Ermolenko Sticks Around to Defend Speedway Title
Dukie Ermolenko says he had never won a scratch main event before the 2000 Orange County Speedway racing season, but he finally got that elusive victory--and a second one, too--on his way to winning the season points championship.
Ermolenko, from Cypress, will try to defend that first title beginning Saturday, when International Speedway begins its 33rd season at the Orange County Fairgrounds.
“To me, it meant a lot because of all the effort I had put into it,” said Ermolenko, 33, who will begin his 13th year riding professionally. “I just love racing. It’s a question my wife asked, Why am I still racing?
“A couple days later, the answer came to me. Maybe it’s because I’m the points champion. I’m finally the best at something, and I’ve got to uphold that.”
Ermolenko comes from a racing family. His older brother, Sam, competes in the British League and was the 1993 world champion.
“I never felt I was in his shadow or had to prove I was at his level,” said Dukie, who hasn’t gone by his real name, Charles, in years. “I’ve gotten where I’m at because of what I put into it. My brother helped me break into the sport, but I’m my own person and my career stands on its own.”
Ermolenko won last year’s title in dramatic fashion. The only time he led the series was on the final night. After Corona’s Gary Hicks was taken out of contention with a broken collarbone, Charlie Venegas of San Bernardino dominated most of the season. But Venegas did not compete in the final event of the regular season; instead, he raced in Auburn, where he won the state championship.
Ermolenko took the points title by winning the scratch main event for only the second time and finished with 524 points to Venegas’ 523.
Venegas, who won the U.S. national championship a week later, won’t be in the field of first-division riders Saturday. He broke his leg while ice racing in St. Louis and might be out for the season.
“I feel for Charlie because he’s injured,” Ermolenko said. “It’s disappointing to me because if I were to win again, it would be with the knowledge that he wasn’t there.”
NHRA
When Kenny Bernstein of Lake Forest picked up his 54th career victory at the NHRA Nationals two weeks ago in Las Vegas, it was special. It marked the first time Bernstein, 56, had qualified first, had the lowest elapsed time (4.524 seconds), the top speed (325.61 mph) and finished in first place. His sweep was complete when he defeated Huntington Beach’s Andrew Cowin with a pass of 4.533 seconds at 325.53 mph in the finals.
It was Cowin’s second appearance in a final round, 92 fewer than Bernstein.
The crew of Mert Littlefield of Garden Grove was named the “best appearing crew” at the event.
RALLY RACING
Kono Motorsports and driver Ralph Kosmides of San Juan Capistrano debuted their 1999 Subaru WRX-Sti at the SCCA ProRally Championship Series in Tillamook, Ore., on April 7-8. With co-driver Joe Noyes of Shoreline, Wash., Kosmides finished fourth in Group N.
“It’s very different to drive a four-wheel-drive car,” Kosmides said. “I have to unlearn all of my driving habits from six years of rear-wheel-drive cars.”
Kosmides previously drove a turbo-powered Toyota Supra.
BRITISH F3
Racing on the continent where his father achieved Formula One Grand Prix fame, Alex Gurney of Newport Beach has had a rough start in his British Formula 3 debut season. Gurney raced last week at Snetterton, England, but was upstaged by Paul Edwards, who became the first American in nine years to earn a podium finish with his third-place performance. Edwards started on the pole.
Gurney finished 15th in the first of two weekend races at Snetterton. Driving for Fortec Motorsport, Gurney took 12th in the second race after being bumped off course from behind; he had qualified seventh.
Gurney, who raced last season in the Toyota Atlantic Series, is the son of legendary driver and car builder Dan Gurney.
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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)
ON TRACK
Orange County Speedway
2000 Final Standings
Speedway motorcycles
1. Dukie Ermolenko, Cypress524
2. Charlie Venegas, San Bernardino523
3. Bobby Schwartz, Costa Mesa471
4. Shawn McConnell, Brea451
5. Randy DiFrancesco, Bakersfield400
6. Brad Oxley, San Juan Capistrano391
7. Andy Northrup, Alta Loma351
8. Chris Manchester, Upland346
9. Gary Hicks, Riverside316
10. Eddie Castro, Ojai350
Schedule
Saturday--Season opener; 28--speedway, sidecars, p.w. 50s, junior speedway.
May 5--speedway, sidecars; 12--Mothers Day, speedway, p.w. 50s, junior speedway; 19--Orange County Harley Night, speedway, sidecars, Harley races; 26--No racing.
June 2--Jack Milne Cup, speedway; 9--Speedway, sidecars; 16--Fathers Day, speedway, p.w. 50s, junior speedway; 23--Olympique of Speedway earned handicap championship; 30--Fan Appreciation Night, speedway, sidecars, p.w. 50s, junior speedway.
July 7--Speedway 25-lap classic; 13--Big Air Circus, speedway, sidecars; 14--Fair Derby championship speedway; 15--Fair sidecar and quad championship; 21--No racing; 28--No racing.
August 4--Motorcycle Demolition Derby, speedway; 11--Kids Night, all kids free, speedway, sidecars, p.w. 50s, junior speedway; 18--Speedway, p.w. 50s, junior speedway; 25--Orange County Harley-Davidson Night, speedway, sidecars, Harley races, show.
Sept. 1--No racing; 8--Freestyle motorcycle jumping, speedway; 15--Speedway, sidecars, p.w. 50s, junior speedway; 22--Medieval Times, speedway; 29--Sidecar state championship, speedway.
Oct. 6--Season finale.