Eli Tomac Makes History at Daytona With 6th Supercross Win

Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL — March 5, 2022

Monster Energy AMA Supercross makes its annual visit to the World Center of Racing and if history holds true, that is great news for Eli Tomac. Last year Tomac won his fifth Daytona Supercross tieing him with Ricky Carmichael for the most wins at the track.

The records just keep falling to the fan-favorite, Tomac became the sixth rider in 450SX Class history to reach 40 wins (Jeremy McGrath, James Stewart, Ricky Carmichael, Chad Reed, & Ryan Villopoto). He also became the sixth rider to reach 100 top fives (Reed, Mike LaRocco, McGrath, Ryan Dungey, & Kevin Windham). Tomac has now won six of the 10 450SX Class triple crowns and at Arlington last week he became the first 450SX Class rider to win a triple crown without winning a race in the event (3-2-2).

Conversely, at Arlington Jason Anderson became the first rider in 450SX Class triple crown history to win multiple races but not win the overall (6-1-1). He now has three straight podiums for the first time since rounds 13-15 in 2018. Anderson’s 39th career 450SX Class podium ties Bob Hannah for 18th on the all-time list.

Anderson had pulled within three points of 2022 450SX points leader Tomac after Minneapolis. However Tomac’s win last week stretched his advantage to six points heading to Round 9, the midpoint of the 2022 season.

49th Running of Daytona Supercross

The 2022 Daytona Supercross will be the 49th running of the historic event, which is 2nd all-time in venues that have hosted a 450SX Class race. Once again Ricky Carmichael designed the layout that riders will tackle and it takes advantage of the entire underlying grass section of the Daytona tri-oval.

The 450SX riders are not the only group that will be making noise at Daytona. The 250SX riders come to town with Cameron McAdoo and Jett Lawrence both sporting a red plate as they are tied atop the 250SX East Division points race.

McAdoo went 2-3-1 to easily win the Eastern Regional 250SX Class Arlington triple crown. His eight-point win over second-place (Jeremy Martin 9-2-3) is the largest deficit between first and second place for any Triple Crown across both classes. He now has two 250SX Class wins across 35 career starts. McAdoo looks to win back-to-back in Daytona, something that hasn’t been done since Christophe Pourcel in 2009-2010.

Lawrence suffered a bad crash in Arlington’s Race 3 knocking him out of contention for the overall victory. His 4-1-10 overall was good enough for third place and his eighth career podium. This will be his first attempt at the Daytona Supercross.

250SX

Heat One of the 250SX class gave the fans exactly what they came to see as a tight three-way battle for the lead featured RJ Hampshire(24) grabbing the holeshot, but could not pull away from Jordon Smith(90). Class points co-leader, Cameron McAdoo(48) joined the fight as the trio jockeyed for position.

At the midpoint of the moto, Smith made a nice pass for the lead. However, Hampshire was not to be denied as he came roaring back to the front, bringing McAdoo with him past Smith. A slight bobble by McAdoo allowed Smith to regain second and the race ended as it started with Hampshire taking the checkers.

The other rider with the red plate, Jett Lawrence(18) had an easier time in the second heat as he started fifth but climbed into the second spot quickly on Lap one. Stilez Robertson(50) was fast out of the gate and held a two-second lead over Lawrence in the early going. That advantage disappeared in less than a lap as Lawrence showed his dominance by blowing past Robertson and building a sizable lead for himself all the way to the finish.

250SX Main Event

Just like in their heat race, Roberston fired off first with Lawrence right on his rear wheel. Jett moved past and began to build an interval that grew top a second and a half at the end of the first lap. McAdoo was mired back in eighth place leaving him a lot of work to do if he was to retain that red number plate and repeat his Daytona victory from last year.

By mid-race Lawrence had built his lead to over three seconds, while McAdoo had only been able to advance to sixth place. Lawrence coasted to a 14-second win over Robertson. McAdoo, battling for every position, managed to ride his way up to a podium spot but will yield his share of the points lead and sole possession of the red plate to Lawrence.

250SX Main Event Results

250SX East Points Standings

450SX

There was a lot of talent in Heat one of the 450SX class. Defending champion Cooper Webb(1) led Dylan Ferrandis(14), Dean Wilson(15), Ken Roczen(94) around the first turn with pre-race favorite Jason Anderson(21) back in 7th place.

Ferrandis took a couple of runs at Webb and the pair raced side-by-side over parts of the course. Ultimately Webb held off the challenge as Roczen crept into third. Anderson finished well back in fourth, not the start on the evening he had hoped for.

Malcolm Stewart(27) showed impressive speed out front early in Heat two. Justin Barcia(51), Marvin Musquin(25), Chase Sexton(23) took up the chase behind the leader with Eli Tomac back in seventh.

Stewart was never challenged as he took the easy win. Barcia held second all race long and Sexton held off a late charge from Tomac to finish in the third position.

450SX Main Event

Having his best event of the season, Cooper Webb rocketed to the early lead. However, all eyes in the stands were focused on Jason Anderson and Malcolm Stewart as they renewed their rivalry that saw the two hit the dirt together last week at Arlington.

Anderson forced Stewart wide on the first corner, Stewart came back in the next turn to take out Anderson by clipping his rear wheel. The tussle left them both well back in the pack.

Upfront Webb built a three-second lead over Chase Sexton and Eli Tomac. Halfway through the moto, Tomac passed Sexton to move into second place and began to trim the margin to the leader.

Meanwhile, back in the pack, Stewart had put a gap on Anderson. While passing his teammate Dean Wilson(15), Stewart hit a tuff block and went down stalling Wilson while Anderson entered the corner and collided with his nemesis.

A fight for the lead developed as Tomac closed on Webb. Stewart put some separation between himself and Anderson, but it will costly night for the rider second in the points standings as Jason is mired in eighth place.

As the leaders approached lapped traffic Webb held a slight lead while Tomac’s bike began to show puffs of smoke. Cooper got pinched by a lapper and Tomac shot past into the top spot. The five-time Daytona Supercross Champion was now on his way to setting the wins record for the most coveted of victories at Daytona International Speedway. Ricky Charmichael cheered him on in the broadcast booth, as Tomac knocked Carmichael off that pedestal recording his sixth victory at the track.

Webb finished second, Sexton third, as Stewart and Anderson came home in seventh and eighth.

Tomac thrilled the crowd with a burnout on the trioval asphalt, fist-pumped fans, and gave his goggles to a youngster throng of people celebrating his historic victory.

See more photos of The Lasco Press Live Coverage on the author’s Facebook Page.

450SX Main Event Results

450SX Points Standings