Nicol is fastest of night again in speedway motorcycle racing at Fast Fridays in Auburn

The Fast Fridays season seems to be rushing by like a speedway motorcycle out of the starting gate. Already in week 12, the racing is as exciting as ever. Again, the tricky dirt oval track at the Gold Country Fairgrounds was filled with excited race fans for round five of the Team Challenge. Team Law Tigers led Team IFC (Integrated Financial Concepts) 37-35 heading into competition on July 25. The Law Tigers broke it open in round five, scoring 11 points behind first-place finishes by Billy Janniro, Timmy Dion and Gregory Moore for three points each. Cody Aker and Catherine Moore chipped in one apiece for two third-place finishes. IFC had second-place finishes by Broc Nicol, Anthony Dion and Rees Todd for six points. Darren Armbruster scored one more for his third-place finish making seven points for IFC. The final score was 11-7 for round five and 48-42 overall with the Law Tigers leading. Being six points down, Team IFC could use the Joker rule, which allows a team down six points or more to substitute a rider anywhere in their lineup to race with double points scored when the championship round resumes Aug. 8. Nicol again earned the title of "Fastest Man of the Night" by winning the scratch main event. Nicol picked up his sixth victory of the season, more than any other rider. Close behind is Janniro with four wins. Alex Martin won the scratch main in his only appearance. Nicol won his first heat race and was second Dion in his semifinal. Nicol's win in the scratch main didn't come easy. The event was restarted twice for crashes involving Janniro and Danny Faria, who tangled in nearly the same spot twice. Referee Steve Lucero restarted the race with no penalties for either rider. When the finale got underway, Nicol out of lane three got the best gate and took the lead ahead of Janniro, who stated in lane two. Following close behind was Dion, who started in gate four, and Faria from gate one. This time, Faria and Janniro avoided another crash and the race was on. Nicol had the hole shot and a slim lead. Janniro was just behind him a little higher on the track. On lap 2, Nicol slowly increased his lead, and Janniro swung a little wide and went higher on the track, leaving a small space for Dion to slip through for second. Nicol put more space in front of the others for the last two laps and took the win. Dion was second, Faria third and Janniro fourth. Janniro would not be left out of the fun on the winner's podium though and won the handicap main event, his first of the season. Janniro was perfect in the program. The handicap main was also marred by a crash involving Moore, who fell, and Faria, who had to lay his bike down to avoid hitting Moore. A quick restart and the race was on again With Rees Todd in the lead. Janniro worked the track outside of Todd to second place from the 30-yard line, where he is handicapped. Janniro slowly gained ground and passed Todd for the lead and win. Todd was second and Dion was third. Sammy Tetrault, in his second appearance this season, won the support main event. Tetrault, racing off the 30-yard line, was also perfect, winning his heat and semifinal. Moore was second and Aker was third. Look for Tetrault to be finding new dirt to start from in Division 1 soon. In the Youth 150cc D1 division, after third- and second-place finishes in his heat races, Liam Falcon won the main event. A crash took Brady Wills out of the main event and on the restart Falcon led and won by a wide margin. Logan Kerr was second and Mason Howell was third. Leeann Emerson, a consistent top-three finisher in Youth 150cc D2, earned her second main event win in exciting fashion. Chasing Gavin Evans Seeley for most of the main events, Emerson pulled off a gutsy move in the last turn, coming inside to power past Seeley just before the finish line. Seeley was second and Hank Hanaway was third. Ryder Faria, who is picking up tips from his father, D1 racer Danny Faria, won his second main event in the Youth 150cc D3 main event. Faria got a real good gate led all the way to the finish. William Bruce was second and Chance Farrow was third. Seemingly unbeatable, Brady Landon picked up another win in the Youth 250cc D1 main event. Winning all his races, Landon had a flawless night. Landon has yet to lose Youth 250cc D1 main event this season. Jameson Hutchinson was second and Riley Redbrick was third. Justin Gist won his first Youth 250cc D2 main event win of the season. Baylee Evans Seeley was second. This week, the Extreme Sidecars roll into Fast Fridays for the fourth round of their series.