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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127184
Expert winner Will Davis (21) leads Bob Sweeten (82), Rich King (80) and Dan Ingram (31) into the first turn at the start o~ the main. Jeff Kluge (15) and Bart Schmulbach (88) had a dogfight in the ProAm main. Late in the race Schmulbach forced his way by Kluge to win. Chris Carr (20) battled with Steve Morehead in the first semi, then came from a second-row start to finish second in the main. AMA Eastern Regional Championship Dirt Track Series Davis -dominates Nashville Indoor ST By Dave Hoenig -Photos by Flat Trak Fotos ASHVILLE, TN, MAR. 18 Experience was the deciding factor as Will Davis slid his Shoei/Merritt Boys Yamaha East/Cox H-D/Parents-sponsored HarleyDavidson to an exciting win in the Turbo Blue Eastern Regional Championship Indoor Snort Track. "Th' . h f f h . h . IS, IS t e l ~ or Slxt mdoor I ve run thIS year and 14 they've all been similar to this," said Davis after he had swept the premier event of Tennessee Cycle Week '89. "I learned after the first one that you don't need a lot of power. This is my play bike, a 500." The Norman Partin-promoted, Middle Tennessee Motorcycle Dealers Association-sponsored weekend of action at the Nashville Municipal AudilOriu~ saw som~ of the top stars of AMA dUl track acuon ta ke on the concrete ova I. The $10,000 purse was the largest in AMA history for this type of event. Fifteen National-number Experts signed up, led by defending 600cc National Champion Chris Carr and Sponseller Racing's Steve Morehead and Dan Ingram. The quality of riders made up for the small turnout with 22 Experts, 15 Juniors and just II Pro-Ams signing up. The Pro-Am main was a dog fight as Jeff Kluge got the hoIeshot from the pole position with Bart Schmulbach and Charles Southgate challenging. Robert Knapp, Harold Dorsey and Shawn Granderson were locked in a battle over fourth. Schmulbach forced his Ron Wood/Bach Shop Cycle/Ironworker's Local #46/D's Leathers-sponsored Wood-Rotax to me front late in the race. Kluge held on for second and Knapp took the final spot in me winner's ciTcle. The Junior main was classic indoor racing. Mike McDonnell rode hi Alma/Traditional Tile/LM Leathers/ Arai/ AXO/Tsubaki/ White Bros.lKTM Enterprise/ Harley-Davidson from the pole into a crowded turn one and carne out ahead of Kris Ki er, Belton McDaniel, Larry Pegram and Chad McCracken. McDaniel slid down in tum one as Pegram was attempting to pass. McDaniel was out and PegraItl dropped back into the pack. Ki er dogged McDonnell as Andy Tresser pulled onto Kiser's rear wheel. The three ran nose-to-tail the remainder of the race but McDonnell rode f1awle sly and took the win. McCracken held on to fourth over Dave DuHaime and Pegram. Expert heats were won by Bob Sweeten, Robert Lewis, Davis and Tom Majeski. Sweeten came back to win the first semi over Rich King and Lewis. Carr and Morehead ran fourth and fifth and were headed for a back-row start in the main. Danny Angel gained the last ticket to me final. The second semi fell to Davis as he held off the charges of Majeski. Ingram was third over Craig Estelle_ Garth Brow and Scott Stump rode their 250cc ice racers into the last qualifying spots. The 12-rider pack was led in to turn one of the 20-lap main by Davis with Sweeten close behind. Carr rocketed from row two into third. "I had been watching the other races and saw that the guys on the outside were having trouble with their starts, and I was able to dive behind Will and' Bob," said CarT. Davis and Sweeten pulled away but at me halfway point Sweeten was struggling. "I hurt my left leg a couple of years ago and it started cramping; I had to back off," Sweeten said of his troubles. Carr worked his way past Sweeten to take over second but couldn't overtake smooth-riding Davis. Ingram held down fourth over Majeski, King and Estelle and the order held until Ingram fell in turn two. Ingram was up quickly but lost a lap to the leaders. Majeski and King moved up to fourth and fifth. Stump, Brow and Ingram rounded out the m topci~L • Results PRO-AM: ,. Ban Schmulbach (W-R); 2. Jeff Kluge (Hon~ 3. Roben Knapp (H-D): 4. Charle. Southgate (RIX); 5. Shawn Granderson (Yem); 6. Roy Gene Han. Jr. (Yam~ 7. Charles Baaumont (Yam); 8. Jeff Chisham (Hon); 9. Jemes Han (Yam); 10. Harold Dorsey Jr. (AIX); 11. Raben Smith (AIX). JR; 1. Mike McDonnell (H-D); 2. Kris Ki_ (Hon); 3. Andy T r _ (W-R); 4. Chad McCradten (H-D); 5. Dave Duhaime (W-R); 6. Larry Pegram (W·R); 7. Jack Mayer Jr. (Suz~ 8. Mike Guinn (Hon); 9. Todd Booten (W-R); 10. Dean Faulk_ (C-AI; 11. Behon McDaniel Jr. /yam); 12. Shad Reinke (Hon). EX: 1. Will Davis (H-D); 2. Chris Corr (H·Dt 3. Bob S_en (W·R); 4. Tom Majeski (H-D); 5. Rich King (Hon); 6. Scott Stump (Hon~ 7. Gerth Ir_ (Hon); 8. Dan Ingrem (Hont 9. S - Moo_ (Hant 10_ Denny AngM (W-Rt 11. ~ IAwia. Jr. (H·Dt 12. CraIg &tal.. (H·OI.