Industry Hills Speedway

The Grand Arena
Industry Hills Expo Center
City of Industry, California

AMA Speedway National Championship Series Round 2
August 5, 2023 - Industry Hills Speedway
Report By Howie Zechner

Saying Round 2 at Industry was just another night of racing is like implying that having the number one on your back is no big deal. That’s just plain wrong on so many levels. For sure the nights competition was spectacular with racer combat that gave no quarter and cut no slack. It was in fact a slugfest that produced some extraordinary scenarios no one expected.

Russell Green was laid up for months with a broken shoulder after an intense accident that saw him go thru the Industry crash wall. He comes back and wins his first two heats and finishes the night with a very respectable 9 points.

Popular youngster Slater Lightcap just returned from Poland and it’s obvious his racing confidence is set to high. With the exception of his crash in The Final (main event) he was a contender that showed no fear racing against his more senior and established competitors.

Louie Mersaroli had the third highest score of the evening. Mentored by former World Champion Billy Hamill who served as Louie’s mechanic and pit guy on this night, the 2022 Fast Fridays, track champion finished 3rd in the Final with a total of 12 points.

Recognition has to be given to Tim Gomez who has been spectacular this year. No clue what has changed but one can’t argue with his success after getting 10 points that tied him with the National Champion Billy Janniro at this event.

Have to give a shout out to the kids Wilbur Hancock and Alex Martin. Both are on the “Up Ladder” and are a credit to their former racer dads Greg Hancock and Steve Martin.

I’m sure this next comment will get more attention than any other but I bring it up because so many contacted me to ask “What the hell is going on with the anticipating the start rule”. Now I’m no expert but I have seen a race of two and have talked with many of the fans that come to these races. The majority hate this rule. They do not understand how a rider can do a perfect start, not break the tapes and then get red flagged because they anticipated the start.

Yes it is listed in the AMA and FIM rulebook and yes we understand that’s how they do it on the other side of the pond and yes we acknowledge that it does prepare a rider for racing overseas. But the majority of our Speedway racers will only race here in American and our charge needs to be what works best here. Perhaps now is the time to revisit this rule and possibly modify or eliminate it.

Have to close by giving the big guns the accolades they deserve. Max Ruml won the Final and accumulated 15 points and Broc Nicol was 2nd with 14 points.

This is of course where my stories always get into trouble cause I haven’t mentioned everyone. My bad, that’s true because the fact is every rider who competed on this night deserved to be there and is appreciated. They don’t give away slots on the National Rounds and all there are qualified to be a contender.

See all 250+ Round 2 pictures on Facebook

Thanks for listening, See you where the Wheels go Round

Howie Zechner
Speedway Press officer

AMA Speedway National Championship Series Round 2 RESULTS supplied by Industry Racing

AMA National Series Round 2 Final (restarted twice)
5 - Max Ruml
98 - Broc Nicol
188 - Louie Mersaroli
28 - Slater Lightcap (fell, excluded)

AMA National Series Semi 1
5 - Max Ruml
28 - Slater Lightcap
321 - Russell Green
1 - Billy Janniro

AMA National Series Semi 2
98 - Broc Nicol
188 - Louie Mersaroli
30 - Tim Gomez
27 - Blake Borello

Mini 150 Main Event
05 - Riley Rearick
50 - Wesley Rearick
169 - Kayd Fiore
175 - Morgan Myers (engine failure)

Mini 150 Consolation
15 - Hudson Jones
175x - Maddux Myers

Series Points
Max Ruml 40
Broc Nicol 34
Louie Mersaroli 25
Billy Janniro 25
Dillon Ruml 20
Blake Borello 18
Slater Lightcap 17
Rheten Todd 13
Alex Martin 12
Tim Gomez 11
Wilbur Hancock 11