Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

eDIRTTRACK e son to the enthusiastic crowds that attend the other series events. Perhaps it was a one-hour delay in the program that dampened their spirits. The track preparation crew of Dave, Doug and Jason Murrell failed to have the track ready in time for the moming practice sessions, thus resulting in the event's tardiness. The racers didn't seem to mind, though, as most described the track as slick, but well prepared. A narrow groove saw the racing down low in the early stages, but as the day wore on more and more racers began to find traction on the edge of the cushion. (Left to right) Mike Hale" RicJcy Graham,. Scott Parker, Kevin Atherton, Jay Springsteen and Ouis Carr raced in the Camel Challenge. Scott Parker (2) edged RicJcy Graham (3) by only inches in the 2S-lap National. Who else but Parker at San ose Mile By Donn Maeda Photos by Mitch Friedman SAN JOSE, CA, APR 25 wo words, and two words alone can sum up the San Jose Mile. Scott Parker. In the high-speed, anything-ean-happen world of dirt track mile racing, one thing seems to have become a given you just can't beat Parker at the San Jose Mile. T 6 And the most recent victim of Parker's domination at the northern California track is Ricky Graham, the privateer Honda rider who led much, if not most of, the 25-lap feature at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds. But just when all looked good for Graham, Parker found the extra drive that he so often has and slipstreamed to his eighthconsecutive Hap Jones Memorial San Jose Mile win aboard his Bill Wemertuned factory Harley-Davidson. "I didn't see Scotty for a long time and 1 thought I had it,n said Graham. "Then all of a sudden he popped up in the last five laps and I said, 'Ugh!' I think he was holding back and saving himself for the last lap." Parker though, was quick to deny Graham's accusation. "RicJcy was haulin' ass and just going faster than I was, " said Parker, who pulled even further ahead on the alltime win list with his 52nd National win. "I was trying as hard as I could the whole way, he just made a bobble on the last lap and I got him." But what about defending Grand National Champion Chris Carr? He finished a distant, but solid third and was not shy about acknowledging the speed of his rivals. "I tried to hang in there, but Scotty and Ricky were just on it today," said Carr. "My bike was running absolutely 100%, it's just me that wasn't." For his win at the CARS Incorporated-promoted event, Parker went home with $6250 of the $40,000 purse, but perhaps more importantly, moved into a tie with Carr for the series points lead. Both riders boast 23 points, while Daytona Short Track winner Dan Ingram, 13th at San Jose, sits in third with 22. Graham and Daytona runnerup Terry Poovey, 10th at San Jose, are close behind with 21 points apiece. All was not lost for Graham, though, as he scored a popular win in the $10,000 Camel Challenge dash-for-<:ash race. The Challenge, comprised of the day's six-fastest qualifiers, was the most decorated in recent memory as four Grand National Champions helped fill the billing. Fast qualifier Mike Hale and former factory Harley rider Kevin Atherton were joined by reigning champ Chris Carr, four-time champ Parker, three-time champ Jay Springsteen and two-time champ Graham. For his win, Graham was awarded $5000 by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. "We don't have a lot of big sponsors, so this money will go right back into our team's race effort," said Team Undo's Graham, the sole Honda rider in the dash race. The crowd of approximately 9500 fans seemed rather subdued in compari- Time trials "To be quite honest, I almost 'waved it off," said Bartels' H-D rider Hale after posting the day's fastest qualifying time of 37.645 seconds at an average speed of 95.63 mph. "The track is real slippery nght now, time trials is just a battle to see who can get off the comers the best." Graham, Parker, Atherton, Springsteen and Carr rounded out the six fastest and earned a starting spot in the Camel Challenge. Parker cracked a little smile after the qualifying sessions concluded, knowing that his record lap of 36.076/99.789 mph, set in 1989, was safe for at least another year. Heats Fast qualifier Hale chose to start the first lo-lap heat race on the outside pole, but it was Moroney's Harley rider Jason Fletcher who nabbed the holeshot. Hale was quick to move into the lead, though, and immediately established a small lead. With that, most expected a Hale runaway, but Brenny's Cyclesponsored Dave Camlin had other ideas. After starting third, Camlin smoked past Fletcher and set after Hale. The two riders traded the lead several times before Camlin gained control for good on lap six. Hale blamed his performance on an electrical problem, but still held on to second and a direct transfer. Don Estep edged Fletcher for third, but they, along with the rest of the field would head for a semi. "It feels great to beat the fast qualifier," said Camlin, who earned his firstever heat race win. "I'm pumped." When asked by pit announcer Larry Maiers what his strategy for the main was, the spunky rider from Rock Island, illinois, delighted the crowd by replying,"WeII, I uh... the hell with it, I'm gonna kick their asses!" Camlin's heat race would be the fastest of the day. Graham owned the second heat race, hands down. After starting fourth behind Ingram, Kris Kiser and Poovey, Graham powered his way into the lead on the first lap and pulled out a full straightaway lead by the finish. Poovey gained control of second at the finish and would join Graham in the main, while Ingram and the rest would have to try again. Parker and Carr provided the action in heat three, as they put their pair of factory machines well ahead of the rest right from the start. After trading the lead several times, Parker performed the final draft pass as he and Carr raced down the back straight. Parker absolutely flew through three and four and gave Carr little chance to draft him at the line. A distant third and no cigar went to Ronnie Jones, in his debut ride aboard the Loral Lake Honda RS750 that he will race in series races on the West Coast. Heat four was perhaps the wildest, as Atherton pulled well away from veterans Morehead and Springsteen before slipping way off the groove in between one and two on the fifth lap. Atherton

• Cover