U.S. SPEEDWAY CHAMPIONSHIPS : Strange Finish Doesn’t Prevent Faria’s Victory

Speedway motorcyclist Mike Faria of Colton spent the afternoon swimming with his family, then claimed his second U.S. Championship Saturday night at the Orange County Fairgrounds.

Faria scored 14 points in five heat races to earn his second consecutive title, becoming the first rider to win two championships in a row since Kelly Moran in 1983-84. But as usual, it didn’t come easily.

Faria, who had finished his fifth ride three races earlier, had to watch as Steve Lucero went through two restarts before losing to Bobby Schwartz in the last race of the night. Lucero needed a win to force a runoff with Faria but had to be content with second place and 13 points after losing to Schwartz.

It was a bizarre final race as Lucero forced two restarts with his anything-goes style of riding that first sent Alan Christian to the dirt and then Bart Bast in front of 7,057.

Referee Jim Fishback ruled in both instances that a full restart was necessary in such an important heat race. The ruling wasn’t popular with some fans or Schwartz, who was leading both times when restarts were ordered.

“It was only fair,” Fishback said. “This is for the championship. I thought the riders got bunched together and no one was really at fault.”

Faria had already taken his place on the rostrum when the second restart was ordered, but he insisted he was ready for anything.

“It’s never easy,” Faria said. “The pressure has been on me all week. I was ready for a runoff. I said it would take 14 points to win the championship, and that’s the way it turned out exactly.”

Faria dropped his only point in his fourth race, finishing second to Scotty Brant. Lucero dropped a point to Faria in his second heat and then to Schwartz in his last.

Rob Pfetzing became the most successful reserve rider in the 23-year history of the event by finishing third with 12 points. Pfetzing hadn’t ridden in four months after breaking his ankle.