Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

DIRT TRACK AMA GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES '1 don't know what happened at the tart," Hayden said. "I bent the shift shaft - 1 don't know how - but it got smashed all the way down to the brake lever. The fir t few laps 1 was having trouble getting it into gear. Finally, once I got going. the bike was working really good. 1 was able to move up a little bit. I'm pretty happy. The turns were kind of slippery in the middle, and a lot of them were leaving a little bit of room on the bottom, and my TCR bike was really booking up." . Gardner Racing's Stanley worked his way to the rear, but still came away with some positives. "Once the track got hard and slippery, 1 couldn't get any traction," Stanley said. "I couldn't get into the corner. Coming off was okay. We just didn't have the bike set up for the way the track ended up, and 1 went backwards. Early it was working real good. 1 was up in seventh for a wlUle till the track started to go away." "1 had a hard time seeing in the main event," Bigelow said, explaining his 13th-pLace finish. "I think everybody from sixth on back had a hard time seeing. [t was so dusty and the groove was so small, it was like trying to find a neerile in a haystack." Bigelow's teammate Butler fared worse, coming home 17th - one lap down. "After the second lap, the bike was sticking wide open and 1 was ricfulg on the kill switch," a disappointed Butler said. "The brake rotor came loose, too. 1 tore the clutch up in practice and only got one practice. It could have been worse. At least we picked up a couple of points." Mike Varnes was also disappointed with his 15th-place finish. "1 was just sliding all over," Varnes said. "It was dusty, and I think they could have watered the track a Ilttle more. It was hard to see. Nothing worked. Everything was working in the semi, and 1 thought, 'This is great. B~ing BriefJv..·.· - found it. I was just wanting to get on the podium. Once 1 got up to second, I' saw Hacker was right there, 0 I'm going to try and win it. I couldn't hardly beHeve 1 ended up winning it. 1 wa struggling all night long." Despite the pajn, Hacker held on for second. Miller, on the other hand, was just glad to be racing. After suffering a mechanical failure at Myrtle Beach, North Carolina, he worked right to the wi re to make the event. "1 thought we just blew a head gasket last night, but when I pulled it apart, the studs were out of the ca es, too," Miller said. "We only had four minutes Left at tech when 1 pushed it through." Krornroy and Eades rounded out the top five. Scott Stump underwent knee surgery less than a week before the race - with the plan for an artificial knee to be put in place at season's end - and yet he was at Harrington and carded a sixthplace finish. Jason Fletcher, Shaun Ru sell, Billy Martin and Tom McGrane' rounded out the top 10. fN Delaware State Fairgrounds Harrington, Delaware Results: May 16, 1998 (Round 2 of 20) Jess Roeder looked as tough as ever, claiming the win In the- serles-opening HarleyDavidson Sportster Performance National. the last semi, I got the last look at the track before the ational.' But it didn't work out. It changed completely, and I just couldn't get it going." .HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER PERFORMANCE NAnONAL The two heat races went to Saddlemen/ 1-800-FAST-HOG/ Moroney's Harley-Davidson's Mike Hacker and Howell's Harley-Davidson/ Saddlemen/Laugerman's Harley-Davidson's Robert Miller. Off the line and into turn one it was Miller Electric/ Las Vegas HarleyDavidson/Texan Harley-David 00.