Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

DIRT TRACK AMA GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES break from the frus tra tion of j~'~t";;~~: ing out on the 750s, Sitting on the second row , I was just praying for a top -l O fin ish: ' Paul Morgan III had to be eve n more pleased , as he managed to come out of nowhere and puIl off a last-eorner pass under both Roed er and Stu mp for third, "The last lap , I was fifth, so I decided it w as d o-or -die tim e," Morgan sai d . "This is the DPC Racing bik e that Willie McCoy u su all y rid es, but h e wa sn 't here, so I go t the oppo rtu nity to rid e it. I told them that I wasn' t going to take any chances, and they jus t said to go out and have fun , It turned ou t to be a pretty good deal for me, This will probably be my last 883 race for a while," 00 0\ 0\ ..O\~ ....... rfJ ;:::l OJ:) :l < 12 GRAND NATIONAL Davis chos e to make his bid from the very bo ttom of the race track when the field lined up for the 25-lap main event. Sp ri ng steen li n ed up to Davis ' right, wi th King flanking Sp ring steen, Bu tler wa s in th e m idd le of th e fro nt row di rectly ahead of Carr - w ith Varnes and 'Schnabel ru nn ing the ou tside of row one and Parker the outside of row two. The champ ion was in trouble alm ost fro m the sta rt, as he crawled off the line in 15th place and ran with Stan ley, Mo rga n and Morehead before passin g them and e ven tua Ily ca tch ing and p assi n g Bigelo w for 11th on la p five; th e tw o trad ed the spot twice before Parker was in com ma nd of 11th for the res t of the race. "I sucked - that' s abou t all that I can say" Parker said. "I just can' t get go ing as fast as those gu ys a re going . When yo u' re going the same speed as they ar e and they'r e ahea d ,of yo u, what do you d o? You suck hind tit. If we knew what our problem was, then we'd solve it, but obvious ly we do n't. Bu t I'm not pissed . O u r best races a re still to co me. Plu s, th is way I can b e th e und erdog . Th e other way, I couldn' t." After lead ing the race down the back straig ht, Sp ringsteen soon beg an to drop off the p ace af ter about five la ps. Th e reason ? Same old thing. "No brakes again!" Sp rings teen said afterwa rd . "A bolt backed out three lap s int o the race. That's the third time we've h ad bra ke proble ms thi s yea r, bu t I d on' t kn ow if we would have won it. I think that we moved the fron t end too mu ch from the heat race, because it was sta rting to push an d wa n ting to tu ck und er." Springs teen d ro p ped ba ck to se vent h , whil e at th e sam e time Ha yd en was marching fo rwa rd into th e fr a y from sixth place. Ha yd en went aro u nd Spri ngsteen for third on lap six. Up fro nt, King wa s motoring, as he had put some 15 or 20 len gths on Davi s by the nin th lap, and "Mr. Con sistency" appear ed to be consist entl y running the sa m e lin e lap aft er lap a s h e rac ed towa rd the finish . Even so, he sneaked a quick look back a time or tw o to keep an eye on things. "I just kep t looking back and hoping th a t the high line wouldn 't come in ," Kin g s a id . "We co u ld hav e a ctua lly gone a little bit faste r. The only thin g I had to d o ou t there w as see if an yon e wa s working the high line ." No one was, and by the 16th lap King had half a straig htaway on Davis, who continued to push hard, and yes, he did take a look a t the top to see if he could make it go . "T here w as no mois tu re u p th ere , just marbles," Davis said . " It wasn't as qu ick as the bottom was . But it seemed like I caugh t him a little bit, and then it stayed th e sa me. The bike ju s t d idn ' t ~~:o;~;; .. y ,t ';!:i:i;. , · ;~,;~'~ l':~ -' :' se em to be ru nn ing pa st th e halfw ay point. But [ ain ' t com plaini ng. The thing was fast all nig ht, and it mad e it to the finish." Meanwhile, Ca rr had caugh t up to Ha yd en abou t three lap s ea rlier a n d qu