| August 1, 2023
As the season continues and temperatures rise, the competition shows no signs of cooling down, either. Over the last few weeks, Broc Nicol has been on a roll, taking wins at Bishop and Industry Hills. This week at Industry Hills again, it looked like the streak might continue.
Story and Photo by Richard T. Haight
While rising star Slater Lightcap was absent, attending the Extraliga speedway camp in Torun Poland, and Austin Novratil was nursing some minor injuries, multi-time National champ Billy Janniro ventured down from NorCal to add heat to the fire. Unfortunately for Nicol, while he took one three-point victory, it just wasn’t his week.
Through his three heats, Nicol was undefeated, though not for lack of competition. In his last heat, Nicol went off against “Mad” Max Ruml, who got the best start and looked to win. However, there is that old saying, “Don’t look back because that is when they will catch you.” When Nicol doesn’t lead from the start, he will try any line to get to the front, and this was no exception. He went high and wide to carry speed through the turns, and as Ruml turned to look over his left shoulder exiting the last turn, Nicol was driving past on his right! Ruml got nipped within the last two feet, and Nicol had a perfect string of three-point victories going into the main.
The Scratch main came down to Ruml, Nicol, Dillon Ruml and Billy Janniro. After picking their starting gates and packing the surface for traction, the gate went up, and so did Nicol’s front wheel. Nicol realized that he had packed the start so well that the bike nearly came over on him. He saved it but was in last through the first turn. Ruml went to the front, leaving his brother in second and Janniro in third. But by the finish, Nicol had passed both Janniro and Dillon, and he nearly ran Max down again. Max held on for the victory, with Nicol in second and Ruml’s brother, Dillon, in third.
Scratch Main
- Max Ruml
- Broc Nicol
- Dillon Ruml
- Billy Janniro