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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127565
DIRTTRACK e
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Jason Fletcher collects the $500 first prize for his win in the five-lap Dash for Cash.
Mike Hale, winner Georgie Price and Craig Estelle celebrate after Expert Brace.
For the second-straight year, Dan Ingram nabbed the win in the Expert A main event.
Ingram jams to acksonville win
By Dave Hoenig
Photos by Fiat Trak Fotos
JACKSONVILLE, FL, FEB. '}j
an Ingram kicked off Daytona
Cycle Week in grand style, piloting the M&M Racing Honda
RS750 to the win in the Expert A main
event at the Jacksonville Half Mile. It
may have been a feeling of deja vu for
the Indiana rider, as he also won last
year's Jax Raceway event.
Ingram's win came at the expense of
600cc Rotax rider Jason Fletcher and
veteran Steve Morehead, who was
aboard a Harley-DaVidson XR75O.
uI had a pretty good lead gOing,"
said Ingram. UBut then I thought I
heard someone coming. Fletcher was
getting through the comers on his little
600 better than I could on my 750."
Over 200 rider entries were filed for
the Dave McCarthy-promoted event.
Heat race winners Ingram, Fletcher,
Rusty Rogers and Rodney Farris sat on
the first row for the start of the main
event, and when the green light flashed,
Farris bolted into the lead. Farris'
moment of glory would last only three
turns, however, as he pitched it away in
tum three on the opening lap.
"I didn't think I'd get the holeshot,"
said Farris. uI guess when I did, I got so
excited going down the back straight
that I just lost it in three"
D
Ingram pounced at the opportunity
and grabbed the lead with Fletcher and
Tommy Colson chasing after him.
Ingram steadily inched away from the
field and established a comfortable'
lead, but in the closing stages of the
race, Fletcher began to close in on him.
"I was starting to trust my tires
more," said Fletcher. UEveryone was
slipping and sliding, but I just kept
hooking up. I was charging harder and
harder."
On the last lap, Fletcher made his
bid for the lead, but came up a little
short and was forced to settle for second behind Ingram.
"In tum two, I think I scared him a
little," explained Fletcher. uHe heard
me coming and we both went into
three a little too hot. Neither of us
wanted to brake first, and we banged
together. I guess 1just rookied out."
Morehead worked his way into
third after suffering a ho-hum start and
crossed the finish line uncontested for
the show position. Kevin Varnes was
fourth and Rogers filled fifth, both
some distance behind Morehead.
Fletcher put his main event riding
style to good use in the Tucker-Rocky
Dash For Cash, riding his Moroney's
H-D/Edmons Racing/Spectro/Bell/
Jim Tippings/Fat City/Wilcox MC/
Works Performance-sponsored Rotax
to the Win.
Farris led the five-lap race at the
start, with Ingram and Fletcher in hot
pursuit. Fletcher motored around the
outside of both Ingram and Farris on
the last lap to nab the win and the $500
first prize.
Mike Hale and Mike Scott topped
the two Harley-Davidson 883 heat
races and sat on the front row at the
start of the main. Hale grabbed the
holeshot and led Bryan Villella through
the first tum, but lost the lead on the
first lap.
"I got off the line pretty good, then
Hale bobbled and opened up the door,"
said Villella. "I got in there and kind of
cruised after that."
Fletcher ran third in the early stages,
but pulled off with mechanical woes
and left James Hart and Scott to battle
over the position. Hart's bike began to
spew oil on his rear tire, and he faded,
leaving the top three positions set.
Villella nabbed the win, ahead of
Hale, Scott and Joe Winston III, who
made an unsuccessful charge at Scott
on the last lap.
In the Pro-Am portion of the program, Brian Strong zipped past early
leader Eric Bostrom and ran away with
the win. Jason Lorge and Mike Wraner
also worked past Bostrom, and finished
second and third, respectively.
Ken Coolbeth topped 23 other riders
to win the Open Amateur class. Paul
Lynch·passed Jay Skidmore on the last
lap to earn second, and Lynch held on
for third. Coolbeth also won the 250cc
Amateur race.
Q'l
Results
EX Ie 1. Dan Ingram ~); 2. J..", Fletd>er (Ra);
3. Stevo Morehoad (H-D); 4. Kovin Vam.. (Ra); 5.
Rusty Rogers (H-D).
EX .; 1. Goorgio Prico (H-D); 2. Croil Es~ (HD); 3. MikA! Halo (fI-O); 4. Pat Buchanan (Ra); 5. Scott
Stump (H-D).
H-D lIlI3; 1. Bryan Villo11l (H-D); 2. MikA! Halo (HD); 3. MikA! Scott (H-D); t. Joo Winston ill (H·D); 5.
Kevin Vamos (H-D).
8S; 1. Ilnnd.on Rooo (Yam); .2 jason Tyer (Hon); 3.
Jason Goodwin (Kaw); t. Nick Godfroy (JCaw); 5.
Rogu Loo Haydon (Yam).
125; 1. Niclcv Haydon (Y.m)~ 2. Bryan Bigolow
(Yam); 3. GIon SchanaboI (!Caw); 5. Joeb Knott (Suz).
2SO .; 1. Joll Randolph (Yam); 2. John Winsott
(Yam); 3. John Blackstock (Yam); t. Marvin Long
(Hon); 5. Grog Bayne (!Caw).
2SO Ie 1. Ken Coolboth (Hon); 2. Bryan Bi~low
(Yam); 3. Glen Schnabel (!Caw); ~. Shane Merryman
(Yam); 5. Brian Zum (!Caw).
500 .; 1. MikA! Bucholtz (Hon); 2. John Hoaly (Rtx);
3. Chip Gtftn (Hon); 4. John Blaclcstock (Yam); 5. Tom
Grlmmoll (Ra).
500 A: 1. Tommy Hayden (Rtx); 2. Brian Zum
(Hon); 3. Nick Taylor (H~D); 4. Charles Fontenot
(Hon); 5. Marro. Link (Ra).
OPEN; 1. Ken Coolboth (W-R); 2. Paul Lynch (Ra);
3. Jay SlOdmono (Rtx); 4. Chris Wunk (Hon); 5. Doug
Bosttio(H-D).
+». 1. Jay Slddmo... (Ra); 2. Mark Davi