NIGHTINGALE, NV (Feb. 18)— Trailblazers MC hosted round 2 of the 2024 MRANN season. This time Mother Nature blessed Sunday with great weather.
The event was the Ridge Runner 100, which was the 26th Annual Hare & Hound. Unlike previous years and due to the recent weather the race made two laps around the same 46-mile course.
After the rider’s meeting everyone rode to the starting area when they assembled in lines according to the class they raced in. As usual the AA line was first followed by the Experts, Amateurs and finally the Novice riders,
Up front Willy Heiss, who started in the Expert line passed the AA riders. He completed the first lap with a time of 1:16:33 and had a two-minute lead on everyone.
Next to start the second lap was Laine Stephens followed by Madden Kirsch, Dennis Belingheri and Jordan Mass. Due to starting in separate lines a rider’s corrected time at the end is used to find a riders actual finish.
At the finish Heiss, who collected the First Place trophy, had an elapsed time of 2:31:45.
After his finish Heiss said, “It was great, Trailblazers always put on a great race, perfect conditions, just flowing and having fun on a dirt bike. I got kind of a bad start on the expert line, about mid-pack, picked off everybody and was about first about 30-miles on the first lap.”
Then he thanked Whatever MC, TBT, Moose Racing, my wife and daughters.
While Laine Stephens got to the finish second, and was the first AA rider, on corrected time he wound up third.
After finishing he said, “The race was really clean, it was smooth, I had no mistakes and rode really smooth. I was having fun and going fast. Loved the race.”
Then he thanked Gil Grieve for doing his suspension, and gave his appreciation for his parents that support him.
The next rider to cross the finish line was Madden Kirsh, who on corrected time ended up fourth overall.
“I was going really good battling with Laine and Blade a little bit. Blade roosted me for the first 10 miles so I couldn’t make a move on him and he actually ate it hard so I passed him when he crashed.
“Then I was battling with Laine all the way up, then we were going down this canyon, it was super rocky, chunky big boulder canyon the line went right and I decided to go left and just ran out of talent.”
Then he thanked his parents, Gil Grieve with TBT Suspension, everyone in MRANN, Carson City Motorsports, Dunlop, IMS Products and Whatever MC.
Even thought he was the fourth rider to finish both laps on corrected time Dennis Belingheri wound up second over all. Both he and his wife celebrated that when announcer Tina Honea let him know his finish.
Asked about the race he said, “It was great, similar to last weekend, no dust so even though I got a 10th start just had to find your lines and it was fun. It was a really great course, a little faster than last race but it got choppy on the second loop.
“Overall no crashes again, so that’s what the goal is and thanks to Reno Motor Sports. Cheaters, Rim Benders, my wife, Elle and Briney and Chris my mechanic.”
Going down the results Nicholas Benfield was the first amateur to finish both laps.
“I got lost on the first so the whole next lap was a mad dash to catch up with some people. Awesome weather, awesome course, thank you to the club for putting it on.”
Then he thanked two friends that were at the race helping him.
The first Novice rider to finish both laps was Zack Eaton, who ended up 31st overall.
Asked about the course he said, “Not a mis-marked course but there were some spots that should have been marked with danger and things were down. So there were some rocks that could have got some people.
”The course was awesome, it was definitely rough but fun to ride.
Then he thanked his parents, step parents and everyone that supports him.
Interesting enough the first two finishers were in two of the older classes. Heiss rides in the Over 40 Expert Class while Dennis “The Desert Fox,” rides in the Over 50 Class.
Going down the list there was a close race in the Women’s Class. Christina Courtney, who rides in Women’s Expert ended up 52nd overall while Kylah Krupa, who rides in Woman’s Amateur finished 53rd.
Both women finished with less than a second between them.
At the top of the age ladder Chris Sunderland ended up 57th and topped the Over 60 Class.
Next race for MRANN is March 23-24 with Western States Racing Association hosting the event.
REPORTER’S NOTE: Partial results are at the end of this article. Full results can be found at www.racemrann.com.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• Trucks & Tacos meets at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening. This week’s location is Chuy’s Mexican Restaurant next to the Victorian Theater in Sparks.
