Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

AMAIProgressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championships Round 17: Illinois State Fairgrounds How close would you like it? Atherton (23), Johnny Murphree (20) and Willie McCoy (59) run cheek to cheek In a' 140 mph waltz. Despite leading 10 laps, King would end up third. "I was trying to plan the way things would break down, but everybody doesn't play by the way your thinking. It was tight, everybody was racing for the win," King said. "I had a really good run off turn four and I thought Springer was going right and he ended up going left. I was already committed, and I drilled him right in the exhaust pipes. I was just glad we both didn't hit the ground. We were real fortunate not to, as I hit him at a pretty good clip. Third place wasn't what I was looking for, but after that deal, I'm happy with it. I was conserving tires and just taking it easy. It's just getting in the right place and just doing it. I didn't get in the right place though." The resurgent Kenny Cool beth was also pushing his Corbin Racing/Dave Burks Motorsports' Harley into the fray. "I didn't want the lead pack to get away, I knew that if they did, I'd never catch back up," Coolbeth said. "With about five laps to go, I started kicking it in a little and I ended up fourth. " Russell came up with the best finish of his short career. "I couldn't pass Rich or Chris very easy, I had to use their draft to get by," Russell said. "I was planning on leading the last lap off turn four, but I messed up turn two and it ruined the whole deal. The miles are good for me, I understand them. I seem to struggle with my half-mile set-up." 28 SEPTEMBER 12, 2001 • cue Hacker gathered up sixth place. "I don't know if the track went away from me or what, but I just couldn't do what I wanted to do there at the end," Hacker said. "Rich hit the guardrail one lap and that caused us to lose the pack. The track was kind of a one-Ianer, and once you drop back that far, it's hard to do anything. Everybody was jockeying for position and you run out of room." Gardner Racing/Lancaster HarleyDavidson's Bryan Bigelow, who opened his weekend with a huge win at the Fed Ex Springfield Short Track Shootout, was in the lead draft and finished seventh. "I got a pretty good jump and everyone went up high for a little bit," Bigelow said. "I stayed down on the groove, and once my tires got to working, I believe I had the motorcycle to win, I just didn't play my cards right. When you run in a big line like that, it's hard to pass. Everybody was so fast and hugging the rail so tight. I got to run in the lead draft, and that's something I've never been able to do. I learned a lot today. This is the Hall of Fame race, and it's a big deal. Just to be able to run in the lead draft with those guys is something special. I've never been up there with five to go, it's a little bit hairy." Terry Poovey brought his potent USC Racing/l stlegal.com Honda home eighth. "It was just too crowded out there, they were just too bunched up, I just couldn't get a clean shot," Poovey said. "If I could have got out front, I think I could run hard, but when it's that close, I don't like it." It was a big day for KK Supply/ F&S Harley-Davidson-backed Bryan Smith, as the young gun continues to improve every week. Smith was ninth today. "That's my first mile National, and my best National finish ever," the 17year-old Smith said. "At the beginning of the race, there were so many guys going everywhere. I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to do anything stupid, so I just waited until things settled down, and I started picking them off. The only way I was able to pass was on the outside in the corner. I'm really happy, I'm getting more seat time on a 750. I'm feeling more comfortable, and we've got the bike running decent." Coziahr Harley-Davidson/Memphis Shades' Johnny Murphree rounded out the top 10 after running as high as fourth early in the race. Willie McCoy and Larry Pegram dueled over 11 th, with the nod going to the KK Supply/F&S Harley-Davidson of McCoy. "It just took a while for my tire to start working. Once it started working, those guys were gone," McCoy said. "You can't let them get away like that, but I did. We were fast early, but the track got slicker al'1d my bike wasn't set up right." Carr (center) was presented the AMAlProgresslve Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship number-one plate by reigning champion Joe Kopp (right) and AMA Dirt Track Manager Bruce Bober (left). Carr took the opportunity to commend the injured Kopp on his conduct as a true champion.

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