Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

·DIRTTRACK AMA Grand Natronal Championship Series Round 20: Cal-Expo State Fairgrounds has enjoyed the most successful and consistent season of his career as he has visited the victory podium in nine of the last 10 events. "I've still got to win Del Mar, though," Atherton said. "And Scott's got to finish 16th or worse." Perhaps even more disappointed was the ultracompetitive Camlin, who flogged his Corbin Racing / Eaken Harley-Davidson around the track in the lead pack from the start of the race and appeared poised to take down Parker at the finish only to bobble in the final turns and spoil his own chances for the win. "I just screwed up turn three when I drafted by Kevin," Camlin said. "My tire was about worn out, and 1 could not get through the last corner the same. [ felt the tire going away on the I.ast couple laps prior. To have four podiums in the last five races, I'm happy. But I don't want to get third or second. I want to win, and it hurts when we know we had what it took to do that." Fourth went to F&S Harley-Davidson/KK Motorcycle Supply's Steve Morehead, who came from seventh place on tile opening lap and nursed his By Scott Rousseau Photos by Flat Trail Fotos \0 0\ 0\ ,..... cr\ I-< OJ .g ..... o U 4 SACRAMENrO, CA, SEPT. 28 espite the fact that Scott Parker's 75th career victory at the U.S. Motorcycle Nationals. in Knoxville, Iowa, gave him the inside track on a seven th AMA Grand National Championship, it was the six-time and defending champion himself who warned that the title chase isn't over until the fat lady sings. But after the Sacramento Mile, the fat lady started warming up. Parker scored career win. number 76 before the 16,853 fans at the Cal-Expo State Fairgrounds in California's capital city, fending off his nearest competitor for the championship, Total Control Racing's Kevin Atherton, and two-time Springfield Mile winner Dave Cam1in of Corbin Racing at the flag in one of the most competitive Sacramento Miles in . recent memory. And Parker earned the win. There were no Parker/Chris Carr breakaways this time. No Parker checkouts to an uncontested victory. Instead, there were four riders keeping Parker honest all the way to the Scott Zimmerman checkered flag. But while they kept the champ honest, they could not keep him down. Parker ran no lower than fourth place during the 25-mile Grand National final, electing to keep cool and save his tires for that inevitable picking up of the pace that accompanies the competition when the Rolling Thunder Show visits the big tracks. But as it turned out, Parker needn't have worried, as he led the race off the fourth turn on the last lap and easily beat Atherton and Carnlin back to the stripe. (Above) Scott Parker (1) earned career Grand National victory number 76 and took another step toward his seventh Grand' National Championship title at the Sacramento Mlle. (Right) The main event was competitive. Here, runner-up Kevin Atherton (23) leads Brett Landes (41), who put in a strong showing and finished filth. "It's all because of him," Parker said while pointing to mechanic Bill Werner. "He just said, 'Ride the motorcycle and everything will work.''' B)lt did Parker expect to win after leading Camlin and Atherton off the fourth turn? "No," Parker said. "I knew if I got through three and four okay then it would be close. Sometimes they'd blast by me and sometimes not. On the last lap it's always easier for you to be behind. It's easier for them to make a mistake. When you're behind you know you can't let 'em get away, but when you're leading you have to keep your head down." Keeping his head down is something that Parker appears to have done quite well again in 1996 as the win now gives him a virtual lock on the title as the series heads to the season finale Del Mar Mile. Although anything can happen, the race may prove to be a mere formality as Atherton must win and hope that Parker does no better than 16th in order for the championship to change hands. While the Sacramento Mile runner-up did not concede the title just yet, he does realize the gravity of the situation. "I knew I had to win this thjng, and I was in ·the perfect position to win it," Atherton said. "But there were 16 other guys who wanted the same thing. I wanted Scott to lead it off of four, but then Davey drafted by me on the back straight. Everything went out the window, and 1 had to hope that I could double-draft them both. I only got by Davey." But title or not, there is no denying that the former Harley-Davidson rider Gary Stolzenburg-wrenched XR750 through the field despite possibly riding the weakest horse in the lead pack . thanks to a slight miss of the setup. The "Findlay Flyer" called on all his experience to keep him in the hunt and secure fourth allead of Team Undo's Brett Landes. "We got up there," Morehead said. "But with the gear ratio that I had on it I couldn't get by those guys. They all had really fast bikes. But that was really a neat ride. Parker and A therton raced each other clean right to the wire. I had a good seat for it." Landes had reason to be happy as he finally put together a slew of good starts all evening to run up front on his Audiovox/Quaker State Honda. The former Daytona Short Track winner ran third in the early stages of the race

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