Ermolenko Wins American Speedway Final at Veterans Stadium With a Perfect Score

Speedway motorcyclist Sam Ermolenko of Cypress was perfect Saturday night, winning all five of his heat races to take the Nissan American Final before 8,204 fans at Long Beach Veterans Stadium.

Ermolenko, 27, made the field look like a group of second division riders and won the event for the second straight year with 20 points. He capped a brilliant night of riding by coming from behind to defeat Bobby Schwartz and Rick Miller in his last race.

Ermolenko has finished third in the world championship in two of the past three years and once again appears to be the best bet to represent the United States in the World Final on Sept. 3 in Vojens, Denmark.

Miller and Robert Pfetzing tied for second with 17 points, with Miller winning a four-lap runoff for second.

Mike Faria finished fourth with 15 points and Schwartz was fifth with 14 points. The top five finishers advance to the Overseas Final on July 10 in Coventry, England.

Favorites Shawn and Kelly Moran of Huntington Beach failed to advance from the race when they did not finish in their last heat races. Shawn fell on the second lap while dicing with Pfetzing and Kelly lost a primary chain while leading his race. Shawn Moran will be the American reserve at Coventry.