Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

(Left) Three-tlme doing wrong, we'd be fixing it. 1 just couldn't get going in the right direc- Grand N8t1ona1 Ch8mplon Jay Springsteen (9) and Rich King (80) ran this close throughout the main ltVtInl King prevailed In the and, edging Springsteen out for second place by a matter of Inchas. (Below) Will Davis (21) ran all alone In fourth place, while Steve Morehead (42) retired In the cloalng laps with tion." Still, Parker continues to control the series point lead. Parker's 10th, combined with King's second, saw the title chase tighten up considerably, as Parker now only enjoys an eight-point lead over King, 103-95. Springsteen's '95 comeback Charge has vaulted him back into third with 88, while Davis moved into fourth with 83. Early-season title contender Steve Morehead suffered through yet 'another painful evening after last week's horrendous crash in Michigan, and after pulling off with sore groin muscles on the 18th lap, was credited with 15th place. He dropped from third to fifth in the points race, and has 78. Miserable temperatures that stayed above the 100-degree mark and stifling humidity prompted ,AMA Dirt Track Manager Bruce Bober to question several of the top riders about their opinion of a shortened main event. Twenty-lap half-mile Nationals had been run in the past, and after receiving the thumbs up from all involved, five laps were cut from the Grand National. Would it have made a difference in the final outcome of the race? All who witnessed Varnes' dominant ride would surely have the same answer: Not a chance. HEATS Lancaster Harley-Davidson's Kenny Coolbeth Jr. was the fastest off the line in the first of four 10-lap heat races, each of which offered only two direct transfer positions. The 1994 AMA Rookie of the Year enjoyed the lead for only three laps, however, as the rejuvenated Springsteen ran him down by using a high line in turns one and two. While Coolbeth seemed content to stay low on the groove, Springsteen threw caution to the wind and rode through the middle of the corners as he raced on past and into the lead. Coolbeth stayed stuck to Spring,steen's tail section, but was unable to mount a challenge before Steve Feracci's checkered flag flew. The teenager did, however, try to pass the veteran high in three and four on the last lap. Needless to say, it didn't work. TCR Racing's Kevin Atherton got the best of Undo's Brett Landes for a distant third, but they, as well as the rest of the field, would be back in a semi. "You can go a little high in one and two, but the bottom is still the best in three and four," said Springsteen. "As the night goes on some moisture might come up in three and four. If it does, I'll be up higher there, also." Heat two offered a preview of things to come, as Varnes rolled to the line aboard his USC Racing/Johnny and Sarah Goad/KK/Penn State Cycles/ Cycle Shack/Shoei-backed Honda. It was Morehead, though, who timed the start best and led into turn one. Varnes waited only one lap to work past the Findlay Flyer, striking with a low line through three and four. As Varnes raced past Morehead, he slipped ever so slightly, causing Morehead to take evasive action that also allowed Davis to sneak past. 'When 1 got inside of Steve, he kind of waved me on by,·1 think," said V.ames. "Well, he didn't need to tell me twice, so I went for it." "Kevin was running her in there, and I figured what the hell," said Morehead. "Being hurt and all, I just want to make theshow." Once into the lead, Varnes pulled a disappearing act and would greet the checkered flag with a half-straightaway lead over Davis. Morehead did all he could to retake the last direct transfer, a bumed out clutch and a sore leg. but Davis fended him off just long enough. King sped off the line with the lead in heat three, but it was Hacker who grabbed most of the early-race attention. After starting sixth, the youngster blitzed turns one and two and emerged in second. While King raced off uncontested, USC Racing's Terry Poovey settled in behind the flashy Hacker and waited for an opening. Poovey's chance came on lap five, and he overtook Hacker as they raced into turn one. Hacker, however, held it wide open down the back straightaway and surprised the likable Texan with a pass of his own. Poovey retook second on lap seven, but was again surprised by Hacker on the final lap. The diminutive rider held it wide open into tum three, and passed Poovey on the higher line. . '1 knew 1 could get him in three and four, so 1 waited," said Hacker. '1 tested it a couple of times before the last lap, and it worked when it needed to." "Once 1got out front 1actually tried a bunch of different stuff," said King. "Man, Springer made the high line look easy, but you won't see me up there. 