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Industry, CA., Nov. 28 – Nate Perkins, from Lake Havasu, AZ, started from pole position in a field of five Division 1 Speedway Cycle riders and led all four laps Saturday night at Industry Speedway. More than 500 fans watched the opening night of a new three Saturday night “Winter Series” in year six of indoor dirt track action at the Industry Hills Expo Center Grand Arena. It was the first Industry feature victory this season for the veteran rider and infrequent competitor at the track.
Gary Hicks, Buck Blair, the 2009 Industry track champion, Mike Faria and Ricky Wells finished behind Perkins. Blair passed Faria for third position on the third lap with an inside move exiting turn four. Wells,who returned to California on October 31 from racing all summer in Europe, got bumped and fell on the opening lap. He was unhurt but exited the race. Faria won the last chance race to earn the final main event berth. Blair and Perkins won the two semi-mains to secure starting spots in the feature. During three rounds of heat races four riders—Perkins, Blair, Wells and Tyson Burmeister—tied for most points. Each scored eight points based on a 3, 2 1, 0 scoring system for heat race finishes.
Mike Bloom (Division 2) and newcomer Mike Wiley (Division 3 novices) won their four lap main events. Junior riders on 250cc cycles were divided into two groups based on their experience. In a six rider field, Hayley Perrault, 12, won her third Industry Speedway Junior main in her second season. She also has won five features at Costa Mesa Speedway. Rocco Scopellite, won the four-lap main for more experienced Juniors over five other riders. Nick Varner led all the way on his 50cc cycle in the four-lap pee wee main in a five rider field.
Industry Speedway promoters Bruce Penhall and Jeff Immediato included special demonstration races Saturday for the Gene Romero's West Coast Flat Track Series. Fifteen riders divided into eight and seven competitors and raced a pair of six-lap heats. All 15 riders raced in a 10-lap main event. David Bush, on a Honda CRF450, led the first eight laps. Jimmy Wood, from Redlands, shot past Bush on his Yamaha 450 and led the final two laps to edge the early leader by two lengths. The Flat Track Series riders have raced at Ventura, Santa Maria and on the sixth-mile track on Ellis St. in Perris.
Industry Speedway cycle racing will continue Saturday, December 5 with speedway cycles and the popular sidecar racers on the card. A week later, on December 12, speedway cycle competitors will race for the California State Championship with sidecar racing also on the program in the 19th and final event of the 2009 season at Industry Speedway.
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