Sauer went on to score an impressive victory. Gomez stole second from Blair at the finish line, and Castro finished fourth.

The final four riders in the Holeshot Challenge were cut to three when Brad Sauer was the first rider eliminated. Gomez was the next rider eliminated, leaving Castro and Tyson Talkington in the final battle to see which rider could get to the back straight first. Castro shot from the line first and beat his younger competitor to the stripe for the win.

Aaron Fox and Dylan Black waged an awesome wheel-to-wheel battle throughout the entire four-lap Second Division main event. Fox used the high line while Black stuck to the low line. As they exited the final corner, Fox found just enough traction to narrowly defeat Black at the finish line.

Arie Gardner led the first three laps of the Third Division main event, but Tony De Almeida made a bold outside move in turn two and took the lead. De Almeida led the rest of the way to take the win. Mike Schultz also passed Gardner to get second.

Max Ruml defeated Gabe Price in the Youth First Division main event.

A crash involving Nick Varner and Hayley Perrault brought out the red flag in the Youth Second Division main event, and a damaged machine prevented Perrault from participating in the restart. Dylan Ruml led the restart from start to finish and claimed the victory, ahead of Varner.

Julie Morrison stalked Pedro Concepcion for more than three laps, and her determination paid off when she took the lead in the final corner to win the Pee Wee/Powderpuff main event.

National Champions Joe Jones & Jimmy Olsen led all four laps en route to victory in the Sidecar main event.

Results

SDCR MAIN: 1. Joe Jones/Jimmy Olsen; 2. Dylan Beard/Edwin Soto; 3. Joe Petraglovic/Mike Moreno; 4. Scott Driggers/Casey Driggers.

PEE WEE/POWDERPUFF MAIN: 1. Julie Morrison (Yamaha); 2. Pedro Concepcion (KTM); 3. Sahara McGuire (Yamaha).

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

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

D-3 MAIN: 1. Tony De Almeida (JAWA/CZ); 2. Mike Schultz (JAWA/CZ); 3. Arie Gardner (JAWA/CZ).

D-2 MAIN: 1. Aaron Fox (JAWA/CZ); 2. Dylan Black (JAWA/CZ); 3. Rick Fritch (GM); 4. Jim Robinson (JAWA/CZ).

HOLESHOT CHALLENGE: 1. Eddie Castro (JAWA/CZ); 2. Tyson Talkington (JAWA/CZ); 3. Tim Gomez (GM); 4. Brad Sauer (JAWA/CZ).

HDCP MAIN: 1. Robbie Sauer (JAWA/CZ); 2. Tim Gomez (GM); 3. Buck Blair (JRM); 4. Eddie Castro (JAWA/CZ).

SCR MAIN: 1. Buck Blair (JRM); 2. Eddie Castro (JAWA/CZ); 3. Tim Gomez (GM); 3. Michael Hull (JAWA/CZ).