Jeff Willoh won both heats to claim the $1,000 first-place purse at the Taft Arenacross Summer Series pro-am race Saturday night.
Willoh cruised to an easy win in the first heat but had to work in the second race.
Kyle Griffith, who took second in the first heat, grabbed the holeshot in the second heat and led for more than half of the race before Willoh passed him and cruised on in with the win.
Kyle Griffith raced smart in both heats, sneaking past Jeff Camerena on the last lap to finish second in the first heat.
In the second race, Griffith led from the start until Willoh passed him late in the race and pulled away from the field.
He could have had second in the final heat, too, but let younger brother Kruz pass him to move up in the standings.
Kruz fell twice in the opening race and placed seventh.
Kyle Griffith’s performance was impressive, especially since he didn’t get into the pro field until the last minute.
“He raced pretty smart,” said Darrell Melton of Layton Melton productions. “He did a great job even though he wasn’t supposed to race.”
Melton said the annual pro-am event was a success even though the pro field wasn’t as strong as it had been in past pro-ams.
“That was a really good night,” Melton said.
The new track layout, designed and built by Rob Hale, was also popular with both the pros and amateurs.
”That was a really good track,” Melton said. “I had a lot of positive comments from the riders.”
Taft, Calif. —