• Davey’s American Racing is found on Face Book. His focus is on western oval tracks as well as national series.
He recently started his broadcasts so to check if they happen check Face Book around 6 p.m. Wednesday on Face Book.
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RESULTS*:
Ridge Runner 100 – Round 2 for MRANN
Nightingale, NV –
* – Full results can be found at www.racemrann.com.
• Sunday, Feb. 18
- Overall: 1. Willy Heiss, 40+ Exp., 2. Dennis Belingheri, 50+ Exp., 3. Laine Stephens, 4. Madden Kirsch, 5. Jordan Maas, Open Exp., 6. Peyton Maas, 200 Exp., 7. Blayde Jones, 8. Chris Maas, 4-Stk Exp., 9. Nick Cusato, 30+ Exp., 10. James McMurray, 11.Dan Cappadrelli, 12. Jesse Miller, 250 Exp., 13. Nicholas Benfield, Open Ama., 14. Terevin Perkins, 15. Nate Hohit, 16. Andrew Robinson, 17. Joseph Holzer, 18. Carson Calder, 19. Adam DeVargas, 20. Austin Hough, 21. Stephen Helms, 22. Titan Allen, 23. Bradley Hall, 24.Adam Enox, 25. Micheal Stephens, 26. Will Allen, 27. Jacob Dacus, 28. Simon Lupori, 29. Charley Leiss, 30. Doug McKellar, 40+ Ama., 35. Anthony Fagundes, 50+ Ama, 39. Brendan Peart, Open Nov., 42. Rich Thorwaldson, 50+ Nov., 47. Danny Young, Over 60, 52. Christina Courtney, Wmn Exp., 53.Kylah Krupa, Wmn Am, 100. Kaydence Marsh, Wmn Nov.
- – Class winners and finishes are on www.racemrann.com.
• Saturday, Feb. 17:
- Pee Wee:
- 6 & Under: 1.Kuyper Brazil, 2. Linken Hanselman, 3. Huck Wilson, 4. Ethan Schmick, 5. Jaxon Main, 6. Garrett Schulze, 7. Jack Sherburn, 8. Wyatt Oniel.
- 4-Stroke: 1. Dillon Gaines, 2. Jesse Shriver, 3. Kimberly Lotz, 4. Lakyn Perkins, 5. Luke Finch.
- 7 & Over: 1. Maddex Albury, 2. Matteus Brazil, 3. Nikolj Evans, 4. Jase Chandler, 5. Eugene McKinnon.
- 65 Nov: 1. Rhett Manthey, 2. Zac Brock, 3. Rykere Manthey, 4.Jase Munson, 5. Conner Rennie, 6. Declan Schmick, 7. Taytum Main, 8. Waylon Crosthwaite, 9. Karsyn McPartland, 10. Ronny Hanselman.
- Bomber: 1.Dustin Burrll, 2. Michael Furlong, 3. Curtis Dice.
- V Class Women:
- – (Exp.) 1. Sarah Marsh, 2. Mackinze Dingley, 3. Lillyahna Mullins.
- – (Ama.) 1. Presley Hayes, 2. Kaydence Marsh, 3. Sarah Fawcett.
- – (Nov.) 1. Alicia Oneill, 2. Ashley Pheasant, 3. Kaeleigh Rodgers, 4. Ann Mendoza, 5. Sienna Stites, 6. Gail Dice, 7. Tara Patrick, 8. Charlie Satere, 9. Brittnie Morris, 10. Carlie Fagundes, 11. Kayleen Silva, 12. Bailee Freeman, 13. Katelyn Lotz,14. Natlee Dahlberg.
- Minis:
- – (Ama) 1. Wyatt Mirell, 2. Vaughn Brannan, 3. Landen Ruano.
- -(Nov) 1. Kade Christensen, 2. Ryker Oliverson, 3. Jace Shafe, 4. Jonny Munson, 5. Nathan Danner.
- (65 Ama) 1. Hunter Welton. (DNF) Teigen Biddle.
