Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

"I started to get a good holeshot even from the second row. Then 1 made a little mistake and didn't get the bike turned real good," the Harley-Davidson factory rider said. "I slid up a little bit and let four or five guys get by, then had to fight back through traffic. It just got away from me, and 1 had to reel them back in. The next thing you know, it was over. The track just went away, and I mellowed out. I couldn't make any time, but I think it did the same for everybody. There were no faster lines and 1 just stayed where 1 was at. 1 felt comfortable and knew where there were a couple of holes, so '1 just locked in right there." Rounding out the top five was Corbin Racing's Rich King, who had led the first two laps of the main event before giving the poirtt way to Springsteen. "When the track was wet, we were hooked, but we've been having traction problems all night," King said. "We chased the moisture as long as we could, but it just got up too high. Fifth is okay. I've always said, Top five, I'm happy. I'm not upset. If you're there every week, things work out." (Right) Springsteen (9) held the lead for the first seven laps before the restart. The former three-time champion wound up a strong second while King (80) finished fifth. HEATS Sitting on the pole for heat one was fast qualifier Schmulbach Racing/Budweiser's Dan Stanley, whose four-lap qualifying time was less than two-tenths of a second faster than that posted by USC Racing's Kevin Varnes. But a poor start in the heat race left Stanley a nonfactor for much of the race. "1 just made a bad decision to start my heat from the bottom," Stanley said. "Everybody was struggling down there. I should have taken the top. Hey, I'm still learning. It was a good race for me." The big stars came out early in the first heat, as F&S Harley-Davidson's Steve Morehead, TCR teammates Kevin Atherton and Will Davis, and Rose Racing's new rider Willie McCoy all hit turn one at the same time, where Davis and Atherton dropped Moreheao to third. The two TCR teammates took the high line. as Morehead stuck to the bottom in order to stay in the hunt. "We just wanted a front-row tart in the National," winner Davis said. "You've got to get off the line. That was fun, just a little midweek fun." Atherton was a close second. "1 went good in the heat race because there was moisture in the track," Atherton said. "1 just rode the motorcycle hard, because there was traction and you eould be aggressive." Morehead was a solid third, while Stanley led Davey CamIin, Scott Stump and McCoy headed into the semis. Paul Morgan ill got the holeshot in heat two on his Coziahr Harley-Davidson-backed XR750, but he had Geo Roeder II and Robert Lewis close behind. Morgan held th~ point for four laps before Roeder dived under Morgan in turn one. Roeder's lead was shortlived, as his Mike & Eddie Adkins Racing Harley suffered a mechanical breakdown on lap seven. "We broke a manifold in the heat race, but it was really working good until then," Roeder said. About the same time Roeder dropped out, Deeley Harley-Davidson's Steve Beattie coasted to a stop against the turn-two waIl. "1 stuck my foot in the first turn and wrenched it backwards," an obviously uncomfortable Beattie said. "It got between my pipes and back tire. 1 think 1probably did some ligament damage to myknee." (Left) The Comeback Kid: Ricky Graham rode to a solid third-place 11nlsh after a controversial collision that saw Joe Kopp sent to the hospital. With Roeder's demise, Morgan had a healthy lead over White's HarleyDavidson pilot Mike Varnes and Mike's cousin Kevin, who was charging on his USC Racing/Lancaster Harley-Davidson XR and stormed into second with one lap to go. Mike held on to third to make it straight to the main. Dale Jenneman and Dan Butler battled over starting spots in the semi. Heat three could have been considered a senior-citizen special, if not for the fact that Kenny Coolbeth had his Harley-Davidson of Missouri/Dave Burks Racing Harley right in the middle of the action. Tim Mertens got the holeshot and led Graham and Springsteen into the first turn. Graham took over at the end of lap one, but Mertens held second until lap four, when Springsteen used a high line to take over that position. Not content with second, Springsteen set out after Graham and took the lead one lap later. "Running up high was working, but once 1 got the lead, 1 pulled down on the groove," Springsteen said. "If they were going to pa s me it would have to be on the outside, and it's slick up there." "I would have passed Jay, but 1 didn't want to go under the groove," Graham said. "Then it started getting a little drier, and with these Hondas, you've got to be so on top of everything to get them to hook up. Because of the twingle, those Harleys are a lot easier to ride. The Honda is very, very touchy. A little too much throttle and you're spinning," Graham said. At the halfway point, Mertens slipped off the groove in turn one, and Coolbeth pounced on the mistake. CooIbeth held on for the last direct transfer. Greg Sims got by Doug Davis late in the race. Both Mertens and Davis were making their first appearance at a 750cc Grand National since the early '90s. Recil Hart led the last heat for one lap before turning over the point to Kopp. Hart next fell victim to King's charge. Hart was able to hold off Parker until lap seven, when the champ worked his way around for third. Hart would gain a front-row start in his semi as he led J.R. Schnabel, Brett Landes and Paul Lynch home. SEMIS After Stanley led the first semi into turn one, Roeder wasted no· time in taking over. Roeder pulled to a large lead as Stanley and Schnabel battled over the last ticket to the main. Stanley thwarted Schnabel's every effort until the last lap, as Schnabel got a good run off turn four and slipped under Stanley going into turn one. Schnabel's great move just as suddenly turned sour as he slipped the groove and handed the position back to Stanley. Dan Butler moved into contention also on the last lap, but it was too late. r:-... 0\ ~ 9

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