Kevin Harvick’s
Kern Raceway

Bakersfield, California

2024 AMA Speedway National Under 21 Championship
Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, Bakersfield
November 2, 2024
Results: Steve Evans
Photos by: Pete Richmond

ALEX MARTIN WINS AMA SPEEDWAY NATIONAL UNDER 21 CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE SECOND TIME!

In an expected showdown between the big guns of the Under 21 Division, it was Alex Martin who was victorious after a stunning outside pass to win his second title.

The event was staged for the third time at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway in Bakersfield, California, on the afternoon of November 2nd, 2024. Injuries to Wilbur Hancock and Charlie Trana meant that the event had 13 entrants. Each rider raced four heats to score points to qualify for sudden death semifinals and finals.

Going into the event, the two favorites were Martin and SGP2 finalist Slater Lightcap. Lightcap got first blood with a win over his rival in heat 2 before reeling off 4 more untroubled wins including the first semifinal. Lightcap looked fast, stylish and on a mission. Martin came back from his early setback and won his next four (including semi final 2) to go into the final with second gate choice.

Defending champion Sebastian Palmese came out of semi-retirement for his final Under 21 National. After a bit of rust in the first running of heat 1, he came back to win the rerun and then his second heat. Runners’ up spots behind Lightcap and Martin put him into the semi finals on ten points, but bike trouble hampered his way into the Main event with him dropping from second to last and his title defense over.

There were two stunning 500cc debuts by 15-year-old riders destined for big things. The long awaited and overdue first official 500cc race of Levi Leutz did not disappoint. Leutz has been sidelined for most of the past two years with a lack of local 250cc competition. He won two of his four heats and got a pair of second places in the others. His night ended in semi final one as he fell down as he looked outside of Timmy Dion at the end of lap one, but nonetheless, a big impression was made. Team USA SGP3 rider Nick Hohlbein meantime also made his 500cc debut and incredibly led heat 1 of the event before it was stopped due to Timmy Dion’s spectacular crash. A second place in the rerun and a win next time out contributed to 7 points in the heats. He also pounced on Palmese’s mechanical gremlins in semi final 2 to clinch a spot in the final.

The other final spot went to Timmy Dion, who has had another fast-improving season. After a huge crash and exclusion heat 1, he bounced back with 7 heat points and then a second behind Lightcap in semi-1. Jonny Oakden, making a popular return from New York, got the last semi final spot by virtue of his head to win over Greg Moore.

The big final saw Lightcap take gate 2 (the successful starting spot from his semifinal). Martin elected gate 1, Dion took the outside with Hohlbein in gate 3. After another perfect jet-propelled start, one could be forgiven for thinking all was over, but Martin got into the outside dirt line with perfection as they went into turn 3 and by the start of lap two, he was ahead. Dion also looked outside looked outside of Lightcap on the next lap but was not quite successful. Lightcap fought back with a hard but fair charge into turn 1, but Martin was not to be defeated. A delighted Martin came home first with an understandably disappointed Lightcap in second, Dion third and Hohlbein a very impressive debut fourth.

So, it was Alex Martin who was presented with the John Schroeder Cup for the second time. The event honors the dedication that the late John and Sandy Schroeder put in to helping the development of young speedway riders at their private practice track.

There was a full program of support classes. The ‘Over 21’ Speedway class was dominated by two further Oakden’s from New York. Father Dave defeated son Dalton to win by virtue of three heat wins to two as they each tied on points. SGP4 World Champion Brady Landon won the 250cc Youth class with a 4-ride maximum. Joe Jones and Tom Summers were also unbeaten in sidecars. The 150cc Mini speedway class had 10 entrants with National Champion Riley Rearick taking the Main event.

Year-round speedway continues at the impressive Kern motorsports complex on December 7th with the AMA FIM North American Final. Continental Championships as well as places in the 2025 Grand Prix qualifiers will be up for grabs, as well as North American titles for both junior classes. The event will have a 1pm start time.

Full & Official results:

2024 AMA Speedway National Under 21 Championship
Final
30 Alex Martin
28 Slater Lightcap
23 Timmy Dion
29 Nick Hohlbein

Semi 1
28 Slater Lightcap
23 Timmy Dion
222 Jonny Oakden
226 Levi Leutz fell.

Semi 2
30 Alex Martin
29 Nick Hohlbein
137 Justin Almon
18 Sebastian Palmese (retired)

Heat Points:
Lightcap 12, Martin 11, Palmese 10, Leutz 10, Dion 7, Hohlbein 7, Almon 6, Oakden 5, Greg Moore 5, Darren Armbruster 2, Dylan Wagner 2, Chase Kangas 1, Catherine Moore 0.
Heat 1: Palmese, Hohlbein, G Moore, Dion excluded (rerun)
Heat 2: Leutz, Almon, Kangas, C Moore.
Heat 3: Lightcap, Martin, Armbruster, Oakden
Heat 4: Hohlbein, Oakden, Wagner, C Moore
Heat 5: Lightcap, Dion, Almon, Kangas
Heat 6: Palmese, Leutz, G Moore, Armbruster
Heat 7: Lightcap, Dion, Hohlbein, Wagner
Heat 8: Martin, Palmese, Almon, C Moore
Heat 9: Leutz, Oakden, G Moore, Armbruster
Heat 10: Martin, Almon, Hohlbein, Wagner
Heat 11: Lightcap, Palmese, Armbruster, Kangas
Heat 12: Dion, Leutz, Oakden, C Moore
Heat 13: Martin, G Moore, Wagner, Kangas

Speedway Over 21s (5 heats, all riders)
327 Dave Oakden 12 (3 wins), 3 Dalton Oakden 12 (2 wins), 106 Isaiah Canales 6, 222 Antonio Coffman 0

250cc Youth (5 heats, 4 riders per heat, 4 heats per rider)
13 Brady Landon 12 (4 wins), 12n Jameson Hutchinson 9 (1 win), 50 Wesley Rearick 6, 119 Caden Cavrikas 5, 123 Leeann Emerson 0.

150 Mini A Man
05 Riley Rearick (2 heat wins)
22 Ryder Schultz (2 heat wins)
44 Brandon Kemmerly
17 Zander Schroeder
219 Brady Wills (1 heat win)

150 Mini B Main
98 Zaal Farhand
89 Liam Falcon
8 Gavin Evans-Seeley
15 Hudson Jones
77 William Bruce

Xtreme Sidecar (5 heats, 4 teams per heat, 4 heats per team)
1 Joe Jones / Tom Summers 12 (4 wins)
45 Kyle Collins / Justin Zmina 7 (1 win)
88 Wade Boyd / Eric Lindauer 4*
07 Kevin Kale / Tracey Gallagher 4
357 Ace Kale / Brent Smith 3
*Team 88 beat 07 2-1 in head-to-head meetings as tie breaker.