Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127579
~ es_:R_o_u_nd_5 DIRTTRACK AMA Grand National Championship_S_en_' e ... _ • • ra am on one a fIn Ie 0\ § -. By Dave Hoenig PRINGFIELD,IL, MAY 31 icky Graham reaffirmed his right to the nickname of Mr. Springfield at the rain-delayed Budweiser Springfield Mile. Graham shrugged off a penalty line start and dominated the Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association-promoted Grand National race on his Team Undo Honda RS750 in front of a highly partisan Harley-Davidson crowd. The race was run on Monday after backto-back thunderstorms on Sunday turned the Illinois State Fairgrounds oval into a quagmire. While 8700 fans returned to watch Monday's race, Sunday's turnout was nearly double that as the grandstand seats were sold out early in the day and fans were lining up to buy standing room only tickets before the rain struck. While two-time Grand National Champion Graham was enjoying his ninth Grand National win at Springfield, Mike Hale was celebrating his best ever series finish after topping a six-rider battle for the runner-up spot. Veteran Rodney Farris matched his best-ever Grand National performance by holding off defending series champ Chris Carr for third. "1 kept expecting the pack to draft by me," said Graham, who finished approximately five seconds ahead of Hale, "but my dad told me to never look back and 1 didn't peek. There was a guy down in turn three giving me the big lead sign, but 1 thought he might be a friend of Scotty's (Parker). I felt tire wear wouldn't be a problem so I just decided to go for it. We've really struggled with our program the last couple of years. Last year we were down on horsepower, but Johnny Goad has worked his butt off on the Honda. Now we can run with them." It was an exceptional weekend for Graham as he not only won the Grand National, he set fast time and also won the Camel Challenge, plus he swept two classes of the Regional program run on Saturday. His total winnings for the weekend were well over $12,000, and included the $6000 winner's share of the Grand National and the $5000 that goes to the winner of the Camel Challenge "I do need new tires on my motorhome, n said Graham, trying to get his priorities straight in winner's circle. R 6 Two-time Grand National Champion Ricky Graham overcaJJle a pe.nalty line fourth-row start to score his eighth Springfield Mile win. Time Trials Four-time Grand National Champion Scott Parker had the pits buzzing as he turned unofficial record laps in practice Monday morning. "The track is constantly changing," Parker said. "All the rain has made it a guessing game for the proper setup." Parker was sporting a temporary cast on his right hand. "I broke my wrist - the navicular bone - play riding," Parker said. "It doesn't really bother my grip but it hurts when I