Faria Rallies to Capture Speedway’s Independence Cup

Mike Faria of Colton came from behind to capture the deciding four-lap main event and win the Independence Cup in front of 6,487 fans Friday night in speedway motorcycle racing at the Orange County fairgrounds.

Friday night’s action consisted of five scratch races with three points awarded for first place, two points for second and one point for third. Faria was the overall winner with 13 points. Alan Christian of Huntington Beach, Jim Lawson of Riverside and Robert Pfetzing of Santa Ana finished in a three-way tie for second with 11 points each.

In the deciding race, Faria was third coming off the first turn, then passed Pfetzing at the end of the first lap. Midway through the third lap, he passed Christian to win.

Greg Ayers of Cypress was the winner of Friday night’s support-class, five-lap main event.