Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

BRIEFLY••• The Quality Checked Certified Pre-Owned Ford-sponsored Hall of Fame race boasts the largest purse for a half mile. and Chris Hart came way with $7165. Although a relative newcomer. Hart is establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with. "It's awesome. and I've got to thank Eddie Adkins for putting a great motorcycle together. - Hart said. "We've really been making some progress. I'm in the hunt every week. and I've had a couple of really good rides. All the years my dad dragged me all over the country and spent all that money. it was great that he was here tonight. because he doesn't get to as many any more. My fiancee. Heather. I Just can't say enough about her. She's just awesome. She goes to the races with me every weekend. all summer long_ She never complains a bit. She loves It as much as I do_ It's Just such a great package. Earlier this year. Chris Hart felt he had let one slip away at lima. -I was pretty good at lima. " he said. "I raced Evans for about 1g laps. then started to fade and got passed on the last lap for second. I had to have that over. and I thought this would be the place to do It. I got the holeshot and thought we might just run away with It. but then the red flag came out. On the restart. we didn't get as good a start and Joe [Koppl and Geo Roeder got in front of me. I just went back to the top and picked them off one at a time. With just a couple of laps to go, I almost threw it away down in two. and I thought for sure he [Kopp] was going to go by me. When he dldn't go by, I knew I had to gather myself back up, start thinking about what I was doing and bnng this thing home.'" Could Geo Roeder II. the acknowledged cushion master, be changing his approach? '"This was a different bike than what I usually ride on a cushion. and I'm happy. We got a third place. and I rode the groove. I think we're making progress. We're trying different setups and stuff. and I'm able to ride them. Hopefully, It's going to help us on the car tracks - that's what I need the most. Hart was running right on the edge of the cushion and making It work. I was thinking 'Man, 25 laps is a long time to do that: but my hat's off to him. It's hard to do that for 25 laps and not bust your ass. I saw that Kopp was catching up to him. and I thought they might start dicing and mess each other up. but they both did a good job. I'm happy with the way things went '" The night was also a huge step forward for.Joe Kopp. -I've had a lot of people coming up sayIng they're glad I'm back. but I've never been anywhere." Kopp said. 01 took off one week and rode another series last week. I thought more about what I was doing going Into the comers today than I ever have. I put a dummy pad on my seat. to force me to sit up. Every once in a while, I find myself getting lazy on these cushion tracks and sitting back too far ,n the comers_ , put a big old towel on there. I haven't done that In about two years. I decided I dldn't care what it looked like. I did it and It made me stay up front. It might be on there for a few weeks. actually. " Rhonda Davis and son Cole proudly show off the numberplate awarded to the late Will Davis, who was inducted Into the Dirt Track Hall of Fame during Friday night's ceremony dlnnero Paul Sehiskar/Cayuga Tool [, Diebacked Rotax. Just off the injury list, Bryan Smith Racing/Paul Laskobacked Bryan Smith claimed the second heat on his ATK. PBW Rac- .Joe Kopp thought he had more competition than he did. "As I was coming off tum four. I kept seeing this shadow and he was right there every time, - Kopp said. "I thought. 