We want to welcome Meccon Industries, Inc. to our growing list of sponsors.  Meccon Industries, Inc is an industrial piping contractor  whos expertise includes the fabrication and installation of fiberglass, carbon steel, stainless steel, copper, titanium and other alloy pipe materials for low and high temperature and pressure systems.  We appreciate their commitment to the race and the youth of the sport of BMX Racing.

Breaking News.......Race Recap

Well, the 2008 Midwest Young Guns Shootout is in the books and it was far better than we had dreamed.  When planning for the race we thought maybe 30 or 40 riders.  Well, surprise would have it.  Tallying up the riders after registration was over we had 19 riders in the girls class, 27 in the 11-13 boys class and 32 in the 10 and under boys class.  That gave us quarters in both boys classes and semi’s in all three classes.      

     So who were the notables that came for the challenge and fun?  First off, Flyin Felicia Stancil showed up representing Intense Phantom and Ontrac.  Justin Richmond was there as well sporting the Factory Sun Bru colors for the first time.  Coming from Ohio was “Doc” Jarred Johnson who came to give Tyler Whitfield a run for his money in the 11-13 boys class.  These awesome kids would not disappoint.

     Starting with the girls class.  We had three racks ready to roll.  Some local girls looked real good early including Madolyn Sullivan, Sam Brown and Nicole Maslanka.  Of course, the real standout was Felicia Stancil as she checked out after turn one.  Running the ABA two moto transfer system, the semi’s were set.  When the dust settled, Sam Brown, Amber Bruchman, Nicole Maslanka and Madolyn Sullivan made it out of the first semi.  The second semi would yield the likes of Kendall Nork, Sydney Dunn, Felicia Stancil and Meagan Pritchard.  The main event was set with some of the fastest girls in the Midwest ready put it all on the line for some awesome prizes.  Gates down and it was clear quite early who the class standout was.  National Age Group #1 Flyin Felicia Stancil with the gate pop went coast to coast for the win as she represented Intense Phanton Ontrac. One of our local hidden gems took the second spot, Sam Brown for Cycle Sports Racing.  This is one young lady that has a chance to make a lot of noise some day.  Finishing in the final podium spot it was Team Rockn’s Amber Bruchman.

     Moving on to the 10 and  under boys class.  Justin Richmond was interviewed early on during practice in his new Factory Sun Bru garb.  After sizing up the competition he went to work.  Quarters to semi’s and ready for the main events.  Coming out of semi #1 it was “Juice” Justin Richmond followed by Jeremy White, Tyson Reed and the 8 year old Jared Wright.  The second semi would go down like this.  Christian Cloutier would get the gate pop with “Ridin Dirty” Kyle Davis on his tail.  These guys battled it out in the quarter as well as they were bangin bars.  This semi would go a little smoother as they lined up to the finish.  Semi #2 finished with Christian Cloutier on the top spot followed up by Kyle Davis, the 7 year old phenom Jacob Bergonia and Brat Pack’s Zachary Morrison.  The main event was on when Justin Richmond started his sling shot out of the gate.  He would never look back.  Behind him it was Team Overcome’s Jeremy White and Excalibur/Xpedo’s Christian Cloutier.  Cloutier came out of turn one in the 2nd spot and White settled into the 3rd.  Meanwhile, the new Sun Bru addition was putting on a track efficiency clinic.  Justin navigated the track like a seasoned pro to take home the win and was followed up by “The Machine” Christian Cloutier and local superstar Jeremy White.  Honorable mention must go to the 8 year old Jared Wright who will be running the NAG #4 next year and to 7 year old hotshot “Bean” Jacob Bergonia.  This kid was the story of the night as he pedaled his way into the main event and made his dad Len one happy man.

     Last but not least it was the 11-13 boys class.  Coming out of the woodwork in this class was a little known young man by the name of Michael Dostal.  “Mad Dog” as he is called transferred out of the first semi along with Whitfield, Zane Bradbury of Race Face Plates.com and Eugene Maslanka.  Coming out of the second semi it was Jarred Johnson, Kyle “Killer” Miller, Jordan Nieman and Austin Denniston for TMI Computer Solutions.  When the gate dropped for the main event two riders stood out, Tyler Whitfield and Jarred Johnson.  Whitfield led things in and out of turn one with Johnson hot on his tail.  Things would stay the same all the way around the track with Decal Works Tyler Whitfield edging out Dk hotshot “Doc” Johnson for the win.  Your last podium finisher was Michael Dostal from Fenton, MO for Cyclone Racing.  These young men represented themselves and their sponsors very well as they raced hard all the way around the track.

     Mike Carruth of BMXNow.com, BMXNews and Vintage was in the house taking pics.  He also kicked in a ton of shirts and stickers for the give-aways.  There was a lot of raffle prizes for the Young Guns participants including two Intense Frames, Decal Works t-shirts and gift cards along with an ABA Winter Supercamp at Steel Wheels compliments of Burlin Harris.  All winners were given a beautiful plaque, a commemorative number plate from RaceFace Plates, and a $75 gift card.  Second place received a $50 gift card and a medallion.  Third place finishers won a $25 gift card and medallion.  Everyone in the main received a commemorative medallion along with a gift pack from the fine people at Decal Works.

     I want to thank all of the event sponsors for making the first ever Young Guns Shootout a success.  RaceFace Plates, Decal Works, J and M Signs and Graphics, TSL Refrigeration, Room for Rent, Intense, Supercross for kicking in a Sammy Cools jersey, Zim’s Bike Shop and Dairy Queen of Portage.  Also, special thanks goes out to the ABA’s national number 1 AA Pro Khalen Young who put a smile on a young man’s face this weekend.  Khalen donated his jersey from ABA Grands immediately after winning the title.  He signed the jersey and it was given to the youngest boy to make the 10 and under main event, Jacob Bergonia.  Also, thanks goes out to Girl Pro Kayla Gaddis for donating an autographed jersey which went to Nicole Maslanka as the second youngest girl in the main event.

     To all the volunteers and staff at Steel Wheels BMX, thank you.  There is no finer indoor facility for putting on an awesome race.  Special thanks to Gene Bedinger, Jeremy Sizemore, Bruce Balay and many more for all their help and support as well.  Also, Jeff Upshaw and Tommy Zula for having some fun with the kids this weekend and to my man Dan Rumple for absolutely killing it on the mic.

 

Til next year.

 

Brad Cloutier