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Rollercoaster Racing Tour Supercross Series Round 6: Cleveland County Fairgrounds Dal-Kawa-backed Lori Zimmer-. man has also returned to racing this year after being sidelined abruptly last season from 125cc D competition due to a broken elbow. "I came off the line good in that race and when we were coming to end the first lap, I was in second," explained Zimmerman. "All of a sudden I was on the ground on the finishline tabletop and everyone else in the field ran over me, it seemed like. Guess I got bumped; maybe that's what put me down. Anyway, I was out almost nine months." Zimmerman gated second in the Unlimited D main event and hung tough until she began to feel her stamina slipping away. At the checkered flag, which was unfurled by her dad, Dan Zimmerman, she was sixth. "It's great to be back, but I think I'll stay away from 125cc D," grinned Lori. "This time, I got a great start, and now I just need to get my strength back to stay up front." eN Cleveland County Fairgrounds Shelby, North Carolina Results: July 14, 2001 (Round 61 By BARBARA WilLIAMS PHOTOS BY LOREN WilLIAMS SHELBY, NC, JULY 14 a.wasaki-mounted Justin Hopson dominated the new 80cc C class and almost grabbed the win in Senior Mini (12-15) class at round six of the Rollercoaster Racing Tour Supercross Series. Former JMX champ Hopson was idle, for all practical purposes, during the 2000 season because of injury, but this year he's Grade-A choice and definitely back to his winning ways. More than 300 riders in 32 classes plus extra divisions in 80cc D and 125cc D raced hard, had fun and stayed safe at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds in Shelby, NC. There were no transports and only a few crashes requiring safety checks by the vigilant EMTs. "We're happy there were no injuries to speak of," commented JMX promoter Joe Williams. "The JMX crew works hard to make sure the track is challenging, yet safe enough for [riders of] all ages and skill levels to have a good time." Even though this season's schedule is limited to mainly the Shelby track, with a few rounds at Parker Valley MX less than 30 minutes away, Williams keeps up the riders' interest by changing the track every few K (Above left) Justin Hopson (8) leads the 80cc C field at round six of the Rollercoaster Racing Tour Supercross Series on the Cleveland County Fairgrounds in Shelby, North Carolina. Hopson missed the first two rounds but has racked up three wins in his last three starts. (Above right) Coming back after recuperating from an elbow injury, Lori Zlmmennan (2) Isn't afraid to race with the boys as she contests the Unlimited D class. races. The attention to detail shows in the JMX entry numbers, particularly at Shelby. "This year, we averaged 286 for our eight-race warm-up series," revealed Williams. "Now, six races into our 'regular' series, that number is holding well. The entries are up fully a third over last year." The class that Hopson owned this time, 80cc C, is a new addition to the JMX racing card. Meant to be an intermediate class to bridge the gap between 80cc D and Junior or Senior Mini, it has been well received. "There were some riders last year and during the warm-up series here who were true beginners on 80s but who improved greatly in a relatively short time," explained Williams, "yet they weren't fast enough to really keep up with the more-experienced Mini riders. The JMX series is becom- 50 SHAFT BEG: 1. Cody Griffin (Han); 2. Cody Cornwell (Yam); 3. Cody Acton (Pol); 4. Benjamin Gaon (Han); 5. lack Brown (Han). 50 SHAFT C: 1. Jesse Helms (Yam); 2. Bryce Mullis (Yam); 3. Dillon Burks (Yam); 4. M. Lee Bundrick (Han); 5. Cody Tyler Bridges (Yam). 50 SHAFT: 1. Tyler McSwain (Yam); 2. Adam Bowen (Yam); 3. Ryan Moore (Yam); 4. Josh Hinson (Yam); 5. Brandon Wol1enhaupl (Yam). 50 JR (4·6): 1. Tyler McSwain (Cob): 2. Ryan Moore (Yam); 3. Adam Bowen (Yam); 4. Cole Porter (Pol); 5. Cody Cornwell (Yam). 