VICTORVILLE, CA

"Fast Eddie" Castro scored a brilliant maximum of 15 points in front of a packed crowd to capture his second Victorville Track Championship at Wheel2Wheel Raceway in California.

The final race of the fourth round would have major title ramifications. Castro entered the race with a perfect score, "Battlin' Buck" Blair was just one point back, and Jimmy Fishback was two points behind. Castro left all the drama at the tapes as he raced away to his fourth win.

The final round of heats opened with Castro coming to the tapes needing only a second-place finish to clinch the title. He missed the start, however, and was mired in third on the back straight. He went to the outside in turn three and nearly went down. The diminutive rider recovered but was still third before charging around Joey Holt for second. He was determined to be perfect and would not settle for second. Castro went after leader Dale Facchini and caught him on the final lap and passed him for the win to seal his second Track Championship.

Blair defeated Michael Hull in the next heat to guarantee at least a run-off for a podium position. Fishback won the penultimate heat to match Blair's 12-point haul and put himself in line for the podium.

Mike Faria and Austin Novratil met in the final heat, with the winner getting second overall and the second-place finisher dropping into a run-off for third overall. Faria got the better start, but the teenager stalked him for a lap before taking the lead entering turn three for the second time. Novratil went on to victory and second overall, while Faria moved into a three-rider run-off for third overall. However, he was unable to compete, due to fatigue.

Blair used the low line to take the lead in the run-off, but Fishback stuck to the outside and gained ground on the Colorado native on the second lap. Fishback found enough traction on the high banking in turn four to propel himself past Blair, and he dropped in front of him as they entered turn one. He led the rest of the way to take the victory and third overall.

The Youth Second Division Track Championship final began with a great three-rider battle in turn one, and as they went down the back straight, the front three were joined by a cat that had made its way onto the track! The cat raced alongside the riders before veering toward the turn-three exit. It cut into the path of Major Davis, who tried his best to avoid the fast feline. The cat nudged Davis' bike but hardly broke stride as he ran off into the darkness. Meanwhile, Nick Varner put together a great race and was first to the checkered flag.

Brian Motis & Brandi McElroy led the Sidecar Track Championship final for nearly two laps before Dylan Beard & Edwin Soto went by for the lead. They never looked back from there and led all the way to the checkered flag. Motis & McElroy held on for second, Kevin Brown & Jimmy Olsen were third, and Scott Driggers & Casey Driggers finished fourth.

Results

SDCR TRACK C'SHIP FINAL: 1. Dylan Beard/Edwin Soto; 2. Brian Motis/Brandi McElroy; 3. Kevin Brown/Jimmy Olsen; 4. Scott Driggers/Casey Driggers.

PEE WEE/POWDERPUFF TRACK C'SHIP FINAL: 1. Brandon Rhea; 2. Cassi Novratil; 3. Pedro Concepcion; 4. Katt Hann; 5. Dakota Shockley.

YTH D-2 TRACK C'SHIP FINAL: 1. Nick Varner (Honda); 2. Major Davis (Honda); 3. Dillon Ruml (Honda); 4. Cat (DNF).

YTH D-1 TRACK C'SHIP FINAL: 1. Max Ruml (JAWA/CZ); 2. Gabe Price (JAWA/CZ).

D-3 TRACK C'SHIP FINAL: 1. Jake Myers (JAWA/CZ); 2. Tony De Almeida (JAWA/CZ); 3. Paul Thornton (JAWA/CZ); 4. Rick Howard (JAWA/CZ).

D-2 TRACK C'SHIP FINAL: 1. Jim Robinson (JAWA/CZ); 2. Brandon Leedy (JAWA/CZ); 3. Bander Alexander (JAWA/CZ).

VICTORVILLE TRACK C'SHIP O/A: 1. Eddie Castro (15 points); 2. Austin Novratil (13); 3. Jimmy Fishback (12); 4. Buck Blair (12); 5. Mike Faria (12); 6. Michael Hull (10); 7. Philip Harmatiuk (7); 8. (TIE) Dale Facchini (6)/Neil Facchini (6)/Aaron Fox (6); 11. (TIE) Michael Raines (5)/Joey Holt (5); 13. (TIE) Tyson Talkington (4)/Rick Valdez (4); 15. Robbie Sauer (2).