Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

BRIEFLY••• The changing track conditions seemed to sneak up on some. but not all. "We really thought last week. looking at the track. that it would groove up. but with all the rain they've had here...• Chns Carr said. "There wasn't much they could do to the track to keep It from grooving. That first practice was a lot of fun though It's a racy little track whether it's a cushion or a groove. .Jay Springsteen was drawmg on hiS years of expenence. "I thought I could run up top for a little while, then bring It down. like I did In the old days at Louisville. and things worked out good." Spnngsteen said. "I dldn't change anything on the bike all night. I felt the track would come to me. and that's what happened The only change we made was to put on a traetlonized tire I looked at the 883s and saw they had a lot of cuts on their tires. They were trying to run on the rubber [groovel. and it Just chewed their tire to pieces. " The win was worth $5305 and 23 points to Chris Carr. pushing hiS points lead to 21 over a four·nder log jam Johnny Murphree. Bryan Bigelow. Kenny Coolbeth and Kevin Varnes are all Within five pOints of each other Rich King made hiS first start Since the end of June. when he was Involved in a big crash at lima. OhiO "I was really Just hoping to make the main after three weeks off a motorcycle." King said. "Not being able to train makes it hard. You can't just come out and play with these guys. I was happy to make the main. let alone lead it." "We just kept plugging away. all day on the setup." said Bryan Bigelow. "We just struggled and struggled. When the groove came in. that was what I had to have. I won my semi and we still changed the bike all over. We just keep moving up the points. A lot of people don't seem to know we' re there and that's fine. Johnny was setting the world on fire early in the year. and everybody knew his name. but our deal has been real quiet and that's Rne. If we can tum our bad days Into something like this. it's going to be real good. The second half of the season is when we go to the tracks that I like. Maybe it's going to be real good." Willie McCoy and Mike Varnes battled over the last ticket to the main. McCoy took it. The second semi saw Johnson run away from a good race for second between Jess Roeder and Chris Evans. Roeder finally pulled clear late in the race. The last semi saw Johnny Murphree pull a big lead over Aaron Creamer, Jeff Landrum and Shaun Russell. Russell worked his way up to challenge Creamer, but fell in turn one trying to get around the inside of Creamer. The restart saw Russell charge from last place into second in three laps and the main event field was set. HARLEV-DAVIDSON SPDRTSTER PERFORMANCE NATIONAL As the main prepared to blast off Lima Harley-Davidson's Jess Roeder lurched across the line and was sent to the third row. Series points leader Jared Mees got the holeshot on his Moroney's Harley-Davidson/Michael's Harley-Davidson-backed Sportster. The race was only a lap old when Frieze Harley-Davidson's A.J. Eslick fell in turn one. The restart saw Mees and Ron Kemp jump the start as the penalty line started to fill up. MarioneauxNallin Racing's Scott Scherb got the Carr (center) was able to smile a little brighter on the podium, knowing that closest points rival Johnny Murphree was not on the box with him. The reigning champion now has a 21-polnt lead in the standings. holeshot this time over Doc's HarleyDavidson's Brian Thomas and FE.S Harley-Davidson's KC Knodel. Scherb settled into a comfortable lead as Roeder and Mees were carving their way to the front. Roeder was not to be denied and took the lead on lap nine. Mees also closed on Scherb, but ran out of time. Knodel slid his way around Thomas to take fourth. James Hart (Coziahr Harley-Davidson), John Faulkner (Frieze's Harley-Davidson), Eslick, Robert Lewis (Harley-Davidson of Greensboro) and Tilley HarleyDavidson's Shane Fox rounded out the top 10. CN Thunder Ridge lIacIw.y Prestonsburg, Kentucky RlSults: July 20, 2002 llloand I .f 201 HEAT t (10 laps; 9 riders. top three transfer): I. Shown Clork (H·D); 2. Joy Springsteen (H·D); 3. Terry Poovey (H-D); 4. Aaron Crellmer (H·D); 5. Willie McCoy (H·D); 6. Joe Eodes (H·D); 7. Tim Eades (H-D); 8. Gory Rogers (H-D); 9. Kyle Lon9. Time: 4 mIn.