.
When asked about
the lap record, Acree replied, "This is
my first one, so I'm enjoying it!"
The Metzeler 600cc Superstock
Series resumed with fireworks on and
off the track. Brian Stokes and Brian
Gibbs jumped to the lead of the restarted event, both on GSXR600 Suzukis.
The two Brians fought until coming
together diving into turn six and crashing, giving the lead to the third Brian Brian Lantz, who held the lead on his
ZX-6R Kawasaki until JAR's David
Rose passed him and slowly pulled
away. Rose took the victory on the
track but was disqualified after refusing the postrace technical inspection
initiated by a protest from Lantz, who
felt that the older machine was running stronger than' a superstock
CBR600F3 should be able to perform.
Lantz was awarded the top spot, followed by 1-800-CROTCH-ROCKET's
Ty Howard, also on a ZX-6R. Woodstock, Georgia, rider Billy Eisenacher
rounded out the top three on a Yamaha
£N
600.
By Cary Lurie
.
Photos by Scott Carpenter
HAMPTON, GA, MAY 16-17
rclight Suzuki avoided
four red-flag incidents - in
the first two hours of the
race - en route to victory in round three
o£ the WERA National Endurance Series
at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Arclight's
Mark McDaniel and Chris Hughes
cruised to the overall points lead after
leading nearly every lap of the event.
It was the inaugural motorcycle
event at the newly renovated Atlanta
Motor Speedway complex. AMS spent
more than $30 million to convert the 1.5mile NASCAR oval. into a world-class
facility that includes a 2.5-mile, 14-turn
road course combining tlie oval with a
technical infield that features elevation
changes, a first-gear corner, and highspeed sections to deliver a chaUenging
venue for future events.
"1 like this track," said Arclight's
Hughes. "We used to run on NASCARtype tracks, and 1'm glad to see them
again. Maybe we can run on more."
;, Evans Motosports Lee Acree agreed.
"Its better every time out," he said. "1
really like it." .
, Firestorm Racing held the pole, with
Chris "Opie" Caylor on a GSXR600
JOIning Evans Motosports' Acree and
SBR/Semoff Brothers Racing's Glenn