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/127741
·DIRT TRACK:· . AMA Grand .NaIIonatChain~ip $Q$ . By Scott Rousseau Photos by Flat Track Fotos PEORIA, IL, AUG. 6 ccording to Chris Carr's detractors, this was going to be the year that the factory Harley-Davidson rider, and winner of nine Peoria National ITs - including the last eight straight, was going to go down. And why not? After all, Carr has spent the majority of his time contesting the AMA Superbike Series this year, and thus has not followed the entire AMA Grand National Series. Nor did he compete in the Peoria IT "warmup race," the AMA 600cc National held at the fabled clubgrounds on June 11. So it would not be entirely unreasonable to assume that the 28-year-old Valley Springs, California, resident could be just rusty enough to let victory number nine slip through his fingers and into those of ~e of the several600cc and/or Round 13: Peoria M.C. Clubgrounds IT specialists who invade this particular Grand National event each year in an attempt to strip the "Prince of Peoria" of his crown. This could be that year, the pundits thought. But when it was all over, Carr had a response for them: Think again. That was the message that Carr sent loud and clear to the estimated 15,000 spectators who lined the historic racing facility on Cameron Lane as well as countless television viewers in homes across the country when he stormed to convincing wins in both the 25-lap Grand National main event - round 13 of the 24-race series - and the 25-lap AMA Grand National Invitational telecast live by CBS Sports. Through two 10-lap heats and both main events, Carr remained undefeated, once again alleviating the incredible pressure that his royal moniker bears with it. "The pressure's off for another.51 weeks," Carr said. "I've won 16 major races here now. This place is gonna go absolutely nuts the day that I get beat here. I want to put that off as long as possible." According to Carr, the ninth was as good as the first, and it was probably earned the same way. The HarleyDavidson Inc./ Arai/Hap Jones/ Alpinestars/Motion Pro/White Brothers-sponsored former Grand National Champion got an excellent start from his position on the front row, and then . followed Bartels' Harley-Davidson's Ben Bostrom for three laps before making a pass for the lead off turn two and then flat motoring away from the field to finish some seven seconds ahead of the second-placed rider. That rider was none other than Carr's factory teammate and defending series champion Scott Parker, one of the men tabbed as the rider most likely to take the win without a last name that rhymes with "star." The Harley-Davidson Inc./Bell/HOG/Yeti/D's/Reed Randle Ford/AFAM-backed Parker prepared for the IT by winning the AMA 600cc National held at Peoria, June 11, and it showed, as he ran right with Carr - at least according to the lap charts - all day long. But the much anticipated showdown between the two rivals failed to materialize as Parker got a terrible start from the second row and then had to fight his way through the pack on his way to the front. Parker ran as low as eighth before slicing through the pack with the skill of a surgeon, talcing second place away from Andy Tresser on lap 17. Unfortunately for Parker, Carr was all but gone by then, and the two teammates circulated the track about a straightaway apart, neither giving or gaining an inch. "I get second or third it seems like every year," Parker said. "It sucks, but you got to take the good with the bad. I was going as well as anybody. I've just got to get off (the start) with Chris. I just can't give him that much advantage. He's too fast."