AUBURN, CA

For only the second time this season at Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway in Auburn, California, Billy Janniro was beaten in the Division One Scratch main event. Earlier in the season, Scott Brant was able to accomplish the feat, and this past Friday night at the Gold Country Fairgrounds, Charlie Venegas (below) chipped away at Janniro's winning streak a little, got a good gate, and won the Scratch main event.

"Who would have thought [I could have won coming] out of gate four, but it's getting to be that time of year that we get everything dialed," said Venegas.

Venegas found himself facing a talented field in Friday night's Scratch main event, with Janniro lined up alongside him in lane three, Bart Bast in lane two, and Tommy Hedden positioned in lane one. When the tapes went up to start the night's finale, Venegas got an excellent gate, beating Janniro to the inside line in turn one. Janniro tried to pass Venegas on the outside but found no luck due to the dryness of the late-night track. Janniro also had his hands full with a pesky Hedden pushing him hard in a back-and-forth, side-by-side battle, just behind Venegas. In an amazing show of skilled veteran ridership, Venegas held on for the win. Janniro held off Hedden but had to settle for second place. Hedden finished third and Bast was fourth.

Janniro has dominated the Scratch main event, winning eight of 10 mains this season, and he was the previous week's high scorer and main-event winner at Fast Fridays' annual North vs. South Civil War Challenge. Janniro and Venegas are looking like major players next week when the opening round of the AMA/USA Budweiser National Speedway Championship Series will be staged at Fast Fridays.

Billy Janniro (above), riding off the 60-yard line, captured the Division One Handicap main event in a thrilling near-photo-finish with his Red Line Oil teammate Kelly Kerrigan, who is currently riding off the 10-yard line. Kerrigan finished second and Hedden finished third.

Tom Fehrman topped the Division Two main event. Matt Drury was second, and Casey Cornelison was third.

Chris Popanz led the Division Three main event. Robby Northam was second and Greg Lovelin was third.

The Youth A main event was won by P.J. Byrne, and the Youth B main event was won by Kurtis Hamill.

Fast Fridays presented a special program of Vintage speedway races, with riders on older two-valve, upright-motor 500cc bikes. Retired veteran rider and Fast Fridays favorite Bobby Hedden (above, leading) won all three races for the night's Vintage championship.

"It's been five years since I retired, but it feels good to get out here with these guys," said Hedden.

Several invited retired riders from yesteryear met on the track and were acknowledged for their individual accomplishments in the sport of motorcycle racing.

Results

D-1 SCR MAIN: 1. Charlie Venegas; 2. Billy Janniro; 3. Tommy Hedden; 4. Bart Bast.

D-1 HDCP MAIN: 1. Billy Janniro; 2. Kelly Kerrigan 3. Tommy Hedden; 4. Bart Bast.

D-2 MAIN: 1. Tom Fehrman; 2. Matt Drury; 3. Casey Cornelison.

D-3 MAIN: 1. Chris Popanz; 2. Robby Northam; 3. Greg Lovelin.

D-1 YTH A MAIN: 1. P.J. Byrne.

D-2 YTH B MAIN: 1. Kurtis Hamill.

VINT: 1. Bobby Hedden.