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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128127
Formula USAlSFX National Dirt Track Series Round 10: Del Mar FSlf'grounds Nicky Hayden (69) tries to slingshot around leader Terry Poovey (18) off the last comer at the Del Mar Short Track. The youngster tried to cut the veteran off and steal the race, but Poovey wound up taking Hayden to the wall and eaming the win. By SCOTT ROUSSEAU PHOTOS BY DOUG KARCHER DEL MAR, CA, OCT. 6 matter what their perspective, n.the inaugural Formula USA Del Mar Short Track will likely be remembered for some time by those who witnessed it. Taking on elements of a Roman coliseum tournament, WWF smackdown and an NHL ice hockey game, the frantic race at the Del Mar Fairgrounds Rodeo Arena had it all: a battle for the championship, a clash for the lead and a brawl after the checkered flag. In the end, it came down to a classic confrontation between the old warrior and the young lion. Formula USA National Dirt Track Championto-be Terry Poovey, 43, and 20-yearold Team Honda road race superstar Nicky Hayden squared off in the last few laps of the 20-1ap Pro Singles National, thrilling spectators with a bone-crunching clash for the win off the last two turns. Hayden, riding an untested, White Brothers-modified factory Honda CRF450, took his best shot, practically dragging his left handlebar on the ground as he slid around Poovey in turns three and four and attempted to keep the Texan from pulling the trigger on his pistolhot 1stlegal.com/USC Racing entry. If successful, Hayden could then get a drive to the checkered flag. Instead, Hayden got taken for a ride, as Poovey stood his own driving Rotax up and launched off the corner toward the wall, collecting Hayden as if grabbing a misbehaving young- ..'0 ster by the bicep - and keeping the Kentuckian off balance just enough to beat him to the finish line by a wheel. Lurking right behind them like a shark smelling a free meal was Team Harley-Davidson's Rich King, who had all but led the main event aboard his Buell Blast-powered HarleyDavidson 500R, running anywhere from third to fifth at any given moment during the frantic, 12-seconds-per-Iap race while battling with Team Audiovox/Quaker State's Brett Landes and Gardner Racing/Lancaster Harley-Davidson's Bryan Bigelow. And, as if that wasn't enough, Landes and Bigelow had a cool-off-Iap "There is a little bit left," Poovey said. "I just don't feel safe anymore when there's eight or 10 of us going for it on the mile. One on one, I'll race anybody, any day, any place. It just worked good tonight for me. I just want to thank everyone for helping me, and I'm glad that it [the championship] happened for me, finally. " Poovey was neither the quickest nor the most exciting rider to watch during the course of the evening; those titles were best reserved for King and Hayden, respectively. He was simply the most effective. The first heat of the night produced immediate action, as Eli Price got hung up on the outside off turn two and tried to slide back into line behind Bigelow in turn three. There wasn't enough room, and the ensuing dogpile necessitated a restart. Once underway, Bigelow simply split on the rest of the field to earn the win. F&S Racing/TLC Racing's Bryan Smith emerged from the pack of contenders to finish second and earn the only other direct transfer from that heat. The State of Michigan would be well-represented, with Bigelow leading the way. "It wasn't fast enough, that's for damned sure," Bigelow said just prior to the start of the main event. "I think Rich was quicker and Brett was maybe a little bit quicker, but ( don't run-in to cap the evening's festivities. The two came together in turn one, and both went down, and then the normally Californian-cool Landes leaped over his fallen motorcycle and jumped on top off Bigelow, placing the Michigander in the mother of all choke holds. The two were quickly separated without further incident, but they made a hell of an impression. So ended the penultimate round of the series, which saw Poovey earn his first career professional National title in a convincing fashion. He may be getting older, but at times he has shown that there is still plenty of fight left in him. c U a I e (Below! Poovey (18) broke to the 1ront earty In the 20-lap main event, passing Brett Landes (41) and taking Rich King (801 with him. King ended up third, and Landes was fourth. n _ VII' S