2024 Southern California Speedway Round 1 Results
| June 5, 2024
Like Jett Lawrence, winning has become a habit for Max “Mad Max” Ruml. Now a multi-time U.S. and California Speedway Champion, it doesn’t appear that there are too many candidates ready to unseat him.
By Richard T. Haight
Saturday was the opening night of the Southern California Speedway season at the Industry Hills Expo Center. And it was no different, as Max roared to the maximum scores, taking three point victories over “Fast” Eddie Castro, Russell Green, Austin “On The Throttle” Novratil and the ageless Bobby Schwartz in the process.
Much to the chagrin of his opponents, Ruml makes it look easy. His main opponent this evening was Broc Nicol, who also came to the final with all three-point scores from his heats. Both of them transferred to the semi-mains and both came away with wins, with Ruml defeating Castro, Wells and Green, while Nicol took the win over Justin Almon, Wilbur Hancock (son of four-time World Champion Greg Hancock) and Mark Fillebrown.
Max Ruml victory lap
In the Division 2 Heats, Eloy Medellin took a second-place finish in his first heat, but then “ran the table” in all the rest of his races, taking a spectacular run-away win in the main, beating Rudy Laurer, and Rayson Normandin to the checkered flag.
Justin Almon and Fast Eddie Castro
At the end of the night, it all came down to the Scratch Main and Ruml faced off against Broc Nicol, Wilbur Hancock and Russell Green, all of them capable of winning on the right evening. Getting a good start is critical, with just four laps, and when the gates flew up, both Broc and Max leapt off of the line. Broc chose the high line, but it was not enough to catch Ruml.
Green, Ruml and Nicol (left to right)
On the last lap, as Broc tried to swing around the outside, Green swooped in to take second.
An honorary lap for Sammy Tanner in his leathers
