CITY OF INDUSTRY, California -- Suddenly, Shawn McConnell has the Midas touch.
McConnell, 49, who’s been racing Speedway Motorcycles for more than 30 years, got his first win at Industry Speedway in more than three years Wednesday night to add more luster to a season in which he has won races from coast to coast.
“Mad Dog” McConnell, who leads the track point standings, spent the week between Industry Speedway events in New York, where he won a main event and the overall King of Speedway championship at the three-night Outlaw Nationals. That followed an earlier New York win in the U.S. Open. And he has been the dominant rider at Costa Mesa Speedway in recent weeks, with six main events win in a row.
The stunt man from Brea had been frustrated at Industry Speedway, however, with consistently good results but no victories since Aug. 10, 2005.
This time, it was McConnell’s rivals who were frustrated. Starting on the outside in the five-rider field, McConnell outfought Jimmy Fishback for the early lead and held off several charges by the second-generation racer from Rancho Cucamonga, then tooik the checkered flag with several bike lengths to spare.
Five-time winner Ricky Wells closed strongly to take second, with Fishback third, “Flying Mike’ Faria fourth and nine-time winner Charlie Venegas fifth. Faria, who was racing at The Grand arena for the first time this season, won the last of his three heat races and beat McConnell in the first semifinal.
| Industry Speedway Results |
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| FIRST DIVISION Heat race winners 1. Bobby Schwartz, Costa Mesa; 2. Charlie Venegas, San Bernardino; 3. Jimmy Fishback, Rancho Cucamonga; 4. Fishback; 5. Shawn McConnell, Brea; 6. Ricky Wells, Yorba Linda; 7. Jason Ramirez, Orange; 8. Mike Faria, Reno, Nevada; 9. Venegas. QUALIFYING POINTS Points for the 4-rider heats are awarded on the basis of 3 for a heat win, 2 for second, and 1 for third; the top 8 scorers advance to the semifinals: Fishback 8 (3-3-2); Faria 6 (2-1-3); Schwartz 6 (3-1-2); Venegas 6 (3-0-3); Ramirez 6 (2-1-3); Wells 6 (2-3-1); McConnell 5 (1-3-1); Tim Gomez, Hesperia, 5 (1-2-2); Russell Green, San Bernardino, 3 (0-2-1); Marvin Sonnier, Bakersfield, 2 (0-2-0); Eddie Castro, Ojai, 1 (1-0-0); Phillip Harmatiuk, Garden Grove, 0. Last of the Mohicans 1. Wells; 2. McConnell; 3. Gomez; 4. Faria. First semifinal 1. Faria; 2. McConnell; 3. Wells; 4. Schwartz. Second semifinal (restarted) 1. Venegas; 2. Fishback; 3. Gomez; 4. Ramirez. Last Chance qualifier 1. Wells; 2. Schwartz; 3. Gomez; 4. Ramirez. Main event 1. McConnell; 2. Wells; 3. Fishback; 4. Faria; 5. Venegas. OTHER MAIN EVENT WINNERS Second Division – Rudy Laurer, Gardena. Third Division – Bruce Marteney, San Dimas. Youth – Austin Novratil, Huntington Beach; Samuel Ramirez, Orange. PeeWee – Jacob Wondolowski, Placentia. |