50 SR (7-8): 1. lucas Helms (KTM); 2. Tripp Smith (Pol); 3. Chelsea McSwain (Cob); 4. Dylan Nash (KTM): 5. Austin Moore (KTM). 50 OPEN: I. Lucas Helms (KTM); 2. Dylan Nash (KTM); 3. Tripp Smith (Pol); 4. Derrick Shuda (Hus); 5. Cole Porter (Pol). 65 (7-9): 1. Chelsea McSwain (Kaw); 2. Cody Thomas (Kaw); 3. Tony Sansosti (Kaw); 4. Cyler Rae Porter (KTM); 5. Ben Mann (Kaw). 65 (10-11): 1. Jeremiah Driscoll (KTM); 2. Chasity Man (Kaw); 3. Jesse Lawing (Kaw); 4. Tyler Fox (Kaw); 5. Carlos Short (Kaw). 65 OPEN: I. Jesse Lawing (Kaw); 2. Tyler Fox (Kaw); 3. Jeremiah Driscoll (KTM); 4. Cody Thomas (Kaw); 5. lucas Long (KTM). 80 C: 1. Justin Hopson (Kaw); 2. Chavis Poole (Han); 3. Michael Darnell (Yam); 4. Chad Roberts (Suz); 5. Roy Frick (Kaw). 80 0 0·): I. Gary Johnson (Yam); 2. Wayne Meredith (Kaw); 3. Brandon Moose (Hon); 4. Billy McClung (Kaw); 5. c.J. Rabb (Su,). 80 0 0-2: 1. Jeremy Price (Yam); 2. Dustin Kimbrell (Hon); 3. Matt Martin (Kaw): 4. Trent Crane (Han); 5. John Melton (Kaw). 85 JR MINI (7·11): 1. Tyler Clark (Kaw); 2. Adam Mann (Hon). 85 SR MINI (12-15): 1. Brad Hinson (Suz); 2. Justin Hopson (Kaw); 3. Chavis Poole (Hon); 4. Chad Roberts (Suz); 5. Dustin Kimbrell (Han). S/MINI: 1. Adam Mann (Hon); 2. Tyler Clark (Kaw). 125 A/B: 1. Chris GaJJoway (Yam); 2. Dustin Smith (Kaw); 3. Scott Smith (Kaw). 125 C: 1. Jeff Davis (Suz); 2. Josh Brady (Yam); 3. Brad Hinson (Suz); 4. Joe Johnston (Suz); 5. Scott Davis (Suz). 125 0 0-1: I. Wes White (Han); 2. Shannon Duncan (Yam); 3. Royce Bailey (Kaw); 4. Kris Scelsi (Han); 5. Adam Sommerville (Kaw). 125 0 0·2: I. Kevin Smith (Han); 2. Brian Johnson (Hon); 3. Jason Wallace (Han); 4. Joe R. Guffrey Jr. (Kaw); 5. Bryan Beattie (Kaw). 250 B: 1. Josh Johnston (Kaw). 250 C: I. Tim Bums (Kaw); 2. Nick Best (Han); 3. Jame:; Bray (Kaw). 250 D: I. John Wright (Yam); 2. Brad Colesworthy (Kaw); 3. Josh Davis (Suz); 4. Brody Montague (Han); 5. Tim Moose (Kaw). 25+ B: 1. Chris Galloway (Yam). 25+ C/O: I. Ray Lambert (Han); 2. Darrell Warwick (Suz); 3. Shannon Hunt (Kaw); 4. Jeremy Martin (Kaw); 5. Scott Ozley (Han). 30+ C/O: 1. Ray Lambert (Han); 2. Shannon Hunt (Kaw); 3. Stacy Long (Suz); 4. Darrell Warwick (Suz); 5. Scott Tyson (Kaw). 35+: 1. Michael Nyland (Han); 2. Melton Bundrick (Han); 3. Brad Colesworthy (Kaw); 4. Tim Moose (Kaw); 5. Roy Clarkson (Suz). a/L AM: I. Josh Johnston (Kaw); 2. Dustin Smith (Kaw). all 1. Josh Brady (Yam): 2. Jeff Dav;s (Suz); 3. Darrell Driver (Suz); 4. James Bray (Kaw). a/L 0: 1. Adam Sommerville (Kaw); 2. Brody Montague (Han); 3. Jeff Means (Suz); 4. Jonah Cloninger (Yam): 5. Jason Wallace (Hon). ing a training ground for riders to go on to the larger regional series and also to Loretta Lynn's, so you know there are going to be faster ones in the classes that translate to AMA racing. We aren't sanctioned, so we can have whatever extra classes we want." Hopson came off the line in his 80cc C qualifier in the lead and stayed there for the entire three-lap dash. Ditto for his main event, and it was almost a yawner to watch him make each circuit ahead of 80cc C series points leader Chavis Poole, Michael Darnell, Chad Roberts and Roy "Boy" Frick. Hopson sat out the first two Rollercoaster races but is catching up fast, now only 30 points out and on a streak of three wins in his past three starts. However, the Senior Mini contest was another story. Hopson, Brad Hinson and Poole rounded the left-handed first turn together, but Hinson was last to shut off and first to hook up again, giving him the advantage. Since Hinson has not taken any time off, he already had the rhythm to stay in the lead and even to stretch it a bit. Hopson was next, dicing with Poole for a couple of laps until he was able to refocus on Hinson instead of worrying about what was behind him. At the Senior Mini finish, Hinson took the win, with Hopson and Poole rounding out the top three. III U III I e c: n e _ S • AUGUST 22. 2001 41