• 17.819 sec. HEAT 2 (10 laps; 9 riders, top three transfer): 1. Rich King (H-D); 2. Geo Roeder II (H-D); 3. Dominic Beaulac (H-D); 4. Shaun Russell (H-D); 5. Jess Roeder (H-D); 6. Mike Varnes (H·D): 7. Jeff l.llndrum (H-D); 8. Brondon Cortwright (H-D); 9. $om Lowe (H-D). Time: No TIme - Red Flag. HEAT 3 (10 laps; 10 riders. top three transfer): 1. Chris Hort (H-D); 2. Ken Coolbeth Jr. (H-D); 3. J.R. Schnobel (H-D); 4. Bryon Bigelow (H-D); 5. Chris Evans (H-D); 6. Johnny Murphree (H-D): 7. K.C. Knodel (H-D); 8. Chris Boone (H-D); 9. Joel Henson (Suz); 10. M;ke Meyer (H-D). Tune: 4 min .. 16.251 sec. HEAT 4 (10 laps; 10 riders, top three tnInsf.,.); 1. Kevin Atherton (H-D); 2. Kevin Vomes (H-D); 3. Chris Corr (H-D); 4. Joke Johnson (H-D); 5. Dove Royburn (H-D); 6. John Nickens III (H-D); 7. Robert Lewis (Apr): 8. Timmy Mitchell (H-D): 9. Garth Bostion (H-D); 10. Yuhiko Hiroo (Suz). Time: 4 min., 17.255 sec. SEMI 1 (8 laps; 9 riders, top two transfer): 1. Bryon Bigelow (H-D); 2. Willie McCoy (H-D); 3. M;ke Vomes (H-D); 4. Dove Royburn (H-D); 5. $om Lowe (H-D); 6. Gory R"!lers (H-D); 7. K.C. Knodel (H-D); 8. TImmy Mitchell (H-D); 9. M;ke Meyer (H-D). Time: 3 min., 29.647 see. SEMI 2 (8 laps; 9 riders. top two transfer): 1. Joke Johnson (H-D); 2. Jess Roeder (H-D); 3. Chris Evans (H·D); 4. Joe Eades (H-D); 5. Brandon Cortwright (H-D); 6. Kyle Long (H-D); 7. Robert Lewis (Apr); 8. Yuhiko Hlreo (SOl); 9. Chris Boone (H-D). TIme: 3 min., 26.840 sec. SEMI 3 (8 laps: 8 riders. top two transfer): 1. Johnny Murphree (H-D); 2. Shoun Russell (H-D); 3. Aaron Cre8mer (H-D): 4. Jeff Landrum (H-D); 5. Gorth Bostion (H-D); 6. Tim Eades (H-D); 7. John Nickens (H-D); 8. Joel Henson (Suz). TIme: No lime - Red F18g. GRAND NATIONAL (25 lops; 18 riders); 1. Chris Carr (H·D); 2. Jay Springsteen (H-O); 3. Bryan Bigelow (H-D); 4. Geo Roeder II (H-D); 5. Ken Coolbeth Jr. (H-D); 6. Johnny Murphree (H-D); 7. Rich King (H-D); 8. J.R. Schnobel (H-D); 9. Shown Clork (H-D); 10. Terry Poovey (H-D); 11. Chris Hort (H-D); 12. Willie McCoy (H-D); 13. Kevin Vomes (HD); 14. Shoun Russell (H-D); 15. Joke Johnson (HD); 16. Dominic Beouloc (H-D); 17. Jess Roeder (HD); 18. Kevin Atherton (H-D). Time: No lime - Red Flag. Rookie hotshot Jake Johnson was once again battling it out at the front of the field early. Tire problems and mechanical Ills ultimately dropped him to 15th. But they knew he was there. AMA/PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE U.S. FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (Alter 9 of 20 rounds); 1. Chris Corr (132/2 wins); 2. Johnny Murphree (111/1 win); 3. Bryan Bigelow (109/ I win); 4. Ken Coolbeth Jr. (107); 5. Kevin Varnes (106): 6. Joe Kopp (76): 7. Jay Springsteen (71): 8. Terry Poovey (66); 9. J.R. Schnobel (64); 10. (TIE) Kevin Atherton (63)/Shoun Russell (63); 12. Nicky Hoyden (61/2 wins); t3. Goo Roeder II (59); 14. Joke Johnson (53); 15. (TIE) Willie McCoy (35)/Poul Lynch (35); 17. Chris Hort (33); 18. Don Stonley (29); 19. Shown Clork (28); 20. Mike Hock.,. (25). HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER PERFORMANCE MAIN (12 lops; 17 riders); J. Jess Roeder. 2. Scott Scherb; 3. Jared Mees; 4. KC Knodel: 5. Brian Thomas; 6. James Hart: 7. John Faulkner III; 8. A.J. Eslick; 9. Robert Lewis: 10. Shane Fox; 11. Chris Boone; 12. Yuhiko Hirao; 13. Mark Witham: 14. Ron Kemp Jr.; 15. Mike Meyer: 16. Josh Toungett: 17. Jeff Hiers. Time: 5 min., 03.996 sec. HARLEY -DAVIDSON SPORTSTER PERFORMANCE SERIES POINTS STANDtNGS (After 7 of 13 rounds): I. Jared Mees (119/3 wins): 2. Scott Scherb 104); 3. Jomes Hart (90); 4. (TIE) Rusty Rogers 78/1 win)/Brian Thomets (78): 6. John Faulkner III 70); 7. Yuhiko Hiroo (68); 8. Josh Toungett (58); 9. A.J. Eslick (50); 10. Bryon Smith (46/1 win); II. Joke Johnson (45/1 win); 12. Merle Scherb (43); 13. Bryon Kromroy (40; 14. K.C. Knodel (39); 15. Robert Lewis (34); 16. Mark Wlthom (33); 17. Shone Fox (31); 18. Stephonie Welch (28); 19. (TIE) Jess Roeder (25)/Timmy Mitchell (25). 1 , Upcoming Rounds; Round 10 - Charlotte, North Carolina, July 27 Round 11 - Harrington, Delaware, August 3 .. u c I e n __ lIS • JULY 31. 2002 35

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