- . The total purse for' the Delaware National was $35,700. with Parkers win worth $4330. Carr t'ook home $3220. while Roeder's take was $2035. . backed Jess Roeder and Miller on top. At the end of the first lap it was yet another Sadrllemen rider, Tim Eades, on top, with Miller and Brian Kromroy knocking on the door. Miller took over on lap three, with Hacker leading Eades, Kromroy, Roeder and Billy Martin. At the halfway point, Hacker took over the lead and looked to be cruising to the win. Then Hacker lUt the hole in tum three and jammed his lUp about the same time Roeder found his stride. "I just never gave up," Roeder said. "I knew there was a line around there somewhere. 1 kept trying and trying, and around the eighth lap 1 finally year. So far. Stanley has made both ·Nationals. "This was one of my least .favorite tracks on the ciccuit. .but I learned a bunch today," StaT\ley' said.' "I'll get better on this stuff. Jf I can get my' worst tracks out of the way with finishes like this. I'll be happy. Our goal is to finish seventh i1r better in the series this year. and we made it intb seventh tonight. If I can stay steady there all season. I'll be real happy:" Team Powell is really happy witn its new rider. J.R. ·Schnabel, and the · feeling seems mutual. "I'm really happy everything is really working out with the new team and all, better than I could have hoped for," Schnabel · ~id. "For the first time on the bike. I was real happ'Y. I've never rode that kind of C&J frame before. I just went Ollt there and it worked ri.9ht away. We didn't change a gear or anything all night. Bill and Carol did a good job setting the bike up.. We've got a good deal going.: Despite the bitter disappointment of the previous night. Will Davis. along with Chris Carr: showed up S;mqay at Danny Walker and Carr's A .... rlcan Supercamp riding school. Davis had bis own boot planted squarely on his rear end. "That was just stupid.' Davis said of the race. "I was just sure that he jumped the start and I rolled off the gas and pulled the clutch. Iwas sure it wQuld be a red fiag. but the light went green. It looked to me like his rear tire was to 'the line before the light. but that wasn't the · It's a little strange calling Chris Car.r new. but the Sacramento Harley· call. I know better than to make 11 mistake like that. Oh well. I guess I'll Davidson/.Phoenix flacing rider is definitely sporting a new look. "I think Just take out my frustrations on these 10Ds. Forget next week. I'm ready I'm pretty close to being back: Carr said. "Tonight we were capable of · winning - just didn't. I ihink I'm capable of winning five or six races this to race now. year. The way things went tonight - pea gravel is not my best surface. and Davis' new teammate, Nicky Hayden. Is the one that kept him one we were competitive tonight. There's no telling how the chassis we used . tonight is going to work on a tacky mile. so we'lI see how it goes." position out of the National. "We're just here to make the dance.Nicky's father. Earl Hayden. said. "I feel bad forWil1. I know he's going for the championship. and we're not gOing to be able to make them all. But it . Also completely revamped this year is the USC Racing/Lancastar Harley-David!'On team of Johnny and Sarah Goad. Filling out the team stili feels good to see him (Nicky) in there. " . since Daytona is Dan Butler. who joins fellow Michigander Bryan It seems t~ere are more team eba.s this.year th;m any year in a long Bigelow. "It was a pretty good night. - Bigelow said of Hanrington, "I'm . time. At this point in' time. the A9se RaCing team Is faring the best, with glad to make the main for the first time fo, Johnny. I needed those 25 laps Kevin Varnes in the saddle. Varnes holds down third in the points behind of experienc'1. It shoule! be a fun year. .1 think Dan can teach me a lot. He's' Corbin Racing's Rich King and the updefeated Parker. Canadia'n Steve '. run up frOnt. and I've never been there. We live close together and can Beattie's new team is also coming along. "The new team is working out train together. He's worked with me before. so it's not entirely new.: . .. (Stylemaster. with AI Mcllvena turning 'the wrenches. This is our· first. Grand National - 'I don't r",ally couT\t Daytona a National,' Be'attie s~id. . Then