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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128165
125 B: I. Robert Loire: Z. Andy Zambon: 3. Garrea HqnadU; 4.
DanleI OnlY; 5. Ekyan MoItger.
125 CD-I: 1, Dan Fletdler: 2. Steven Haug: 3. Jeremy Gebhatt;
4. Jimmy DIobik; 5. Aran Evemnan.
125 C 0-2: 1. Devin Haws; 2. Za<:h Bain: 3. Kevin Yandenbush;
4. rim Richord:Ion; 5. Dole Janus.
250 A: I. Jesse Zambon: 2. Tom Fransee: 3. Ene WeIse: 4.
Jeremy Hackbarth: 5. Nathan SulUvan.
250 B: 1. Jason MathIe: Z. Kenl'l)' Soulier, 3. Ryan Ehlenbach: 4.
Bryan ~er; 5. Mictlael Fager.
250 C; 1. Cory Augustlne: 2. Lance Dedering: 3. Greg Utter: 4.
Chad Kruse: 5. Jon Randolph.
\liMN: 1. KImberly Wllcheck: 2. Heather Roach: 3. Shawna Zan·
tow; 4. Bnlndy Maske: 5. Priscilla Aodenon.
MSTR 25.: I. Alan Jonas: 2. Shan~ Vislntain~t: 3. Mike
Tom~: 5. Matt Frueh.
VET A 30.: 1. Alan Jonas: 2. Matt Fruc::h: 3. Shane VlSIntamer;
4 Rod MIneau: 5. Tom NeIlsen.
VET B30.: 1. Brian l.ochman; Z. Alan Haney: 3. Erk: Oerleln: 4.
Tom F~lf. 5. Pete Errme
40. SR: I. Tom Hinl:e; 2. /l\Icha~ ~ers; 3 Don Zantow: 4.
Shawn O'Brien; 5. George Tabalske.
SQ. SR: 1. ~ PIontek: Z. Leo Sieber
SP'TSMl'l: 1. Kenny Soulier: 2. Ryan EhIen~ 3. Ekyan Molt·
ger; 4. Matt Mfaz; 5. Jason Mathie.
OPEN: I. Tom Neilsen: 2. James Coons: 3. Rod Mineau: 4.
Robert Edler: 5. Pete Emme.
V1MT: I. Jamie Wotruba: 2. Shawn O'Brien; 3. Lance Oedering;
4. Jeremy Tabolske: 5. /l\Ike Dorman.
Berghom; 4
Ohio Pro-Am Dirt Track Series
Auglaize County Fairgrounds
A WDd BE Woolly
Wapakoneta Weekend
Bv CRAIG GRISMORE
WAPAKONETA, OH, JUNE 22-23
The Auglaize County Fairgrounds played host
to yet another AMA-sanctioned Pro-Am halfmile doubleheader. Summertime in Ohio
means hot, humid weather, and for dirt-track
motorcycle racing on pea-gravel horse tracks,
that means dust and sometimes ruts. This
weekend in Wapakoneta had it all. However,
the weather and track conditions did little to
dampen the enthusiasm of these hard-core
dirt-track enthusiasts. Riders from as far west
as Wisconsin and as far east as New Hampshire came to Wapakoneta to battle the
region's best on their own turf Zlnd to
prove their mettle against Mother Nature and
each other.
In Pro-class action, National number 48,
Sam Lowe, was the big-money winner this
weekend, taking home the top prize in three of
the four Pro main events. The only blemish on
Lowe's record was a fourth-place finish in Saturday's 505cc Pro feature. In this "Battle of
the States" race, Indiana's Lowe was bested
by winner Pat Behrle of Ohio, runner-up Zach
Palmer of Kentucky, and fellow National number holder Rob Williams of Michigan, who finished third. Lowe also had a pretty serious
challenge from rookie Expert Scot Stodart in
Sunday's 505cc Pro final, but ultimately he
overcame the hard-charging Michigander with
a smooth and consistent yet very fast styie
that will no doubt serve him well as he climbs
the Grand National ranks in years to come.
