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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127591
eDIRTTRACK AMA Grand National Cham ionshiJl_S_eri_es_:_ou_nd_l_6 R _ m Scott Parker (2) led Chris Carr (1), Da vey Durelle (58) and lance Jones (230 at the start of th e 25-Iap National. Eventual winner Ricky Graham was mired midpack. Davey Durelle (58), chris Carr (1), Ricky Graham (partially hidden) an d Scott Parker battled for the lead. saw Gra ha m p ull ano ther seve n points away in t he series poi nt sta nd ings. Durelle was a close fourth. "That was a great ra ce, if the fan s didn't like that one, I don't know wh at we cou ld do," said Carr, wh o now trails Graham by 40 points, 264-224. "I knew Ricky would be trying to save his tire after he burned it up las t year, but we were sure tir e w ear w ould no t be a problem and could go flat-out all nigh t." "After the wa y we've struggled this year, I really enjoyed this, I was able to d raft with them all ni ght, but jus t couldn't get in the right position at the end," said four-time champ Parker of his second-place finish, After each win, Graham has made it a tradition to immedia tely focus on the next race, rather than dwell on his latest victory. "There are still five ra ces left and anything can happen. I have to do the best I can at every race and if the win is there, I'll try to take it," Gra ham said. Graham, who has nine wins under his belt, has five racesIeft to tie - or break Parker's record of 10 wins in a single series. For his win at the Indiana State Fairpromoted event, Graham earned $6250 o f the $40 ,000 purs e, as well a s the cheers of the 6600-strong crowd. Time Trials Graham piloted his Honda RS750 to quick time as he toured the smooth mile ova l at 36 .386 seconds at an average speed of 98.939 mph, well ahea d of Bubba Shobert's 1985 record of 35.211/102.241. Carr led six more Harl eys in the 36-second range at 36 .610. Kevin Atherton, Lance Jones, Parke r, Dure lle a nd Morehead came in under 37 seconds . By Dave H oenig Ph o tos by Bert Shepard INDIANAPOLIS, IN, AUG. 21 t's no secret Ricky Graham has dedicated himself to w inning his third Grand Nati onal Ch ampionsh ip, an d th e Team Undo rid er continu ed h is domi na tio n o f th e 1993 se ri es at th e Ind iana State Fa irgrounds . " 1 w on m y first N a tional here in 1980, and now - 13 years la te r - I'm back," said a reflective Graham after his fifth Ind y Mile win. I 6 Un like man y of the races he's won this year, however, Graha m d id no t dominat e th e ra ce, lea ding only three laps throu gh ou t th e 25-lap fea tu re. "I was just very ca refu l to give everyone plenty of room . I knew if I stayed in the lead draft I had a real good shot. Johnny Goad and th e whole Und o tea m hav e worked their asses off this year and it's paying off," said Graham. With a season lik e he 's having, Graham can never be counted out, but at th is race he had his hands full with the two Ha rley-Davidson factory riders, Chris Carr and Scott Parker, along with Do nahue H a rl ey-s po ns o re d Dave Durelle. Pa rke r finished second and enjo yed h is best finish in the las t six rac es of the series, while d efending series cha mp Ca rr finished third and Heats The first lO-lap heat, to no one 's su rprise, belonged to Graham . After he squelched the early challenge of Will Davis, Graham pulled out a six-second lead while Davis held a comfortable lead over Jay Springsteen in a ho-hum race. Greg Sims nipped Brett Landes at th e fini sh for fourth , bu t along with Springsteen, Sims, Landes and the rest would re turn in a semi as only the top two fin ishers in ea ch h eat would advance directly to the main event. Steve Morehead led hea t two into turn one, bu t Carr drafted by down the back straight. Morehead closed on Carr