“Young Guns” a Hit in the Hoosier State
By Brad Cloutier
The 2008 Midwest Young Guns Shootout is in the books and it was far better than we had dreamed. In planning the race, we thought "maybe 30 or 40 riders." Well, surprise! Tallying up the riders after registration, we had 19 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 semis all around—78 riders in all!
Mike Carruth of BMXNow.com, BMXNews and Vintage was in the house taking pics , and kicked in a ton of shirts and stickers for the giveaways. The special raffle for Young Guns participants had some amazing prizes, including two Intense frames, Decal Works t-shirts, gift cards, and a free enrollment in the ABA Winter Supercamp (coming to Steel Wheels on January 17 and 18), 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. Third place finishers won a $25 gift card. All main makers received a commemorative medallion and a gift pack from the fine folks at Decal Works.
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.
Girls Class
The evening started with the the girls class, and we had three racks ready to roll. Some of the locals looked 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 semis 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. With the gate down, 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, representing Intense Phanton OnTrac. Sam Brown, one the gems of the local scene, took the second spot 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 was Team Rockns Amber Bruchman.
10 and Under Boys Class
Justin Richmond was interviewed during practice in his new Factory Sun Bru garb. After sizing up the competition he went to work, handling moto, quarter and semi to bring it down to the. Coming out of semi #1 it was “Juice Justin Richmond followed by Jeremy White, Tyson Reed and the 8 year old, Jared Wright. In the second semi, Christian Cloutier would get the gate pop with “Ridin Dirty Kyle Davis on his tail. These guys were banging bars in the quarters, and the semis brought yet another battle. Semi #2 went on the sheets with Christian Cloutier in the top spot followed up by Kyle Davis, then 7-year old phenom Jacob Bergonia and Brat Packs Zachary Morrison rounding out the gate.
The main event was on as soon as Justin Richmond started his sling shot. He would never look back. Behind him it was Team Overcomes Jeremy White and Excalibur/Xpedos 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.
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 known, 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 on the main event two riders stood out, Tyler Whitfield and Jarred "Doc" 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' Whitfield edging out DK's “Doc for the win. Completing the podium was Fenton, Missouri's Michael Dostal for Cyclone Racing. These young men represented themselves and their sponsors very well, and raced hard all the way.
Thank You and Postscript
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), Zims Bike Shop and Dairy Queen of Portage.
Also, special thanks goes out to the ABAs National Number One AA Pro, Khalen Young, who put a smile on a young mans face this weekend. Khalen signed and donated his ABA Grands jersey to the Young Guns cause immediately after winning the title in Tulsa. On race day, it would be given to the youngest boy to make the 10 and under main event. This year, that "youngest gun" was Jacob Bergonia. As the youngest girl, Nicole Maslanka scored the Sammy Cools jersey from Supercross, and Amber Bruchman as the second youngest girl in the main event got an autographed jersey from Girl Pro Kayla Gaddis (thanks to Kayla for the generous donation).
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
