Schoolboy class, Hoge beat Shuckhart in the
first 125cc B mota, but Shuckhart grabbed the
mota-two holeshot and rode perfect laps, and
Hoge was unable to put a dent in his lead. The
second-mota win gave Shuckhart the 125cc B
overall to go with his runner-up ride in the
Collegeboy class. Honda-mounted Mike
Kozma took both motos in that class.
Lew (Sem IKTM).
85 (7·11): I. Shawn ~ (Yam); 2. Jimmy KNley (K.w); 3.
JMOtI McConnell (Suz).
85 (12.t3); I. Steve Roman (Yam); 2. Mark Mills (Suz); 3.
Nathaniel Kronk (Kow).
85 (14.15): I. Joe Rice (Hon): 2. Daniel Kozma (Suz): 3.
Matthew PosteD (Hen).
OPEN MIN! (IO.t5): I. Brian Shuc:khart (Kaw); 2. Steve Roman
By JASON WEIGANDT
DEl..MONT, PA, OCT. 28
At the final race of 2001 at Steel City USA,
Team Green's Gavin Gracyk pulled even further ahead of his peers. The Ohio native simply dominated southwestern Pennsylvania's
best on his way to four moto wins and two
overall victories, in the 125cc A and 250cc A
classes. The wins give him a strong sendoff for
2001 and a perfect launch pad for 2002.
Gracyk has four AMA Amateur National
titles under his belt already, including two in
the Intermediate class this year. He used the
Steel City race to break into the A class, and if
his results there are any indication, he will
have a great time in that class next year.
Gracyk put his Kawasaki out front early in
all four of his motos and then pulled away to
convincing wins. Gracyk showed great comer
speed, carrying more momentum into turns
than his competitors. As the day went on, he
was also able to leam the tricky supercross-like
section of tabletops, proving that Gavin will
only continue to get faster as he learns more.
In between Gracyk's wins, the races of the
day came in the Open Mini class, between
Kawasaki-mounted Brian Shuckhart and
Yamaha rider Steve Roman, who put on
incredible battles in each moto, as they
seemed locked onto the same pace. Roman
heid the lead for the majority of the laps in
both matos, but each time Shuckhart was able
to produce the clutch moves he needed to win
the race.
In the first Open Mini mota, Roman
jumped out to the early lead, but Shuckhart
applied consistent pressure. With just a few
laps to go, Roman bobbled and Shuckhart
moved by for the win.
Shuckhart got the start in the second mota
, and this time Roman applied the pressure.
After searching frantically for new lines,
Roman executed a textbook pass when he
hooked an inside rut just before the finish line
to slide into the lead. Shuckhart didnit give up,
though, and he began experimenting with new
lines while riding on Roman's rear fender.
Roman appeared to have the win in hand, but
on the last lap Shuckhart sprinted alongside
Roman over a section of tabletops. They sped
into a hard left-hand comer side by side, and
Shuckhart kept his bike pinned to the inside to
make the decisive pass. Roman bobbled and
pushed wide, allowing Shuckhart to grab a
secure lead by the time they reached the
checkered flag.
Roman would later win both 85cc (12-13)
motos.
Another Shuckhart - Robert - outdueled
Suzuki-mounted Kevin Hoge in the 125cc B
class. Fresh off a two-mota sweep in the
(Yam); 3.•NlItharnei Kronk (Kaw).
125 A: I. GilVin Grac:yk (Kaw): 2. Ryan Himes (Yam).
125 B: I. Robert $huckhllrt (Yam); 2.. Kevin Hoge (Suz): 3.
Logan Martin (Hon).
125 C: 1. Chalmers Helman (Yam); 2. Brian BeUt!r (Yam): 3.
Juatln Stager (Yam).
250 NOPEN A: 1. Gilvin Gracyk (KllW); 2. Alan BonDmo (Yam).
250 B: I. Mike Kozma (Hon).
250 C: I. Chelmers Helman (Yam); 2. George Camadeno (SUl):
3. Dustin Reynolds (Yam).
OPEN B/C: I. John McConnell (Yam); 2. JelfChristopher (Yam);
3. Ken fisher (KTM).
OPEN 0: I. Shawn Keefer (Y{lm); 2, Todd Baughman (Hon): 3.
