Ermolenko’s Absence Leaves Title Up for Grabs

A new champion will be crowned in the Coors Light U.S. Speedway motorcycle championship Saturday night at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa because defending champion Sam Ermolenko elected to remain in Europe to concentrate on the World Grand Prix runoffs.

Ermolenko, the 1993 world champion and two-time U.S. champion from Cypress, is ninth in the standings after four of six events, and the top eight automatically qualify for next year’s Grand Prix.

Only two British League riders from Southern California, Greg Hancock and Josh Larsen, will ride in Saturday night’s 20-heat championship. Charles Ermolenko, who had planned to replace his brother, withdrew because of a broken collarbone. Hancock is seventh in Grand Prix standings.

Another Southern Californian, Billy Hamill of Monrovia, is fourth in world competition but turned down a bid to the nationals because his wife, in England, is pregnant.

Three former U.S. champions--Brad Oxley of San Juan Capistrano, Bobby Schwartz of Costa Mesa and Steve Lucero of Riverside--will head the Southern California contingent. Oxley was a runaway winner of the Costa Mesa track points championship.

Bobby Heddon of Orangevale, Calif., the track champion at Auburn, leads the three-rider contingent from Northern California. Others are Bart Bast of Auburn and Jim Sisemore of Woodland.

Filling out the 16-rider field will be Charlie Venegas, San Bernardino; Shawn McConnell, Diamond Bar; Rob Pfetzing, La Habra; Gary Hicks, Riverside; Gary Ackroyd, Newport Beach; Don Odom, Redondo Beach, and Andy Northrup, Ontario. Reserve rider Mark Hannah of Huntington Beach is expected to replace Ermolenko.

In the speedway finals, each contestant rides five four-lap heats, racing each other once. The 190-yard track is the smallest in the country.

Motor Racing Notes

MIDGETS--Billy Boat of Phoenix, with a record 10 consecutive victories in the United States Auto Club’s Skoal Western States series, will go for No. 11 Saturday night at Ventura Raceway against 1994 champion John Cofer and seven-time champion Sleepy Tripp. Three-quarter midgets will race too.

SPRINT CARS--Ron Shuman, who regained the Sprint Car Racing Assn. points lead with his victory last week, will resume his battle with fellow Arizonan Lealand McSpadden at Santa Maria Speedway on Saturday night. Shuman has 1,439 points and McSpadden has 1,423 after 27 races. Hobby stocks are also on the program.

STOCK CARS--Cajon Speedway will hold its Bud Sportsman Grand Prix on Saturday night along with street, bombers and pony stocks. . . . Street and daredevil stocks will compete in double-point races Saturday night at Kern County Raceway.

CHAMPIONS--Jeremy McGrath of Murrieta, with seven victories in 12 events, won the national 250cc motocross championship. . . . Richie Hearn of Canyon Country clinched the Players Ltd. Toyota Atlantic series title with a second-place finish last week at Laguna Seca. . . . Kevin Vernon repeated as track champion at Mesa Marin Raceway in the late model sportsman division.

MISCELLANY--The Southern California Timing Assn. will conduct speed runs Sunday at El Mirage Dry Lake.