Story: Kaeley Porter // Photos: Mark Kariya
September 30th, 2019 – The KENDA/SRT AMA National Hare & Hound Championship Series presented by FMF returned to Lucerne Valley, CA this weekend for Round 8 of the series. A weekend that was expected to see the last bit of summer weather was instead filled with low temperatures and high winds. Although the weather was unexpected, team NHHA and 100’s MC made sure to make the most out of the weekend with a Tiki Party, Moto Limbo, and an awesome race course for our racers who made the trip out to the District 37 region.
YOUTH
Racing kicked off Saturday morning with the youth when the banner dropped on the Pee Wee class. Coming through the scoring chute in the lead was Levi Shade, who would hold that 1st OA position until the checkered flag was waved. Behind Shade on the first lap was Maddix Park with Ayden Berry not too far behind him in 3rd. As the race progressed, Shade gained more time on the rest of his class, leaving the battle between 2nd and 3rd. When it came time for the checkered flag to be thrown, Ayden Berry was now in 2nd OA ahead of Maddix Park with Levi Shade still in 1st OA to round out the Pee Wee podium.
The Micro Mini, Girls, and Jr. Girls would race next; a race that has seen some awesome battles in races prior to this past weekend between Malcolm Pearson, Brennen Watson, and Caleb Tate. Brennen Watson would be the first racer through the scoring chute off of the first lap in this race, where he would remain in the lead for the first three laps, until Caleb Tate would take over. Malcolm Pearson would race in a 3rd place position while this battle between Tate and Watson would continue till the finish. Caleb Tate topped the Micro Mini podium in 1st next to Brennen Watson in 2nd and Malcolm Pearson in 3rd.
The Girls class in this race saw some close battles between Ari Myrdal and Allie Stambaugh for the lead while Jordan Ramo and Rhianna Bingham battled for a 3rd place spot on the podium. Myrdal was racing only seconds away from Stambaugh for the first three laps up until Myrdal stole the lead with Stambaugh finishing 2nd and Ramo finishing 3rd to round out the Girls podium.
The Jr. Girls class saw a class win from Addison Myrdal next to Jacie Levie in 2nd and Sara Conaway in 3rd, after all three girls remained in their finishing positions throughout the race.
It was now time for the Super Mini race, the last youth race of the weekend for Round 8. Spectators and parents were eager to see who the leader through the scoring chute off of lap 1 would be, now that new racers local to District 37 were thrown into the mix. To no surprise, Otto Pearson was the first racer through off of lap 1 with Austin Eddy not too far behind in 2nd. Otto Pearson would remain in the lead for the entire race, only gaining more time on the rest of his class as the race progressed. Eddy would also remain in his 2nd OA position, ahead of Aiden Benavidez who battled for a 3rd place finish with Max Shapiro before Shapiro stopped to help down rider, Lane Forbes. Otto Pearson landed on top of the Big Wheel podium next to Austin Eddy in 2nd and Aiden Benavidez in 3rd.
In this same race, the Mini class saw an awesome class win from Jett Lessing after he stopped with Max Shapiro to help downed rider Lane Forbes. Tallon Smith finished 2nd in class as well as in the top 10 bracket for this race, ahead of 3rd in class, Seth Dumont. After topping the Mini podium, Lessing prepared for his first ever Big Bike race the next day where he also finished 1st in class!
The Jr. Mini podium saw Gregory Fenstermaker Jr. in 1st next to Caiden Fenstermaker in 2nd and Mikey Wayne in 3rd.
Although these racers were working their hardest to either retain their positions or move up, Loop 2 would prove to be the hardest loop out of them all, making it that much more difficult to move up positions. Shirey would experience this difficulty first hand as he was still working his way up through the pack of racers in order to land a higher position on the Pro podium. With little to no room to pass in various portions of this loop, his battle to 2nd OA was well earned. Coming through the scoring chute off of Loop 2 for the checkered flag, Off-Road Support’s Jacob Argubright would finish the race in the lead, also taking home the lead in points for the 2019 Championship with just one round left. 3Bros/SRT/Husqvarna backed Dalton Shirey would finish 2nd OA next to Purvines racing backed Nick Burson in 3rd to round out the Pro podium.
In this same race, Chidester Transport Racing backed Daemon Woolslayer and JCR Factory Honda backed Preston Campbell would face some battles with each other for the lead of the class next to Shane Logan and Nick Stover.
Nick Stover would lead all of Loop A and B ahead of Woolslayer gaining time as the race progressed, fighting hard for the top podium spot. It was not until Loop 2 that Woolslayer, who was in 2nd in class next to Campbell in 3rd, took over the lead. Woolslayer found his comfort out on course in the terrain that he was racing in, making it almost effortless to take over the lead in points as well. JCR Factory Honda’s backed Preston Campbell would finish 2nd with Shane Logan in 3rd to round out the Pro 250 podium.
As for the Women Pro class, Brandy Richards would lead the race from start to finish. Rachel Stout would race behind Richards in 2nd after Factory Beta’s Morgan Tanke crashed off of the start, damaging her bike. The Beta pit crew was able to fix Tanke’s bike and get her out on Loop 1 again, where she caught up to Stout and took over the lead, to remain there until the finish of the race. Brandy Richards topped the Women Pro podium next to Factory Beta’s Morgan Tanke in 2nd and Rachel Stout in 3rd.
The race weekend saw several well earned wins, including those in the ATV A class! Bill Markel raced in the lead for the ATV A class the entire race, favoring the course terrain and accepting all of the challenges he faced. Jay Young finished 2nd in class next to Scott Yarber in 3rd who especially earned his finish atop the podium. Our ATV racers were especially grateful for being able to come out and race on a course that posed many fun challenges for them, having an all around good time.
The Master 60+ saw an awesome Loop 1 finish from Cordis Brooks next to James Miller in 2nd and Jose Trevizo in 3rd.
The Women A class saw a win from Kari Erickson, who raced alongside the theme of the weekend “Endless Summer” with a lei on her front number plate and a Hawaiian shirt over her gear! Ashlee Gage would finish 2nd in this class next to Erickson.
The Open A class podium was topped by James Clark in 1st next to Phil Pira in 2nd and Anthony Vasquez in 3rd.
The Pioneer 70+ class podium saw a win from Steve Holladay next to Rod Wheeler in 2nd and Ernie Mnoian in 3rd.
The Vet A class saw a class win from Kyle Erickson who raced his way up to the lead next to Thomas Pira in 2nd and John Levie in 3rd.
Lastly, the 250 A class saw an awesome podium finish from Miles Holt in 1st next to Dylan Weeks in 2nd and his fellow SIDRA competition Tanner Tavernier in 3rd.
The NHHA appreciated all of the racers who came out for Round 8 in Lucerne Valley, CA. hosted by 100’s MC. We can’t wait to see everyone returning to Lucerne Valley, CA. for the season finale on October 12-13th hosted by Checkers MC.