1 can't hook up on top, so I'll be' staying low." The final heat race was delayed when hometown rider Rusty Rogers crashed on the second lap and brought the red flag out. The former Hagerstown winner was able to repair his Bob Norfleet Racing Harley-Davidson in time for the restart, but was obviously shaken. Holeshot artist Aaron Hill jumped out front into his usual position on the restart, and the semi-retired Californian made easy work of the field aboard his Gardner Harley-Davidson in what would be a relatively uneventful race. Wiebler's Harley-Davidson rider Davey Camlin came home second, despite some inspired charges from F&S Harley's James Hart. 'That's the best I've felt since 1 came back," said Hill. 'We'll just have to see if 1 can ride as good in the National. If 1 don't get some finishes soon, 1 jUst may slip back into the retired mode." SEMIS Morehead and Parker scrapped for the win in the first eight-lap semi, and it was Morehead who eventually gained the upper hand. After sticking his foot and straining his sore groin muscles several times in the heat race, Morehead was looking a little worse for wear in the pits, but he didn't show it on the track during the semi. Parker was half a straightaway behind at the finish, but well ahead of third-placed Landes, who nabbed the final transfer position. 1-96 Half Mile winner Steve Beattie gained control of the lead in the second semi and went on to score a convincing win. The multi-time Canadian National Champion hoped that his semi win was an omen, as he had also won last week's semi before going on to win the National. Atherton held down second for most of the race with George Roeder II in tow, and the two appeared to be headed for the National. All hell broke loose, however, on the final lap. Atherton raced through turns one and two a bit lower than he had been, and at the same time, Roeder entered the same turns a bit hotter. "I got in too hot and just couldn't miss him," said an apologetic Roeder. "He seemed to square it a bit earlier than he had been, and I hit his rear section. I thought I was going to go over the high side, but somehow I didn't." Atherton was spit off his badly damaged Harley and suffered minor ligament damage to his left knee. '1 didn't even see him coming," said Atherton. "1 had no clue." Moroney's Harley-Davidson's Jason Fletcher was the benefactor of the fiasco, as he slipped past the downed Atherton and the flustered Roeder on the final lap for second. Roeder held onto third. HARLEV-DAVIDSON 883 NATIONAL Series point leader Springsteen led every lap across the start/ finish line, but was forced to deal with a hard-eharging Hacker for the first few laps. The scrappy Moroney's Harley rider dogged Springsteen in the early going, using his hot line down the back straightaway and into turn three to momentarily steal the lead from the legend. But as the laps wore down, Springsteen put his extensive experience to good use and slowly but surely inched away. At the black and white, Springsteen was nearly a straightaway ahead of Hacker, who in turn was several bike lengths ahead of a pack consisting ·of Fletcher, Georgie Price IV and James Hart. For Fletcher, it was a welcome return to the podium after his horrific crash at last year's Oklahoma City Half Mile. 'Those guys stayed close at the start, but I just kept her steady and pulled away," said Springsteen, who enjoys a commanding series point lead over Hacker, 141-109. When asked if his sixth win of the series was easy, Springsteen replied, "Hell, I have to work hard for every win I get nowadays." "I just can't figure out how to beat that old guy," joked Hacker. "One of these days, I'll sort it out." GRAND NATIONAL No one was surprised when Hill sped off the line with the holeshot, but no one was as surprised as Hill when his Harley's transmission let go on the first lap and relegated him to the role of a spectator for the remainder of the abbreviated race. "I couldn't believe it," said Hill. "I slammed it into second, and after that it wouldn't go into third." Varnes was the first to sneak past Hill and his ailing Harley, and with that, the race for the win was over. Varnes settled into his pace immediately, and turned in several 23-second lap times 19

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