James Strosnider (Hon).
4·STRK: I. Brilln Beller (Yam).
WMN: 1. Jessica McConnell (Yom); 2. Mdonle McConnell (Yam).
SCHBY: I. Kevin Hoge (Suz); 2. Cory Black (Hon); 3. Chris
Macan (Sul).
CLGey: I. Mike Kozma (Han): 2. Robert Shuc:khart (Yam); 3.
K...- H""" 1S (KTM).
50 OPEI<, I. Bnody Ell'" IKTM); 2. Coop« Gandy (KTM); 3.
_
Brillaln (KTM), 4. eo'ly Homihon (KTM).
60 BEG; 1. Tyter Cook (Kaw); 2. Cody Paris (Kaw); 3. Aaron
Hazelwood (Kn): 4. rm Lyons (Kaw); 5. Dutdn Workman (Kaw).
60 NOV, I. ........ Engle (Haw); 2. Thomao """"""'" IIID\),
3. Man Taytor (Kaw).
60 OPEI<, 1......... Engle IHaw), 2. Thomao """"""'" (IID\),
3. Man Taytor (Cob): 4. TIrTl Lyons (Kaw); 5. Cody Pans (Kaw).
eo BEG, 1. Jonlon s..nvn..s (Yom); 2. ........ Engle (Haw); 3.
Justin GUM (Kaw); 4. Jirmly Hogeland (Kaw): 5. Joshua Clemmons
(Yom).
80 NOv: 1. TaylOl Hlllbum (Hon); 2. Dyian Bums (Kaw); 3.
Aaron Emery (Yam): 4. Jeff Smith (Han): 5. Jeremy WIIkN (Yam).
80 INT; 1. Travis Trammel (Yam): 2. Jeffrey f'1Iher (Yam).
80 OPEN: 1. Jeffrey Asher (Yam); 2. Travis Trammell (Yam); 3.
Dylan Bwns (Kaw); 4. Jordon Summers (Yam): 5. Jeremy Wilkins
(Vom).
125 BEG: I. Keith Livingston (Hen); 2. Jeremy Wilkins (yam); 3.
Eric:: Sisneros (Yam): 4. Nathan Luscombe (Kaw): 5. Troy Loury
(Vom).
123 NOV; 1. Josh Menitt (Yam); 2. Neil Dauphinais (Hus); 3.
Adorn Finck (Yam): 4. Brantley Beatty (Yam): 5. Travis Trammell
(Yam).
125INT: I. Deuce Faires (Hon); 2. ODvid l.u<:iOe (Hon): 3. Ruetln
LIndsey (Hon); 4. Je:remyTtavjs (Hon); 5. Michael Rivas (Hon).
125 PRO: 1. Jase Me:rritt (Hon).
125 OPEN: 1. Deuce Faires (Hon); 2. Josh Merritt (Hon): 3.
Jeremy Travil (Hon); 4. Adam Anc:k (Hen); 5. Neil ODuphlneis (HUll,
250 BEG: 1. Tanner Moore (Yam); 2. Chase Kirk (Yam); ,. Tan·
ner Christenson (Yem); 4. Brad May (Kaw): 5. Brandon Winters
IHon).
Steel City USA: Gavin Gracyk made the
move up to the A classes in Delmont,
Pennsylvania, and proceeded to win both
the 125ce A and 250CC A classes at the
final race of the year at Sleel City.
60
NOVEMBER 28, 2001 •
cue
2SO NOV: I. Juslln Ktietler (Yam): 2. Duane Fulgham (Hon); 3.
Jeremy Sharp (Kaw); 4. Robert Brown (Yam): 5. Mark Gl1It (Kaw).
250 INT: I. Jordan Jordan (Hon); 2. Riehatd Poe (HUll; 3.
Deuce Fal~s (Hon); 4. Michael Shannon (Kaw): 5. Michael Rivas
(Kow).
