June 27, 2025

Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway

Auburn Ca.

Michael Kirby Story and Photos

On the eve of the running of one of the most challenging endurance running event in the world, the Western States 100-mile run, a race that ends just a stone’s throw from the track. On Friday night Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway staged their very own endurance event. Auburn California has earned the moniker being the “Endurance Capital of the World,” staging events as the Western States 100 run, The Tevis 100-mile horse ride and numerous other endurance feats. Not be left out and doing their part, Fast Fridays staged their annual endurance event on speedway motorcycles-the 25-Lap Handicap Main Event.

In a handicap race that normally lasts maybe two minutes this race runs over five minutes and stresses the strength of machine and rider. For this special handicap race all of the handicap yardages are doubled so riders normally handicapped to the 20-yard line would start on the 40-yard line.

The winner of this race is named Fast Friday’s “Iron Man,” a title he can sport for the entire season. This year’s winner was Darren Armbruster 16, who outlasted all the riders in this endurance test. Armbruster was also the youngest rider in the field and the youngest rider to accomplish this feat. Armbruster earned this title in his first year riding a 500cc motorcycle in division one, his first year out of the junior divisions where he was the 250cc AMA Youth National Champion in 2023 and 2024. Dripping with sweat after finishing the race and talking to race announcer Mike Rooney his first words were, “My arms are on fire.”

The lead was shared by numerous riders during the race and Armbruster was always there in contention just behind the leader waiting for his chance which came about midway throughout the race. Once in the lead, Armbruster was tasked with keeping the likes of Billy Janniro, Gregory Moore, Wilbur Hancock and Broc Nicol behind him. Each of those riders following close behind him willing to take the lead if he made a mistake which he did not. It was a great race and great effort by all the riders.

Billy Janniro again won the “Fastest Man of the Night “title winning the scratch main event. It was Janniro’s fourth scratch main event win of the season. In lap two Anthony Dion and Janniro tangled with both riders going down and Dion was excluded for causing the mishap. On the restart Janniro took the lead with Broc Nicol on his tail but Janniro led all the way to the finish line. Still, in week eight of the season only Janniro and current AMA National Speedway Champion Nicol are the only riders to have won scratch main events at Fast Friday’s. Both riders each have four scratch main event wins under their belts so far this season. Nicol was second, Russell Green was third and Antony Dion was fourth.

Cody Aker took the Support Main Event for the third time this season. Catherine Moore was second and Hunter Castillo was third. Aker was perfect and in great form winning his heat races and the support main event.

Brady Landon was again the victor in the Youth 250cc D1 main event though Jameson Hutchinson gave him a real run for the money in the main event. Riding very strong, Landon won all his heat races and the main event. The win was his third Youth 250cc main event in a row since returning to Fast Fridays from racing overseas. Hutchinson was second and Wesley Rearick was third.

Caden Cavrikas won the Youth 250cc D2 main event, his first main event win of the season, followed by Gracie Janniro and Baylee Evans-Seeley.

In the Youth 150cc divisions Zander Schroeder won the D1 division, Mason Howell was second and Brady Wills was third. Leeann Emerson finally got to the winner’s podium winning the Youth 150cc D2 division. This little girl gives it her all each week and with strong fan support pulled off this win. Look for her to climb onto the winner’s podium in weeks to come. Gavin Evans-Seeley was second and Zeva Schroeder was third.

In another first young Ryder Faria won his first main event win in the Youth 150cc D3 division. Again, working through the pee-wee program to the 150cc class, Faria took home a big trophy. William Bruce was second and Dexter Orlando was third.

Next week at Fast Friday’s, which is the Fourth of July, the races will part of the City of Auburn and Gold Country Fairgrounds Independence Day festivities at the fairgrounds. There will be a full speedway racing program featuring the return of the Extreme Sidecars in their third of five appearances at Fast Friday’s. Please note that this fantastic racing program will start one hour earlier at 7:00pm instead of 8:00pm. Fireworks will close the fun after the races.