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Formula USAlSFX National Dirt Track Series Round B: Cal Expo State airgrounds Reigning Fonnula USA NatIonal Dirt Track Champion Chris Carr claimed his second F-USA win of the season and the 10th Sacra.-nto Mile of his ca.....r In the 1stIegal.com Grand Slam main event at the Cal Expo State Fairgrounds. Carr, on a twin 750 riding for Harley-Davidson of Sacramento and Phoenix Racing, stayed within striking distance, falling no farther back than seventh place on the first lap. The BBRP/Circle Frames Rotax of Dan Stanley garnered the lead at the flag and gave the impression he was going to back up his Pro-Singles main event win with a second victory in the 1st Legal.Com Grand Slam main event. By mile four, factory Harley-Davidson rider Rich King and Mike Hacker, on his Saddlemen Racing/Lancaster HarleyDavidson/ Dodge Brothers entry, traded places with Stanley, making the draft work in their favor and rei- occupying almost the full length of the front straightaway. There was an atmosphere of calm, with a quiet energy readying itself for the longawaited Drag Specialties National Dirt Track Series event, sanctioned by Formula USA. Reigning Formula USA National Dirt Track Champion and recently crowned 2001 AMA Grand National Champion, Chris Carr, won his 10th Sacramento Mile and his 11 th main event this year, capturing the third leg of the lucrative four-round Istlegal.com Grand Slam Series, giving him his second consecutive win and guaranteeing himself a starting spot for the Grand Slam Championship finale at the Del Mar State Fairgrounds. STORY BY TONY KARIS PHOTOS BY MIKE DORAN AND JAMES WEISHAAR SACRAMENTO,CA,SEPT.15 he devastation that shocked America this last week unmistakably put Americans on hold when it came to sports. Baseball, football, hockey and golf, just to name a few, were halted in honor of those who had been killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11. But although we will never forget what happened this past week, life must go on, and so did the Sacramento Mile. It was business as usual at the Cal Expo State Fairgrounds, as a long line of riders pitted side by side, T Custom Chrome/American Suspension's Gary Rogers was in the mix in fifth place until lap four. On the fifth go around, Willie McCoy - riding for Yamaha of North Texas and J&M Racing Frames and Terry Poovey riding for series sponsor 1 st Legal.com - worked their way to places five and six, respectively, leaving Rogers seventh, followed by fourth-fastest qualifier Jess Roeder on the Las Vegas Harley-Davidson/ RoederHarley.com XR750. Hacker was credited with laps six and seven, while King took credit for lap eight. Stanley's final opportunity to lead came on lap nine, when he used an outside pass going into turn one and went from third to first. He held the lead coming out of two and down the back stretch. Turn three got crowded when King, Hacker and Carr gathered around Stanley and continued through turn four. It became a race to the line, with Poovey right egating Stanley to third. King got the credit for lap four, with Hacker just a wheel behind him. Carr was analyzing the action from fourth place, less than a half a bike length behind. Going into tum one, Hacker had the drafting advantage and slipped by King, holding the lead down the backstretch until entering turn three. King and Stanley, using the draft, sent Hacker back to third. Coming to the line, King had the advantage for lap five, even though Stanley, Hacker and Carr were side by side at the line. behind the group of four. King, Hacker and Carr had so much momentum with the draft that Stanley was sent back to fourth. "I was able to take advantage of the outside groove for passing because the twins were backing off a little early going into one and three,» Stanley said. Laps 10 and 11 were led by King, and Carr claimed the lead for the first time on mile 12. Carr tested his cohorts to see what they had left, and he led laps 12 through 15 before King, using the draft, on the back (Left) Carr (center) poses with runner-up Rich King (right) and third-placed Mike Hacker (left). (RIght) Carr gives retiring team owner Mike Shattuck another victory ride, but this one was even more special, as the pair rode a reverse victory lap and carried the American flag In honor of those lost In the terrorist attacks on the U.S. Just four days eariier. 32 OCTOBER 3, 2001 • III U III I _ n __ :IS