'Man there's no way he can be there every time: Finally. with about SIX to go. I peeked and Geo was way back. It was my own shadow that I was seeing. I really had a great line down In one and two nght off the get-go. The track got slower as the race went on. There was a lot 01 rubber put down early. I could tell a lot of guys were running down there. A lot of guys were also missing. because they kept pushing a bunch of loose stuff up in the middle of the comer. I kept hilling that. and it dldn't work for me every lap. but Chris was pretty consistent up top. Late in the race. he went down low In tum one and almost lost the front end. He made a great save. and I wasn't able to capltalize.- ing/Joyce V. Phipps' Noot Irvin won but the big news was Carr working his Clark got the holeshot in the main way back to fourth by the finish. and held the lead until the halfway The season is getting far enough along to start thinking points. Defending Grand National Champion Chris Carr Is still holding a 17-point lead. with 155 points "When I saw Kevin [Varnes] in front of me. I knew I had to get around him to open up the points gap a illlie bit." Carr said. "To have an 'off night' In my mind and still stretch the points lead a lillie bit. we'lltake Springsteen, then Beaulac would mark before a determined Jake John- It and move on ... each get by. Varnes ran away with the third son stormed into the lead and ran away. Clark held on to second. Hump heat, but there was a great race over Racing/KK/Motion ProfAncra-backed Chris Evans took third over Irvin. The second heat belonged to Kopp, second between Bigelow, Terry the last heat on his Honda. Eventually, Bigelow settled into sec- Dad/Bubba/Family-backed Cory McDermitt worked his way up to ond as Clark sent Cool beth and fourth over Bryan Smith and Scott Poovey to the semis. The last heat Powersports/Greenland Masonry's saw Hart pull away from King and Raun Wood. easily take the win. King and Beattie Belawa.. State Fairgrounds HarringtDn, Belaw... Results: August 3, 2002 (Round 11 of 2B) Poovey, Clark and Kenny Coolbeth. had a great battle going, until Beattie took control late in the race. The first semi was a great race between Rayburn, Lynch, Sam Lowe and Rogers. Rayburn came away with eN HEAT 1 (10 laps: 10 riders, top 3 transler): I. Goo Roeder II (H-D): 2. Johnny Murphree (H·D): 3. Willie McCoy (H·D): 4. Paul Lynch (H-D): (H-D): 5. Kyle Long (H-D): 6. John Nickens III (H-D): 7. Mike Vames (H-D): 8. Roy Miller (Suz): 9. Shoun Russell (H·D): 10. Gory Rogers (H-D). the win, taking Rogers along to the Tune: 4 min .. J9.422 sec. main. Creamer got the holeshot in the Kevin Varnes and Bryan Bigelow are tied for second now at 138. "'It's all about consistency, put yourself in position to get every point you can. '" Bigelow said. "'I've been dreading this race lor a while. We have really struggled here. I figured If we could get through Harrington. the rest of the year would be clear sailing. Now that this place Is behind me. we're ready to go for the rest of the year. We've got nine races to go. It's time for me to make It or break it. Things just keep gelling beller and beller. Everybody thinks Chris is going to be number one. but I'm pretty close and we 've got a long way to go. .Johnny Murphree is just two points back at 136. "We're all right. we've got Varnes and Bigs in front of us. but there is a long way to go," Murphree said. -The way I was gOing fifth Is pretty good. The way things have been going the last couple of weeks. I was shooting for a top-five. so we'lltake It.Several nders made return rides to the Progressive Insurance U.S. Rat Track Series after early-season Injuries. Bryan Smith. Ricky Wlnsell. Rusty Rogers and Steve Beattie all attempted to qualify for the Grand National, but only Beatlle was successful. "My first AMA race back. I dldn't feel too rusty. - Beattie said. "I knew 25 [Iapsl would be pretty hard on me. but I've been training at home. I've got this really coolthree-eighths-mile track I've been nding my XR750 on. It's great to be back. and I just hope no more silly things happen." HEAT 2 (10 laps: 10 riders, top 3 transler): I. Joe Kopp (H-D): 2. Joy Springsteen (H-D): 3. second semi