Some news faces from Blue River Racing were prominent in the Category 5 race. Blue River's Josh Walker win's the Category 5 Fire Cracker 500 Crit with a small break away with GP VeloTek's Gary Calton and Joseph Schmalz coming in 2nd and 3rd.

The Field

The Break

The Winning gesture!

3rd Annual Cycle Works Firecracker 500 Criterium

Presented by VeloTek Training. Free Youth & Junior racing by Alta-Sport, LC.

3rd Annual Firecracker 500 Crit brought to you by Alta-Sport, LC with volunteer support from Team GP VeloTek. GP VeloTek enables Alta-Sport, LC to promote 16 days of racing in and around Lawrence, Kansas in 2004.

Thanks to Rog and his crew for support!

Cat 5 podium, with Garrick standing in for Gary Calton.

The Polish Rocket readys before the Cat 4 race.

Mike Turner pushes the pace.

Nan and Trina all smiles.

One of several Cat 3/4 break ways.

GP dominates Juniors 10-14

A young calf win's the youth race!

Cat 1/2/3 podium with Andy on top, and it wasn't a time trial.

Heat of the battle in the Cat 4's.

The Firecracker 500 lived up to it's name in the fast action packed crit racing. A genuine criterium course where the corners are important and good handling pays off.

Newcomer to Kansas racing David Wamsley (The Sports Team) broke away with Andy Chocha (Team X) for half the Cat 1/2/3 race with Andy taking the sprint for 1st. On-form Scott Hammack (KSU) placed 3rd with fast man Ed Noll (Cowtown Cycling) placing 4th.

Scott Hammack also put in a fine show of time trialing by staying off the front for half of the 3/4 race to win by a sizeable margin. Experience rider Warren Jurgens (Bike Shack) placed second with Californian Steve Gregorios (Morgan Stanley) placing 3rd. Rider's were ready to race in the 3/4 race and several break aways were attempted through out the race.

Trina Brock (River City Racing Club) won the Cat 3/4 women's race as well as placing 10th in the men's Cat 4 race. Sprinter Nan Gatewood placed 2nd in the women's to continue her racing success from the spring.

GP VeloTek's junior sprinter Benjamin Robertson countered Thomas Grobelny (Blue River Racing Bicycle Club) last lap attack to win. Thomas hesitate across the line thinking the bell lap was the last lap, Thomas then punched it up the small grade on the back side but Benjamin had just enough to cover the move and finish off the sprint. Benjamin's parents are moving to Austin, Texas and Kansas cycling will miss the aggressive Benjamin. New comers Brad Cole (Hays, KS) and Greg Reed (Derby, kS) placed 3rd and 4th respectively.

The category 5's race disintegrated early after a prime with two GP VeloTek and two Blue River rider's breaking away. Josh Walker (BRBC) won the close sprint over Gary Calton (GP VeloTek) with 14 year old Joseph Schmalz (GP VeloTek) placing 3rd.

GP's Joe Schmalz also won the Junior 10-14 with teamate's Garrick Valverde and Dalton Luper placing 2nd and 3rd. Garrick showed imporoved sprinting form and Dalton didn't miss a pedal stroke after not racing a crit since the spring. John Nelson (OZ Jr's) placed a strong 4th place to show his improved racing ability.

The older Junior's in the 15-18 were dominated by the 18 year old duo of Chris Hall (Team X) and Benjamin Robertson (GP VeloTek). Austin Fick (GP VeloTek) and Nathaniel Olipant (Oz Jr Racing) placed 3rd and 4th.

Special thanks to Oz Jr. Coach Ron Wade for nurturing the Wichita Junior scene. Ron and his van makes frequent trips to Lawrence for the free Alta-Sport junior races. To help Ron Wade with the Wichita Jr's please email him.

Jason Grundig (Derby, KS ) and Aaron Severin (Derby, KS) racing their first race ever as Cat 5's at the Firecracker 500. A little spill in one of the corner's didn't seem to discourage their enthusiasm.

Mellisa Conrad (Free State Racing) goes to the line againast Charlie Harrision (GP VeloTek)

Ben Robertson (GP VeloTek) throws the bike at the line.

Cat 3/4's focus on the corner.

The cat 3/4 field sprint.