Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

eDIRT TRACK AM! Grand National Chameionshie_Se_rie_s:_Ro_UD_d_4 ~ Chris Carr (1) bested Ricky Graham (3) and Scott Parker (2) in the dash for the checkered £lag. Carr's ot 'em covered at Pomona By Donn Maeda Photos by Mitch Friedman and Dan Mahoney POMONA, CA, MAY 8 eam Harley-Davidson's Chris Carr came to the Los Angeles County Fair & Exposition Complex with mixed emotions. Although it was at that venue that he wrapped up his first-ever Grand National Championship last October, the oddly-shaped half mile track had not been exceptionally good to Carr. While he finished second and th ird in his two visi ts to Pomona last year, it was his teammate and biggest rival, Scott Parker, who scored a pair of convincing, runaway wins in 1992. But Carr put all that behind him when the light flashed green at the start of the 25-lap National, and went on to lead a 1-2-3 (literally) Grand National Champion-sweep of the top three positions at the Chris Agajanian Presentspromoted event. Chasing number-one plate h01der Carr across the finish line were numbers two and three, respectively, namely four-time Grand National Champion Parker and two-time champ Ricky Graham. "I just stuck to my guns," said Carr. "I found a line that worked and stayed on it even when Scott and Ricky were pushing me." In winning, Carr became the first double-winner of the series, as he also scored the win at the previous Sacramento Mile round. For his 23rd-eareer National win, Carr earned $4000 of the $28,000 purse, but even more importantly, an added boost of confidence to carry with him throughout the rest of the season. "I honestly didn't expect to win here," said Carr. "Scotty has been the dominant force here, and beating him gives me a lot more confidence about the rest of the series." T 6 "Chris feels a greater responsibility carrying the number one plate," said Carr's father, Jerry. "I didn't expect him to win here either, but I think that he has actually upped the ante and raised himself to a higher level of competition." Carr's win padded his Grand National series points lead, and with 17 rounds left he enjoys an eight-point lead over Parker, 63-55. Graham continues to sit third with 44. Through most of the race, Parker stalked Carr and looked poised to attack in the closing stages of the race, but was instead caught off guard by Graham, who performed a la te-race charge of his own. After trailing Carr by only inches, Parker greeted the checkered flag nearly 10 bike lengths behind the defending champ. "I thought it was gonna just be me and Chris at the finish," said Parker. "But here comes Ricky and puts a damper on my plans. Not that it was bad, I just didn't expect it." And Parker wasn't the only rider who didn't expect the late-race charge from Graham. Neither did Graham. "I was going as fast as I could, but from about the 10th lap I was just hammered," said Graham. "But then I got a second wind right near the end and pinned it." An exhausted Graham finished third, only a couple bike lengths behind Parker. Graham's exhaustion came as a result of three back-to-back races that the Team Undo rider competed in. Graham raced to a second-place finish in the five-lap $10,000 Camel Challenge aboard his Johnny Goad-tuned Honda RS750 behind winner Parker, then promptly hopped aboard a Doug Faytuned Harley-Davidson 883 to compete in the 12-lap 883 National. Only minutes after the completion of that race, Graham was back on the Honda again and on the line for the start of the 25-lap Grand National. "When I signed up for the 883 class I didn't realize that I'd be racing back-toback," said Graham. "What a handful." In the 883 National, Graham and three-time Grand National Champion Jay Springsteen waged an all-out war for the lead, with Graham scoring the win with only inches to spare. And sparks flew during their battle, as Graham donned a titanium shoe just before the start of the Camel Challenge. In both the Camel Challenge and 883 National, orange sparks shot out from under Graham's foot as he rounded the comers, and it drove the 8,864 fans wild. "Team Honda had it made for me in 1985 because I had just broken my femur, and the titanium was lighter and easier on my leg," said Graham, who removed the shoe before the start of the Grand National. "I didn't want to mess with it. I'm sure that there were some riders getting ready to whine about it anyway. I'm just having fun out there, but it seems like someone out there always has something to complain about when it comes to me." According to AMA Director of Professional Competition Roy Janson, Graham's titanium shoe is legal. "I think Ricky was trying to trick us or something," said Parker. "The sparks caught me off guard for about a lap or so, but that was it. There are too many other things to have to pay attention to. This isn't a circus out there." _ Time trials During practice, the Steve Wood-prepared track was extremely dusty, and ruts began to form going into tum one, and at the exits of turns two and four. Parker was bitten by the dusty and slippery conditions, and parted company with his Harley in tum one. "The front end just slipped out," said Parker. "The track is dangerous." Other riders, though, felt that the track was fine, except for the dust. Water was laid down before the start of time trials, and it was Rusty Rogers who rounded the track the fastest aboard his Wickersham Racing HarleyDavidson XR750. Rogers' 30.193-second hot lap came early in the timed-qualifying sessions while the track was still tacky, but it was still well off Parker's track record 29.581. "I knew that the track would be good early in the session," said Rogers. "I felt pretty good out on the track, it suits me and my style just fine." Rogers' spirits were dampened by a dragging clutch. "It started to drag really bad during practice, and we don't know why. It'll be interesting starting the races." Parker, Springsteen, Graham, Carr and Rich King rounded out the sixfastest qualifiers who would compete in the Camel Challenge later in the evening. Heats Aaron Hill pulled his usual holeshot at the start of the first 10-lap heat, but Steve Morehead took over on the first lap before the race was red-flagged on the second go-round when at the start of the lap, Rogers made contact with Morehead's rear wheel in tum one and spun out. Greg Sims was unable to avoid Rogers' Harley and joined Rogers in the hay bales. Both riders were uninjured and able to make the restart. Hill again reacted fastest, but this time Dan Ingram dove low into tum one and took the lead. Hill and Morehead gave chase, and on the opening lap it was Morehead who again pulled out the stops and slid into the lead. Once into the lead, Morehead easily left the rest of the pack behind, spraying a wall of dirt behind his rear wheel as he worked the high line. Hill battled with Ingram for a few laps before eventually pulling away and finishing second, qualifying directly for his second National of the year. Ingram maintained third, but would have to ride a semi. Kevin Atherton ran as high as fourth, but retired when his Harley broke a crank. "I was making a big arc up in the cushion," said Morehead. "You have to go high to stay above all the bumps." Mike Hale jumped into the lead ahead of George Roeder II and Parker in the second heat, but surrendered the lead to Roeder on the first lap. Hale struck back quickly and the pair engaged in a thrilling battle for the lead for the next three laps. Until Parker came along. Almost effortlessly, Parker swooped past both Hale and Roeder on the low line in turns one and two on the fourth lap and was never to be challenged again. Roeder got a handle on second after Hale bobbled on lap five and finished second, half a straightaway behind winner Parker. "I got a feel for the track at first," explained Parker. "Then I got in line and went to work." Springsteen kept the hea t race-runaway win-tradition alive by spanking his competition in the third qualifier. Up high and sideways, Springsteen displayed the riding style that has carried him to 40 National wins.

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