th",re's .the oldest and (perhaps' one of tho;> grandest) 'teams o,n the "We en Yoder Jr. (H-D); I J. Dan Butler (H-D~ . Time: 4 min., 21.498 sec. HEAT 2 (10 laps; 11 riders, top three tra.nsfer): 1. Scott Parker (H-D); 2. Mike Hacker (H-D); 3. Kevin Varnes (H-D); 4. Bryan Bigelow (H-D); 5. Brett Landes (H-D); 6. Paul Lyr>Ch (H-D); 7. Bill). Martin (H-D); 8. Jason Sentell {H-D}; 9. Shaun Russell (A-D); 10. Jay Springsteen (H-D); I J. Mark Miner (H-D~ Time: 4 min., 25.349 sec. HEAT 3 (10 laps; 10 riders. top thne transfer): 1. Steve Beattie (H-D); 2. Paul Mo_~gan ill (H-D); 3. Dan Stanley (H-D); 4. Mike Varnes (H-D): 5. J.R. Schnabel (H-D); 6. Jeff Randolph (H-D); 7. Joe Kopp (H-D); 8. Paul Bergstrom (H-D); 9. Kyle Long (H-D); 10. Jerry Vanderkooi (H-D). Time: 4 min.. 28.388 sec. HEAT 4 (10 laps; 10 ridus, t~1? three: tran fer): 1. Dave Camlin (H-D); 2. Rich King (Hon); 3. Chris Evoms (H-D): 4. W~I D.vis (H-D); 5. Ken Coolbeth Jr. (H-D); 6. Ion Segedy (H-D~ 7. Josh Butler (H-D); 8. Gary Rogers (H-D): 9. Marco Morello (H-D); 10. Nick Doniels (H-D). Time: 4 min.. 29.023 sec. SEMI] (8 laps; 10 riders, top two transfer); 1. J-R Schnabel (H-D); 2. tan Segedy (H-D); 3. John Nickens 1Il (H-D); 4. J.son Sentell (H-D); 5. Robert Knapp (H-D); 6. Paul 8eJ:~trom (H-D); 7. Marco Morello (H-D); 8. Brett Landes (H-D); 9. Ken Yoder Jr. (H-D); 10. M.rk Miller (H-D). ' Time: No time - red Oag. SEMl 2 (8 laps; 10 riders, top two transfer): 1. Dan Butler (H-D); 2. Bry.n Bigelow (H·D); 3. Johnny Murphree (H-D); 4. Jill' Springsteen (H-D); 5. Ken Coolbeth Jr. (H-D); 6. Jason Fletcher (H-O); 7. Jeff Randolph (H-D); 8. Billy Martin (H-D); 9. Gary Rogers (H-D); 10. Kyle Long (H-D). Time: 3 min.• 099 sec. S'EMJ 3 (8 Ia.ps; 10 riders. top two transfer): ]. Mike Vomes (H-D); 2. Nicky H.yden (H-D); 3. W~I D.vis (HD), 4. Paul Lynch (H-D); 5. Joe Kopp (H-D); 6. Josh Butler (H-D); 7. Shaun Russell (H-D); 8. Jerry Vanderkooi (H-D); 9. Brian Kromroy (A-D); 10. Nick Daniels (H-D). Time: 3 min., 34..271 sec. GRAND ATIONAL (25 laps; 18 riders), 1. Scott Parker (H-D); 2. Chris Carr (H-D~ 3. Gee Roeder n (HD); 4. Steve Morehead (H-O); 5. Rich King (Hon); 6. Kevin Varnes (H-D); 7. Steve Beattie (H-D); 8. j.R. Schnabel (H-D); 9. Mike H.cker (H-D); 10. Paul Morgan 1lI (H-D); II. Nicky Hoyden (H-D); 12. Dan Stanley (HD~ 13. Bryon Bigelow (H-D~ 14. Dave Camlin (H-D): 15. Mike Varnes (H-D); 16. lan Segedy (H-D); ]7. Dan BuUer (H-D); 18. Chris Ev;ms (H-D). Time: 1] min.. 03.729 sec. AMA GRAND ATJONAL CHAMPIONSHiP SERIES POINT STANDlNGS (After 2 of 20 rounds), J. Scott Parker (46/2 wins): 2. Rich King (27); 3. Kevin Varnes (23); 4. (TIE) Terry Poovey/Chris Carr (19); 6. J.R. Schnabel (18); 7. (TIE) Dan St.nle~ /Gee Roeder 0/ Brett Landes (16), 10. (TIE) Steve Morehe.dfjoe K."I'J' (15): 12. Will Davis (14); 13. Nicky H.yden (13); 14. (TIE) Steve Beattie/Charlie Orr (12); 16. Roger Durkee (11); 17. Mike Hacker (10); 18. P.ul Morgan ill (9); 19. J.y Springsteen (8); 20. Chris Evans (7). HARLEY-DA VlDSON SPORTSTER PERFORMANCE ATIONAL: 1. Jess Roeder; 2. Mike Hacker; 3. Robert Miller; 4. Brian Kromroy; 5. Tim Eades; 6. Scott Stump; 7. Jason Fletcher; 8. Shaun RusselJ; 9. Billy Martin; 10. Tom McGrane Jr.; 11. Bob Buffington; ]2. Gary Rogers; 13. John Faulkner ID; 14. Ryan Brown; 15. Michelle Thsalvo; 16. Dave CamJin; 17. Paul Bergstrom. AMA HARLEY-DA VLDSON SPORTSTER PERFORMANCE SERIES POINT STANDINGS (Afte.r 1 of 14 rounds): 1. Jess Roeder (23/1 win); 2. Mike Hacker (19); 3. Robert Miller (1~); 4. Brian Kromroy (15); 5. Tim Eades (14); 6. Scott Stump (13): 7. Jason Fletcher (12); 8. Sh.un Russell (11); 9. Billy M.rtin (10); 10. Tom MeGr.n. Jr. (9); 11. Bob Buffington (8); 12. Gary Rogers (7); 13. John Faulkner III (6); 14. Ryan Brown (5); 15. MicheUe Disalvo (4); 16. Dave CamJin (3); 17. Paul Bergstrom (2). Upcoming Rounds: Round 3 - Springfield, Illinois, May 24 Round 4 - laSalle, Illinois, May 30

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