The worst crash of the weekend occurred
in the 505cc Pro-Sport final. The race got
under way with Cincinnati's Nick Hummell
leading the way. Hummell, who had already
gone down once in practice. stepped off again
- this time in front of the pack, exiting tum
four. Luckily, everyone managed to avoid the
accident and Hummell was uninjured.
The race was restarted. with Hummell at
the rear. At the flash of the green light, Hummell put the hammer down and commenced
racing through the light pack. Unfortunately,
his dynamic charge came to an abrupt end in
turn three. Wisconsin rider Chad Miller had
stepped off while running ahead of Hummell.
Unable to avoid the mess, Hummell plowed
into Miller's back. The nasty-looking crash
stopped the race yet again. Miller was transported to the hospital and checked out; miraculously, nothing was broken and no serious
injuries were discovered. Miller was released
and, although extremely sore, retumed to the
fairgrounds on Sunday. Hummell was also
uninjured in the accident but was unable to
make the necessary equipment repairs and
was not in attendance for Sunday's races.
In Amateur action on Sunday, the alwayscompetitive Senior classes (Over 30, Over 40,
Over 50) were combined into one race. Over
30 rider Todd Perkins pulled the holeshot in
the final. Over 40 rider John Hamilton locked
on to his rear wheel, and the two veterans
pulled away from the rest of the pack. Hamilton's second overall would be good enough for
the Over 40 class win, as the three classes
were being scored separately. However, the
48-year-old Hamilton had come toWapak·
oneta to race, and that's just what the determined veteran set out to do. Chasing the
younger Perkins, Hamilton studied his lines
and applied pressure, even pulling alongside
between turns three and four several times,
although Perkins would ultimately power out
on the lower line to lead down the straight.
Hamilton continued to poke, feign and prod.
Finally, with one lap to go, he got alongside
Perkins upon entry into one and powered
around the outside through one and out of two
to earn his hard-fought victory and another
first-place plaque.
Sunday's 125cc final was much like the
Auglalze County Fairgrounds: Scot Stodart (21 X) holds off eventual winner Sam Lowe
(48) In 505cc Pro-<:Iass action on Sunday in Wapakoneta, Ohio. Third-place finisher Rob
Williams (behind Lowe) leads K.C. Knodel. Bryan Douglas and Jason lsennock.
78 JULY 31,2002' c u e I
•
n
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.....
Senior final; although occurring at the other
end of the age spectrum and this time the bat·
tle involved three riders. The race-long tussle
included Joey Britton, Tyler Pittman and
Ricky Boley. All three of these second-generation racers have the potential to someday
move up the dirt·track ladder into the profes·
sional ranks. For now, it's about gathering
experience and racetrack savvy. From the
look of this race on Sunday, they are leaming
their lessons well. Pittman, Britton and Boley
diced like experienced veterans the entire dis·
tance, aggressively displaying their inherited
talents and acquired race skills. In the end, the
entertaining battle concluded with Britton's
"tall" DTX'ed Suzuki leading the shorter
flat-track mounts of Boley and Pittman across
the stripe.
Future stars like those three youngsters,
current stars like Lowe and his fast gang, and
past stars like Hamilton and his Senior-class
crew can all be seen on almost any given
weekend hammering around the county fair·
grounds of Ohio. For the cost of a trip to
McDonaid's, you can enjoy a day full of halfmile racing action. The Ohio Pro-Am Dirt
Track Series invites you to come out and
support the sport.
Auglalze County Fairgrounds
Wapakoneta. Ohio
Results. June 22-23. 2002
$aturd.y
so: I. Justin PItman (KTM): Z. Jordan Melli (KTM): 3. John Fer·
guson (Vam): 4. Trey Crump (Vam): 5. Hunter Parmer (Sw:).
80: I. Tyler PItman (Suz); 2. Casee McCammon (Hon): 3. Ricky
Boley (Hon); 4.Curtzs Vanderkooi (Hon).
100 VINT: 1. Rick Hoffman (Yam); Z. Thomas Englehart (Hen):
3. Illch Long (Vom), 4. Tony .... (Su<).
125, I. T........... (Su<), 2. Jooy &ftton (Su<), 3. RIcky 8ol