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DIRT TRACK AMA GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES By Dave Hoenig Photos by Flat Trak Fotos MINERAL WELtS, WV, MAY 23 orth Carolina's Will Davis took full advantage of a restart on lap seven to capture his first Grand National win for 1997 at West Virginia Motor Speedway, as the Total Control Racing Team stood on top of the podium for the second week in a row. "I'm tickled to death, pumped up:' Davis said. '1t's hard to say if the restart helped. I don't really think it did, beca use I felt like some of the top line was going to go away. I planned on running the bottom, and for pretty much the first of the race, I did. I found ou t that wasn't going to work, so I moved to the top, but we really weren't set up t9 run there. It ended up working, and actually it started drying out, getting dusty." With the victory at the rescheduled Friday-night stop, Davis became the first two-time Grand National winner at the West Virginia Motor Speedway. This was the fifth running of the race on the high-banked 5/8-mile that has been noted for its high-speed, violent crashes and early-morning conclusions. Fans in attendance got two out of three during the rain-delayed event. There was the normal high speed from the AMA Grand National Championship stars and, unfortunately, two red flags spoiled the National. But even with the red-flag delays, the action was over well before 11 p.m. '" Finishing a very popular second was 0\ former three-time AMA Grand National ;:::: Champion Jay Springsteen, who held the lead at both red flags, the second on lap seven after he'd built up a solid advantage over the second-placed Davis. "llooked back and had about a 10bike lead:' the Bartels'·Harley-Davidson-backed Springsteen said. '1 figure if rn 8 west Virginia Motor Speedway (Above) Will Davis (21), Jay Springsteen (9), Steve Morehead (42) and Rich King (80) lead the field Into the first turn during round three of the AMA Grand National Championship Series 'at West Virginia Motor Speedway. Scott Parker (1) gives chase before ultimately finishing fourth. (Right) Davis took control after the second restart to score his first win of the year and assume the series points lead. they wouldn't have had to stop it, I could have just kept on going. When the track dries out more as the race goes on, you have to change your line." Taking a giant step forward in yet another comeback was Johnny & Sarah Goad/Danny Malfatti/USC Racing's Ricky Graham, who finished third after he was involved in the massive crash that brought out the second red flag and sent Harley-Davidson of Sacramento's Joe Kopp to the hospital. After the restart, Graham worked his way up to second, only to have Springer grab it back on lap 18. "Before the main, I walked the track and saw there was moisture down low, underneath the groove:' Graham said. "I was going into the corners way underneath the groove, and I didn't have to turn on the marbles. I could keep a good roll and then head to the top. It was working pretty good. That's how I got through, and I started to catch Will. Jay started using my line, and that's how he got back around. Also, I just haven't run in so long. I didn't get reallired, but I got lackadaisical." Seven-time and defending AMA Grand National Champion Scott Parker worked his way up from a second-row start with an inspired ride to capture fourtl).