ickly roIled it past the youngs ter, who se eme d to be strugg ling a bit. Varnes went by Hayd en not long after that. . "The first 10 lap s, the bike was wo rkin g, and th en m y lines s ta rted drying up , and I mad e a few m istakes and th ose guys go t me ," Hayd en sai d. " It was kind of di sappointi ng . I th ought th at I w a s go ing to ge t on th e box . I d on 't know how many more yea rs I'm goi ng to be dirt-tr ack racing - I already feel like I' m running ou t of cha nces." With Carr an d Varne s ru nni ng third a nd fou rt h, a nd La ndes a lso mov in g past Hayd en up to fifth , the top seven were set, with the best race on the track going on b etween Evans and Bu tler, w ho were banging on each other mercilessly, but they talked about the experience af terward with s m iles o n their faces. "I w as spi nning all over the pl ace, trying to pass him (Eva ns)," Butl er said . "I just cou ld n' t ge t a bite for nothing. I was sea rching everywhere . I wa s rubbin g all over him with m y front tire . I was lik e, 'I'm gonna get that damned Canadi an : " "In a pig's ass he was gonna get me," said Evans, who wound up taking the eigh th spot. "I knew he was faster than me , but I wasn ' t goi ng to give him the spot." Davis a lmost surrend e red seco nd p la ce to Ca rr , ho w e v e r , when h is machine let go on the 24th lap . But the No rt h Caroli nia n kept hi s cool a n d coas ted aro und to just beat Carr to the li n e. Nobo dy g o t clos e en o u gh t o remove King from the lead , how ever, as he hit the finish with more than a halfstraig h taway lea d on bo th Davis and Ca rr. As thin gs sit now, the next few races will be very teIling . Will Parker, w ho domina ted th e East Moline Half Mil e one year ago, vault back into the points lead? Or w ill King be able to s tart his ow n race win streak? "H mm m, that' s a lim est on e track," King said of East Moline. "But any thing is possible, and there's still Sedalia , Las Vegas and Hagerstown. I think th at 1 have as good a sho t a t tho se pl aces as anyone. I'll be in the hunt at all the rest ' of them ." I~ Route 66 Raceway Joliet, Illinois Results: August 8, 1998 (Round 12 of 19) H EAT 1 (10 laps; 12 rid ers, top th ree tran .ster); 1. ' Will Davis (H·D); 2. Kevin Var nes 0; ·0 ); 3. Chris Ca rr (H·Q); 4. Steve More head ( H ~D); 5. Mike Ha cker (H- D); 6. Brent Arm bruste r (H· O); 7. C h ris Eva ns (H-D) ; 8. John ny Murphree (H- D ); 9. jason Sen te ll (H· D); 10. Ja mes McIlvena (H- D); 11. Bria n Kromrov (H- D); 12. Dev on Pri tcha rd (H- D). • T ime: 3 mi n., 49.518 sec . HEAT 2 no laps; 12 ride rs, to p three tran sf er}; 1. Rich King (H on): 2. J.R. Schnabel (H- D); 3. Paul Mor ga n III (H -D); 4. John Nic kens III (H- D); 5. Shaun Russell (liD); 6 . Mikt' Va rn es (H -D) ; 7. Dan S ta n ley (H ·D); 8. Robert Lewi s (H- D); 9. G reg Tea gu e (H -D); 10. C hris Boone (H -D) ; 11. Ja ime Agu ila r (H ·D); 12. Ken Yoder (H-D). T ime: 3 min ., 51.470 sec. H EAT 3 no la ps; 12 rid e rs, top th ree tran sfe r): 1. J.1Y Sp ringstee n (H -D) ; 2. Sco tt Pa rker (H· D); 3. N icky Ha yden (H· D); 4. Pa u l Bergs tr om (H·D); 5. Robert Kna pp (H·D) ; 6. Da nny Koelsch (H- D); 7. Tim Eades (HD); 8. Ma rco Mo n.'110 (H·D) ; 9. Ky le Long (H- D); 10. Kevin Olligl.... (H-D); 11. Na te Wait (H · D); 12. Ste ven Gill (H-D) , ' T ime 3 min ., 52.8n sec. HEAT 4 no la p s; 12 rid er s, to p th ree tra sfer): 1. Da n BUller (H- D) ; 2. Bryan Bigel o w (H-D ); 3. Brett Landes (H·O); 4. Dale [en nem a n (H- D); 5. Josh Butler (H-o); 6. Gary Rogers (li-D ); 7. Ran dy Sha n k II (H·D); 8 . Joe Kopp ( H- D); 9 . Br e t Beyer (H - D ); 10. Je r r y Vanderkooi (H· D); 11. Ceo Roeder II (H-D); t 2. Ken ny Ccclbct b (H· D). T ime: Neue. due to red flag. BEE R NUTS C HA LLENG E RA CE (5 lap s , 10 riders): 1. Rich King (Hen): 2. Jay Springsteen (H-D); 3. Steve Mo reh ead (H-D) ; 4. Kevin Varnes (l·I·D) ; 5. Da n But ler (H ·D) ; 6. Bryan Bigelow (H·O); 7. [R. Sch nabel (H· D); 8. Mi ke Ha cker (H-D); 9. Nic ky H ay d en (H-D); 10. POlU M organ III (H - O). ) Ti me: 1 m in.