Gardner and Bitterman asserted themselves in first and second, respectively, with Gardner taking his first career win by a healthy margin of over 10 seconds ahead of Bitterman. Lesher encountered misfortune on the final lap and fell out of podium position to sixth, which opened the opportunity for VanBuskirk to assume control of third and finish on the podium, improving 11 positions from his opening-lap crash. Wageman was fourth, with Lafountaine fifth.
The resilient ride by VanBuskirk proved to pay big dividends in the Western Regional Championship standings. He now has an 11-point lead over Nelko, who finished 11th, with two races remaining. Gardner moved into a tie for third with Shawnee Motor Company/Justified Cultures KTM's Cheyenne Harmon, 24 points back.
The Race to the Championship continues next weekend with two nights of action from Nampa, Idaho, and Ford Idaho Center. The fourth and penultimate round of the playoff will kick off on Friday, April 22, and continue on Saturday, April 23.
Main Photo: Faith earned his first win in the Race to the Championship to move into a tie for the points lead.
Credit: ShiftOne Photography
Arenacross Class Results - Main Event 1
1. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Kawasaki
2. Gavin Faith, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Kawasaki
3. Ben Lamay, Forney, Texas, Honda
4. Travis Sewell, Westville, Ind., KTM
5. Jacob Hayes, Liberty, N.C., Kawasaki
6. Jace Owen, Matoon, Ill., Honda
7. Kyle Regal, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Husqvarna
8. Austin Politelli, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki
9. Gared Steinke, Woodland, Calif., Husqvarna
10. Steven Mages, Sardinia, Ohio, Kawasaki
Arenacross Class Results - Main Event 2
1. Jacob Hayes, Liberty, N.C., Kawasaki
2. Jace Owen, Matoon, Ill., Honda
3. Gavin Faith, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Kawasaki
4. Ben Lamay, Forney, Texas, Honda
5. Ryan Breece, Athol, Idaho, Yamaha
6. Travis Sewell, Westville, Ind., KTM
7. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Kawasaki
8. Austin Politelli, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki
9. Cody VanBuskirk, Harvard, Ill., KTM
10. Gared Steinke, Woodland, Calif., Husqvarna
Arenacross Class Overall Results (Main Event Results)
1. Gavin Faith, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Kawasaki (2-3)
2. Jacob Hayes, Liberty, N.C., Kawasaki (5-1)
3. Ben Lamay, Forney, Texas, Honda (3-4)
4. Jace Owen, Matoon, Ill., Honda (6-2)
5. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Kawasaki (1-7)
6. Travis Sewell, Westville, Ind., KTM (4-6)
7. Austin Politelli, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki (8-8)
8. Ryan Breece, Athol, Idaho, Yamaha (12-5)
9. Kyle Regal, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Husqvarna (7-12)
10. Cody VanBuskirk, Harvard, Ill., KTM (11-9)
RMATV/MC Head 2 Head Challenge Results (Bonus Points)
1. Travis Sewell, Westville, Ind., KTM (2 points)
2. Ben Lamay, Forney, Texas, Honda (1 point)
3. Gavin Faith, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Kawasaki (1 point)
4. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Kawasaki (1 point)
5. Kyle Regal, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Husqvarna (1 point)
6. Jace Owen, Matoon, Ill., Honda (1 point)
7. Cody VanBuskirk, Harvard, Ill., KTM (1 point)
8. Jacob Hayes, Liberty, N.C., Kawasaki (1 point)
Western Regional Arenacross Lites Class Results
1. Carlen Gardner, Paso Robles, Calif., KTM
2. Kyle Bitterman, West Pelzer, S.C., Husqvarna
3. Cody VanBuskirk, Harvard, Ill., KTM
4. Robbie Wageman, Newhall, Calif., Yamaha
5. Tallon Lafountaine, Banning, Calif., KTM
6. Jared Lesher, Ball Ground, Ga., KTM
7. Jake Anstett, Port Angeles, Wash., KTM
8. Dylan Rouse, Florence, Ky., KTM
9. Dillon Cloyed, Papillion, Neb., Honda
10. Chris Howell, Spokane Valley, Wash., Husqvarna
Race to the Championship Standings
1. Gavin Faith, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Kawasaki - 126 (8 Main Event Wins)
2. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Kawasaki - 126 (4 Main Event Wins)
3. Jacob Hayes, Liberty, N.C., Kawasaki - 113 (9 Main Event Wins)
4. Jace Owen, Matoon, Ill., Honda - 110 (1 Main Event Win)
5. Ben Lamay, Forney, Texas, Honda - 105 (3 Main Event Wins)
6. Travis Sewell, Westville, Ind., KTM - 95 (5 Main Event Wins)
7. Gared Steinke, Woodland, Calif., Husqvarna - 82
8. Kyle Regal, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Husqvarna - 74
9. Cody VanBuskirk, Harvard, Ill., KTM - 45
10. Daniel Herrlein, Bethesda, Ohio, Honda - 1
Western Regional Arenacross Lites Class Standings
1. Cody VanBuskirk, Harvard, Ill., KTM - 113 (1 Main Event Win)
2. Ben Nelko, Aliquippa, Pa., KTM - 102 (2 Main Event Wins)
3. Carlen Gardner, Paso Robles, Calif., KTM - 89 (1 Main Event Win)
4. Cheyenne Harmon, Colleyville, Texas, KTM - 89 (1 Main Event Win)
5. Jared Lesher, Ball Ground, Ga., KTM - 84 (1 Main Event Win)
6. Dylan Rouse, Florence, Ky., KTM - 67
7. Scott Zont, Algonquin, Ill., KTM - 63
8. Dave Ginolfi, Midvale, Utah, Husqvarna - 56
9. Dillon Cloyed, Papillion, Neb., Honda - 41
10. Brandon Marley, McEwen, Tenn., KTM - 35
