Fast Fridays: Team Curry claims round 3 of Extreme Sidecars competition

The Extreme Sidecars roared into Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway in Auburn ready for action Friday night. The sidecars bring their special brand of speedway racing and are fan favorites at the Gold Country Fairgrounds' tricky dirt oval. This was the third of five rounds for the Extreme Sidecars this season, which includes the AMA National Sidecar Championship on Sept. 2. Friday night, the teams were led by current AMA National Sidecar Champions Robert and Laurie Curry, Joe Jones and Johnny Glover, Smylie Kinne and Chuck Heider, and Billy Janniro and Kinsy Garza. Janniro, the 11-time and current AMA National Speedway Champion, did double duty, also competing in the speedway program. The Currys won the first heat, Jones and Glover the second heat and Kinne and Heider the third heat leading into the main event. Janniro, though fairly new to sidecar racing, did a great job keeping up with the other teams and challenged for a win several times. In the main event though, the racing got real serious fast. Curry and Curry lined up in lane 1, Jones and Glover in 2, Janniro and Kinsy in 3, and Kinne and Heider took their place outside. Out of the gate, it was the Currys and Jones/Glover taking the lead. Neck and neck they battled, bumping into each other but not enough for a foul as the Currys edged ahead. By lap 3, the Currys increased their lead and held it for the checkered flag. Jones and Glover were second, Kinne and Heider were third and Janniro and Kinsy were fourth. All teams were mobbed in the sidecar pits for autographs as fans left the arena. Doing double duty didn't distract Janniro, who earned his fourth scratch main-event victory of the season. Bouncing back and forth from the sidecars and his speedway bike, Janniro won his first heat race, was second to Blake Borello in his semifinal and won the scratch main out of lane 2. Bart Bast, back from a sidelining injury early in the season, gave Janniro a good run for his money, nipping at him from behind and challenging the champ for the entire race. Bast finished second, Borello was third and Louie Mersaroli was fourth. Young Timmy Dion picked up his first main-event win of the season with a convincing race in the handicap division. A real trooper and a kid that gets back on his bike every time he falls, Dion persevered with hard-fought wins in his heat and semifinal. He handicapped on the 20-yard line in the main event. Bast placed second and Chase Kangas was third. Dion should be starting on the 30-yard line this week. Sammy Tetrault is two for three this season after winning his second Division II main event. Racing only three times so far, Tetrault has two wins and a second-place finish. Tetrault also won his heat race for a perfect night. John Peters was second and Troy McQueen was third. Tetrault also rode in the Division I handicap program. John Gauthreaux won the Division III main event. Gauthreaux was second in his heat and then put it together for his second DIII victory of the season. Hunter Castillo was second and Troy McQueen was third. Up from Southern California and racing for the first time at Fast Fridays this season, Levi Leutz made the miles count and picked up a win in the Youth 250 division. Leutz was perfect, winning all his heat races. Caden Cavirkas was second. The Rearick brothers were at it again in the Youth 150 division. Beginning in the third week of the season, one of the brothers has stood on the winner's podium. Usually, it's the brothers, Wesley and Riley, battling for first or second place. Riley Rearick held on for the win in Friday's main event. Riley also won his heat race. Wesley Rearick was on his brother's tail in both races, neck and neck, and in each race made a hard charge at the finish, only to fall short by inches. Riley starts on the 30-yard line and Wesley starts on the 50-yard line. It looks like Riley might move closer to his brother next week on the 40-yard line. Wesley Rearick was second and Matthew Wright was third. One of the most highly anticipated speedway events of the season returns to Fast Fridays this week, July 21. The North vs. South Challenge grudge match puts the best Southern California speedway riders against the best Northern California riders for another year of bragging rights. This will be the 32nd year for the iconic challenge, as the North leads the South with 19 wins to 11.