• 57.564 sec, SEM I 1 (8 Jap s; 12 rid e rs, top tw o trans fer): 1. Ch ris Evans (H- D); 2. Steve Mor ehead (H-D); 3. Sha u n Russell (H-D); 4. Ke ny Coolbeth (H- D); 5. Cary Ro ge rs (H- D); n 6. Robe rt Lewis (H -D); 7. Robert Knapp (H·D) ; 8. jaime Ag ui la r (H-D>; 9. Bret Beyer (H- O); to. Ma rco Mo rello (H-D); 11. lam e Mcllv ena ( H~ D); s Na te Wait (H · D). Ti me : 3 mi n., 8.040 sec. SE.. 1 2 (8 laps; 12 rid ers, top tw o transfer): 1. Dan \1 Stanley (H- D); 2. Joh n n y M u r p h ree (H ·D ); 3. Joh n Nickens III (H-D); -I. Mike Ha cker (H- D); 5 . Geo Roeder 11 (H ·D); 6. Ju!>h But ler (H ·D) ; 7. Danny Koelsch (H ·D) ; 8. Joe Kop p (H- D); 9. Ch ris Boo ne (H ·D ); 10. Kyle Lon g (H· D); 11. Brian Kro mrov (H-D ); 12. Steven G ill (H-D ). Time: 3 mi n., 9.933 sec . • tz. Mike Hacker (67) got t he best start in the Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance ma in event and went on to take the win, while Gary Rogers (53) came off row two and finished second. SE M I 3 (8 lap s; 12 ri d ers, top two transfer n 1. Jaso n Sen te ll ( H 4D) ; 2. Br ent A r mbr u st e r (H-D); 3. Pa ul Berg strom (H·D) ; 4-.Mik e Varn e s (H· D); 5. Da le Ienneman (H· D); 6. Gre g Teagu e (H-D) ; 7. Rand y Shank n (H-D) ; 8. Tim Eades (H -o); 9. Ken Yod er (H -D ); 10. Kevi n Olligcs (H-D); 1L De vo n Prit chard (H-D) ; 12. jerry Vanderkoo i (H-D) . T im e: 3 min .• 11.480 sec. G RAND N ATIO~AL (25 laps, 18 ri ders): 1. Rich King (Hen): 2. Will Davis (If -D): 3. Ch ris Ca rr (H·O ); 4. Kevi n Va rn e s (H -D) ; 5. Bre tt Landes (H-D ); 6. Nic ky Ha yd en (l-l-D): 7. Jay Spri n gsteen ( H~Q); 8. Ch ris Evan s (H -D); 9, Dan Butler (H -D); 10. I,R, Schnabel (H-D!; II. Scott Pa rker (H- D); 12. StCVl' Morehead (H-D ); 13. Bryan Bige low (H -D ); 14. P.1U I Mo rg an III (1 0 ); 15. Bren t -1· e Armbruste r (H-O); t 6. Joh nny Murph re (H ·D); 17. Dan Sta n ley ( H ~D); 18. Ia son Sent el l (H·D) . T ime: 9 mi n., 38.479 S{'(' . A MA G RA N D N ATI ONAL COS H IP S ERIES POINT STAN DING S (After 12 of 19 round s): 1. Rich Kin g (185 /2 wi ns); 2. C h ris Ca rr (176 /2 ); 3. Sco tt Par ke r (174/4); 4. Wi11 Da vis (160/2); 5. Ja y Springsteen 0 (0); 6. St eve Mo re hea d (97 ); 7. Jo e Kopp (95 ); 8. Bryan Bigelo w (84); 9. Gl'O Roed er II (83 /1l; 10. (TIE) Kevin Va r nes ZMi ke Ha ck er (81); 12 . Da n Stan le y (62) ; 13. D a v e y Ca mli n ( 5 7 ); 14 . (T IE) Dan Bu tl er / N ick y Hayden / Brett Landes (52); 17. Paul Morgan III (38); 18. (TIE) Chri s Evans/Steve Beattie/Terry POOVt' Y (36 ). Upcoming Rounds: Ro und 13 - East Moli ne , Illinois . Au gust 15 Round 14 - Hagerstown, Maryland, August 22 HARLEY-DAVIDSON s rORTSTER PERFORMANCE NAr L (12 laps, Ii' riders): 1. Mike Hacke r (I-I-D); 2. Cary Rogers (H- D); 3. Pa u l Morgan JlI (H· D); 4. less ROt'dl.'r (H-D); 5. Sco tt Stump (f-l-D): 6. Rya n Brown (H· D); 7. Bria n Kromro y (H·D); 8. Sh aun Russdl (H -D); 9. Bret Beyer ( H ~ o); 10. Alan Eadie (H -D); 11. Joh n Oa rk (HD); 12. Tom McGranl' Jr. (I-I·D) ; 13. Brian T homas (H· D); 14. Yu hiko H irao (H· D); 15. Tim Eades (H ~D) ; t e.james Hart (H ·D ); 17. Nat e Wait (H·D) . T ime : 4 mi n.. 53.119 sec . . HAR LEY-DAVIDSON SPO RT STER PERfORMANCE SERI ES POINT STANDING S (Af te r 7 of 13 ro u nd s); I. Jes s Roe de r (135 /3 win s); 2. Mike Ha cker (99/2); 3. Da ve y Ca mli n (91/2); 4. Sha u n Ru sse ll (90); 5 . Scott Stu m p (87); 6. Ga ry Rogers (81); 7. Billy Martin (72); 8Brian Kromroy (i1); 9. Tim Ead es (53); 10. Willie McCoy (.. :;0); 11. Rya n Brown (42); 12. Tom McGrane Jr . (40); 13. Alan Eadie (39); 14. Yu h iko Hirao (31); t 5. (TIE) Iames Hart / Cera my Rackley (26); 17. Pa ul Bergstrom (25); 18. (TIE) Jason Fletcher /john Faulkner III (23); 20. Robert Miller (20). • Brieflv.,. -. Prior to the start 01 pract ice, several