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Jason Ramirez topped off his perfect day by
winning the main event and taking home the
traditional gumball machine trophy at the
Gumball Rally held at Perris Raceway.
Ramirez won all three of his heat races to earn
first gate choice in the main and chose gate
two. Corey Brookes, who traveled from
New York for the event, chose the inside
gate. Ben Essary selected gate three which left
Cody Ciciarelli with the outside. When the
tapes went up Ramirez jumped into the lead and
was followed by Brookes. While Ramirez
stretched his lead Essary was able to get past
Brookes and set his sights on the leader.
Ramirez took the white flag while Essary closed
fast. On the back straight Essary made one last
attempt to snatch the victory, but Ramirez was
up to the challenge and held him off for the
win. Essary settled for second, Brookes
finished third, and Ciciarelli was fourth.
Essary and Ramirez were the heat winners in
round one. Ramirez topped Ciciarelli and
Brookes took advantage of Essary's bike problems
to win the round two heat races. In round
three, Brookes scored his second win while
Ramirez maintained his perfect score with a
victory.
Russell Green and Chad Hoyt both entered the
Youth Second Division Main Event with perfect
scores. Reich jumped into the front with the
unbeaten riders giving chase, but Green's race
ended with a mechanical failure.
Reich continued to hold the lead while Hoyt
remained within striking distance. Reich
appeared to have victory, but Hoyt made an
inside move on the final corner to take the
win. Brad Pappalardo finished third and Green
was credited with fourth.
Hoyt was victorious in the first heat ahead of
Kyle Hicks. Green took his first win over Rocco
Scopellite. Reich finished round one with a
victory over Pappalardo.
Round two began with Hoyt beating Scopellite.
Green made it two wins in a row with a win over
Pappalardo. Reich finished the second round
with his second straight win, this time ahead of
Black.
The final round began with Black defeating
Braydan Galvin. Hoyt remained perfect by
beating Pappalardo. Green closed out the heats
by matching Hoyt's perfect score and handing
Reich his first defeat.
Kurtis Hamill won three of four races for first
overall in the Pee Wee First Division. River
McDougall was second overall and Braydan Galvin
was third overall.
Ryan DeLong was three for four in race victories
to garner the overall victory in the Pee Wee
Second Division. Margi Hamill was second
overall and Dean Carden was third overall.
Shonny McConnell scored the overall win in the
Powderpuff Division with three heat wins. Margi
Hamill finished second overall and Audrie Brown
was third overall.
For the second straight year a
USA Dream Team exhibition match was an
added attraction to the Gumball Rally. Five of
the seven Dream Team members were present with
Dream Team alumnus Chris Kerr filling in as well
as Ivan Sevart. The World Select Team had
familiar American names as well as England's Ben
Hopwood.
The Dream Team started fast with Tommy Hedden
and Dale Facchini scoring a 5-1 in their first
heat. J.T. Mabry took the win in the second
race ahead of Hopwood in a Dream Team 4-2. Kerr
and Tim Gomez teamed for another 5-1 to push the
score to 14-4. Nate Perkins took the first race
win for the Select Team, but Neil Facchini and
Mabry held off Hopwood to salvage a drawn heat.
Two restarts were required for the fifth team
race, but Kerr got his second win ahead of the
Select pair of Scott Brant and Billy Hiles.
Hedden and Dale Facchini scored their second
straight 5-1 to make the score 25-11. Ricky
Wells passed Neil Facchini on the second lap to
win the next race and a 4-2 for the Select
Team. Hopwood and Hiles got a 5-1 to make the
score 28-20.
Perkins cruised to his second win after Dream
Teamers Kerr and Gomez were both penalized for
causing restarts. Wells scorched to his second
win and a Select 4-2 to cut the deficit to six.
Neil Facchini won the next race, but Hiles and
Brant managed a drawn heat. Mabry and Kerr
displayed brilliant team riding for a Dream Team
5-1 to put the match out of reach with two races
left.
Perkins scored his third win ahead of Hedden in
a Select 4-2 heat. Wells concluded the match
impressively with his third straight win.
However, it wasn't enough as the Dream Team won
the match 45-39.
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