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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127133
Bobby McDowell (1 aZI and Todd Bridges (53Z1 battled f iercely in the Junior f inal. McDowell won; Bridges suffered a last-lap crash . Ricky Graham worked his way from sixth to second before a red flag stopped the National. On the restart, his.bike wouldn't go in to gear. Shobert and Carr do battle with champagne bottles in the w inner's circle, while Parker prepares to fire. but there was no catchin~ the GF Racing rider. Estep and HIli had to settle for one last shot at the final in the LCQ: Last Chance Qualifier The LCQ was a " Battle Royale" between Pearson and Shobert's protege, Estep. Pearson led the first four laps, but by lap five Estep was all over him. The Ohio rider passed the Californian in turns three and four on lap five, then held off Pearson for the final five laps to take the last transfer to the feature race. Junior Main 16 The IO-lap Junior main event was a fierce contest between McDowell and Bridges , which McDowell wo n after Bridges crashed on the fina l lap in the same spot where Eklund went down. An equally fierce battl e for third (which Instantly became a fight for second when Bridges crashed out of th e race) was waged between Atherton and Harrell, with the nod going to Atherton. Harrell nailed the holeshot in the Junior main, but was soon dropped to third by McDowell and Bridges. Atherton rounded out the front four, which pulled away from the pack. By lap seven, Bridges and McDowell had pulled away slightly from Harrell and Atherton, but by the beginning of lap nine they were a four rider group again. Bridges and McDowell conunually battled for the top spot with McDowell using a low line and Bridges riding the high line. As the group exited tum two on the last lap, Bridges got into a tank slapper, the front end of his motorcycle twisted and pitched him into the wall. It was a solo crash with no contact between riders. Bridges was admitted to Harbor General's .intensive care unit with a fractured arm and possible concussion. He is listed in serious condition. The race was called complete and results were based on the order in which riders crossed the finish line on lap nine. McDowell too k the wi n, followed by Atherton, Harrell, Steve Mayfield and Jim Rosa. National Parker led Shobert, Poovey and Boody into tum one at the start of the 20-lap main event. At the end of lap one, however, it was Springsteen at the point, setting the pace for Parker, Shobert, Boody and Carr. Boody soon slipped back a couple of positions, allowing Carr into fourth and Poovey into fifth, and Parker retook the point from Springer. Carr used an outside move to .. power around Shobert in tum two on lap two, passed Springsteen going into turn three, and set his sights on Parker. Carr took the lead from Parker on lap four, while Graham moved into the top five by bump ing Poo vey to sixth place. While Carr bega n to pull slightly away from his teammate, Graham mounted a charge that soon saw him threaten the front runners. Graham passed Springsteen on lap six, worked his way around defending champ Shobert on lap ' eight, the n powered past P arker on lap 12. When Ekl und's cras h brought out the red flag on lap IS, the only thing between Graham and victory was Carr's XR750. When the red flag was thrown, Carr led Graham, Parker, Shobert, Poovey, Springsteen, King, Howard, Hames, Day, Jones and Boody across the line. Graham lined up behind Carr for the single-file restart, but soon pulled o ut of the lineup when his Lawwill Racing XR750 refu sed to shift, "It wouldn't go into gear, " said former-National-champ-turne d tuner Mert Lawwill. " It would go halfway into gear and just rattle. It sure got my goat." When the green light flashed for what had become a 13-rider, six- lap trophy dash, Carr picked up where he left off, but Parker stuck to IUs rear fender like glue. Shobert and Springsteen argued over third, a nd the field filed in to the same positions they held at the re d flag, with the exception of H oward dropping from eighth to 10th , and Day moving from 10th to eighth. Parker 's high line looked spectacular duri ng th e final laps, and he made it wor k briefly to ta ke the lead o n the white flag lap ; but Carr hugged the po le to motor back into th e lead o n the final go-around. Shober t won the battle for third after he and Springsteen banged bars in tum one, resulting in a probable broken finger on Springsteen's left hand. " Bubba! You bro ke my hand:" Springsteen yelled at Shobert after the race. "It's broke for sure!" Springer said, then grinned at the only other man at the race track who had racked up three National titles. After suffering the injury, Springsteen sli pped back to fifth , where he finished beh ind Poovey. King, Day, H ames, Howard and Jones ro unded out the top 10. • Results NATIONAL: 1. Chris carr (H·D); 2. Scon Parlter (H·D); 3. Bubbs Shobert (Hon); 4 . Terry Poovey (H on~ 5. Jay Spring steen (H- D~ 6. Rich King (Han); 7. Keith Day (H on~ 8. Pete Hames (Han); 9. Don Howard (H·D); 10. Ronnie Jones (Han); 11. Steve More heed (H-D); 12. Don Estep (H· D); 13. Ted Boody (Han); 14. Riclty Graham (H· D); 15. Steve ' Eklund (H-D). JR FINAL: 1. Bobby McDowell ( H on~ 2. Kevin Ath erton (W·R ~ 3. Donnie Harre ll (W-R); 4. Steve Mayfield (Rtx ); 5. Anthon y Holdsclaw (Rtx); 6. J im Rosa (Rtx); 7. Jam ie Aguila r (H-D); 8. M ichael McDonnell (Han); 9. Eric Larson (Han); 10. Todd Bridges (Rtx); 11. Sean Plynal e. AMA GRAND NATIONAl CHAMP IONSHIP DIRT TRACK SERIES POINT STANDINGS: 1. Bubba Shobert (33); 2. Scan Parker (32); 3. Chris carr (3n 4. Terry Poovey (21); 5. (TIE) Ronnie Jones / Keith Day (14); 7. Doug Chandler (13); 8. Don Estep (11); 9. Jay Springsteen (10); 10. Rich King (9); 11. (TIE)Alex Jorgensen/ Pete Hames (7); 13. Don Howard (6); 14 . Brian Atherton (5); 15. (TIE) Bryan McDowe li/ Steye Moreheed (4); 17. (TIE) Bryan Vili elialTed Boody (3t 19. Steve Burltho lder (2); 20. Riclty Graham (1).