racers seemed to be impressed with the m;w Rout e 66 Raceway l acility , ,S c o " P a r k e r among the m. " It looks like a pretty nice track." Parker said. " It's go t big come rs. it should be fun. " But as the evening wore on, the racing surface tumed into a narrow -qrooved . one-line affair . Some riders. such as veteran S t e v e Moreh ea d , werecritical 01 the AM A lor not getti ng the track prepared proper· Iy Irom the beginning. " Don' t they know the drill by now ?" M orehead said. " II they run a broom on it right away , y ou get a nice. to -feet wide groove to run on instead '01 this. " 'AM A officials did order a broo m to be run alter ,the l irst practice session, but the bottom 01 the race track was already sealed wit h rubber, making it the fastest way around late r in' the night. C h r i s C a r r offe red up the followi nq delen se : " I 'think that 'it will get beiter. Next year , they 'll know what to do with it, and maybe we won't have as much 01 a threat 01 rain, The race track was slick. but it wasn 't unsale ," Jay Spring steen made light 01 the slick nature' 01 the racing surl ace. " Alter practice , I ran dow n to Kenny Tolbert 's truck and asked him if he had any ice screw s," Springsteen said , " . ' The field is set ,lo r' the Labor Day Weekend Hall o f Fame Dirt Track Race. sched uled to take place at Spnnqf ield . Illinois, on Augu st 5, Ri c h King , J ay Spr ingstee n , S t e v e Morehead and Kevin Vames l inished in the top four spots in the, five·lap B e er N u t s C h a lle n g e race to guarantee their starting spot s in the 15-lap, $50 .000 l inal. Rich K i n g was once again honored th e day after the Rapid C ity Half M il e , when main s po n sor Mi ke Corb in ho s t ed th e filth annual ' Corbin/ Performance M achine/Barnett Press Party at the Best W estern Hotel in Stu rgis, Sout h Dakota. Du ring his introd uctory speech , Corb in .mentloned King' s accomplishment at Rapid City and told the motorcycl e pres s 1 give,dirt·track racing anoth er l"ok. " Rich used to be a -pretty 0 goo d dirt tracke r. but he rode on sq meone else 's seat," Corbin said. " And now he rides on a Corb in seat, and look at him go , Thispoints race is shaping up to be a good one. and I encou rage the motorcycling pre ss to give 'it more atten tion . These are the great American racers. " Stev e Bea"ie update: The Canadian National Ch ampion has not yet been released from St. Francis M edical Ce nter in Peori a. Beatt ie was originally schedu led t o be released on Friday , August 7. but doctors were reluctant to let him go alterhe had diff iculty standing under his own power du e t o weakness . He has sincedevelo ped pneu moni a. .W hen he is released, Beattie is scheduled to be flow n to 'his homet ow n .in Canada, with the tab for the ride being picke d up by his sponsor, Styl emaster Cuetom M otorcycles. . D avey C aml i n was spotted cruising the pits at Rout e 66 Raceway, and the 28·year·old lllinois-based rider made no bones about the fact that he was clearly unhappy about the eve nts surrounding his crash at the Peoria n . " I'm big·time unhappy." Camlin said. " Rich King was adamant about tho se tires being remove d from the race track, becaus e his teammate got knoc ked off by one in the spring race there... At other races, we use chalk (to' mark the groove). It' s typical. They don 't see the co mmon sense in shit like that unti l so meone gets hurt . Then it's like , 'Ohhh.' But if nobody get s hurt , then it' s okay; But it' s not okay. W e (riders) need so me mo ~e unity . Every week we have a different bitch. but it never seems to pertainto everyone. I admit that I don' t speak up eno ugh either, but we need guys to be more adamant abo ut some of this st uff , like the Parkers andthe M oreheads and the Davises.' 1guess it' s my fault because I knew the tire s were there: and I rode an'yw

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