250 PRO: 1. Keevln Sharp (Yam); 2. Jase MerrItt (Klw); 3. Bran·
don Hidunan (Hon); 4. Andy Anderson (Yam).
250 OPEN: I. Jordan JoJdan (Hon); 2. Richard Poe (HUI); 3.
Deuce Feltes (Han): 4. Justin KrletIer (Hon):.5. Robert Brown (Yam).
I
_
n
__
S
Michigan Hare Scrambles Series
By AARON BARnt
BLOOMINGDALE, MI, OCT. 28
Heading into the final round of the Michigan
series, Aaron Wegner had a chance to win his
first series championship. Season-long points
leader Corey Partin had a fall he would rather
forget. A series of mechanical problems and
then breaking his arm was more than the
series contender could endure. Wegner, like a
true champion, stuck in the points chase all
season long, and when he found an opportunity, he took it - and the prestigious Michigan
title.
Pirelli/O'Neai/WER/IMS/Race Tech-supported Wegner showed everyone what he was
made of. When it came to crunch time, Wegner shined, putting together a series of victories
and consistent finishes that would help him
earn the number-one plate.
With many of Michigan riders boarding
their motorcycles for the winter months, only
127 brave souls attended the chilly, mudinfested final round in southwestern Michigan.
"This race was one of the worst we had
this season," Expert rider Corey Calkins commented. "Even when you got off the trail into
the virgin woods, you would sink in four to six
inches. There were so many lines out there. It
was a reaJ challenge."
When the flag dropped, No Toil/Moosebacked MIke "Mr. Holeshot" Stapula grabbed
the early lead, followed closely by Wegner.
Calkins and Travis Tudethout. Stapula soon
bobbled, allOWing most of the pack to pass.
Calkins was the next to falter, forfeiting his
position to Tudethout, who made a gutsy pass
through a deep mudhole to gamer second.
Kawasaki-mounted Steve Willey was the
first to drop from the Expert class. Willey withdr~w on the first lap for fear of destroying his
new mount in the horrid conditions.
Lap four claimed Suzuki rider Tudethout
when his motorcycle started to overheat. At
this point, Wegner was riding flawlessly. KTM
four-stroke rider Calkins would catch the
leader a number of times, only to make minor
errors, allowing Wegner to remain the frontrunner.
Early leader Stapula was in a battle with
Arai/FMF/Torco-aided Eric Dudek for third,
swapping positions back and forth on the 3mile course. Dudek made a costly mistake,
and he and his KTM became entangled in a
fence. This allowed Stapula to distance himself from Dudek en route to earning a seasonhigh third overall.
Wegner crossed the line first, making hjm
a happy state champion. Enduro Engineering's Calkins followed. few minutes back.
Dudek recovered after his run-in with the
fence to finish fourth overall. The fifth· placed
rider on the day was 125cc winner Chad Ebel.
Some other notable rides were put in by
first-time winner Martin Petermann, the
Baldy's Allbike rider who topped the TwoHour Open class; John Shively, who took top
honors in the Super Senior class; and Steven's
Span Center-sponsored Suzuki jockey Brett
Bersano, who was the first across the line in
the 200cc Junior class.
eN
Re.ults
OIA:. I. Aaron wegner: 2. Ccny Calkins; 3. MIke Stapula; 4. Eric
Dudek; 5. Chod Ebei; 6. Rkk Kent; 7. Noab Sears; 8. James Hom; 9.
Shannon Jav.; 10. Mark Spore.
200 JR: 1. B~tt Beruno; 2. Nick Knuth; 3. Dan Deyman; 4.
Thomas Emede; 5. Doud Reed.
2-HR OPEN: I. Martin Petermam; 2. David HanYnei; 3. Tmvil
Pranger; 4. David Vandecar; 5. Andy Parlin..
HVY TEAM: L Tm Beougher/Gettit. Powell: 2. VI(: F1egeI/BrilIn
Matt; 3. Brett Bl!d