and was holding off Evans and Poovey. With just a few laps to go, Creamer did everything but fall off his Harley, letting Evans by for the win. Creamer regrouped and held on to the last transfer over Poovey. Rookie sensation Jake Johnson struggled home fourth. The last semi belonged to Carr as he ran away from a good race between Schnabel, DominiC Beaulac (H·D); 4. Chris ClIrr (H·D); 5. $em Low~ (H·D); 6. Aaron Cr~Dmer (H-D); 7. J.R. SchnlJlbel (Sue); 8. Olive Rayburn (H-D): 9. Joe Eades (H-D): 10. Jose Aguilar (H-D). Time: 4 min., 22.062 sec. HEAT 3 (10 laps; 10 riders, top 3 transfer): I. Kevin Varnes (H-D); 2. Bryan Bigelow (H·D): 3. Shown Clark (H-D): 4. Ken Coolbeth Jr. (H-D): 5. Terry Poovey (H-D): 6. Rusty Rogers (H-D): 7. Ricky Winsett Jr. (H-D): 8. KC Knodel (H-D): 9. Jess Roeder (H-D); 10. Tom McGrane Jr. (Suz). Time: 4 min .. 22.418 sec. HEAT 4 (10 laps: 10 riders. top 3 transfer): 1. Chris Hart (H-D); 2. Steve Beattie (H-D): 3. Rich King (H-D): 4. Chris Evans (H-D); 5. Bryon Smith (H-D); SEMI 2 (8 laps: 9 riders. top 2 transfer): 1. Chris Evans (H-D); 2. Aeron Crellmer (H-D): 3. Terry AI'IA/PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE U_S_ FLAT TRACK C'SHIP SERIES POINTS STANDINGS Poovey (H-D): 4. Jake Johnson (H·D): 5. Kyle Long (H-D); 6. Joe Eades (H-D): 7. KC Knodel (H-D): 8. Garth Bostian (H-D): 9. Roy Miller (Suz). (After 11 or 20 rounds): I. Chris Carr (155/2 wins); 2. (TlE) Kevin Varnes (138/1 win)/Bryan Bigelow (138/1 win): 4. Johnny Murphree (136/1 win): 5. Ken Cool beth Jr. (126): 6_ Joy Springsteen (98); 7. Joe Kopp (95): 8. Geo Roeder II (81): 9. Shoun Russell (72): 10. (TIE) J.R. Schnabel/Joke Johnson (69): 12. Terry Poovey (66): 13. Kevin Atherton (65): 14. Chris Hart (63/1 win): 15. Nicky Hoyden (61{2 wins): 16. Paul Lynch (48): 17. Shown Clark (46): 18. Willie McCoy (42): 19. Rich King (37): 20. Steve Beattie (32). 505cc EXPERT SUPPORT MAIN (12 lops: 18 TIme: 3 min., 31.279 sec. SEMI 3 (8 laps: 10 riders, top 2 transfer): I. Chris Carr (H-D); 2. J.R. Schnabel (Bue); 3. Ken Coolbeth Jr. (H-D): 4. Ricky Wlnsen Jr. (H-D): 5. John Nickens III (H-D): 6. Shoun Russell (H-D): 7. George Rlchtmeyer (H-D): 8. Jerry Vanderkooi (Suz): 9. Tom McGrllne Jr. (Suz): 10. Jose Aguilar (H·D). Time: 3 min .• 33.336 sec. field of 31 Experts. Three heats set the 18-rider main. Shawn Clark won Dove Raybum (H-D): 2. Gory Rogers (H-D): 3. Paul Lynch (H-D): 4. Sam Lowe (H·D): 5. Rusty Rogers (H·D); 6. Jess Roeder (H-D): 7. Mike Vames (H·D): 8. TIm Eades (H-D): 9. Bryon Smith (H·D). ORAND NATIONAL (25 lopS; 18 riders): J. Chris Hart (H-D): 2. Joe Kopp (H-D): 3. Geo Roeder II (H-D): 4. Bryon Bigelow (H·D); 5, Johnny Murphree (H-D); 6. Rich King (H-D): 7. Joy Springsteen (H-D): 8. Chris Carr (H-D): 9. Steve Beattie (H-D): 10. Kevin Vames (H-D): 1 J. Shown Clark (H-D): 12. Willie McCoy (H·D): 13. Dominic Beaulac (H-D): 14. J.R. Schnabel (Bue); 15. Chris Evans (H-D): 16. Dove Rayburn (H-D): 17. Gory Rogers (H-D); 18_ Aaron Creamer (H-D). the first heat and set fast time on his Tune: 3 min., 37.521 sec. TIme: No Time - Cool beth and Ricky Winsett. That's the way they would finish. 505cc SUPPORT The 505cc Support class had a 6. George Richtmeyer (Suz); 7. Gllrth Bllstilln (H·D); 8. TIm Eades (H-D): 9. Jerry Vanderkooi (Suz): 10. Joke Johnson (H·D). Time: 4 min., 21.397 sec. SEMI 1 (8 laps; 9 riders, top 2 transfer): 1. riders): 1. Jllke Johnson (Rot); 2. Shllwn Clllirk (Rot): 3. Chris Evans (W-R); 4. Noot Irvin (Hon): 5. Cory McDermitt (Rot): 6. Bryon Smith (ATK): 7. Raun Wood (Rot): 8_ Rob Williams (Rot); 9. Pot Behrle (Rot): 10. John Nickens III (Hon); 1'- Garth Bostian (W-R); 12. Rusty Rogers (5uz): 13. Brian Vincent (Rot): 14. Joe Eades (Rot): 15. George Richtmeyer (Rot): 16. Rich King (H·D): 17. Steve Murray (KTM): 18. Chris Hart (Rot). Red Flag.. a Tune: 5 min .• 23.040 sec. U Die n _ _ S • AUGUST 14, 2002 11

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