Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

BRIEFLY••• The 39-year-old Rich King has had a star-crossed year. but he now seems to be pretty much healed from his lima crash. "' felt really good at lima: King said. "That was just a bad deal. After that. I wasn't able to train for three weeks. last week. I was able to ride my motocross bike. and I'm running again. and it paid off. Early In the day. we were right in the hunt with everybody. but they picked It up In the scratch heats. and we pretty much tumed the same times all night. We made some changes for the main. changed our line and changed the bike. The track was really changing. Most of the time. you don't want to be on the rubber. You want to be on one side or the other. You've got to keep your momentum up on these slick racetracks. All night. everybody kept gOing under the groove. I thought I'd try above the groove. and when they swept the groove before the National. it really helped us. I just kept my momentum up. I had a good bike.' It was pretty much unanimous that Kenny Coolbeth appeared to have his first National win in the bag. but the bottom tore out of that bag. "There are some older guys who still go good and some younger kids that go really well." Rich Kmg said. "It's pretty neat. It says how competitive our sport is.' The sad thing was Kenny Coolbeth had everyone covered. and he really needs a win. too. I'd like to see Kenny win one. He was really Aying tonight and should have been on top of the box." Michigan veterans .Jay Springsteen and Kevin Atherton are not buying into all' the "new" tricks circling the pits. "These guys have all got their bikes twingled. and they really jump off the comers." Springsteen said. "We tried it years ago. but I'd rather ride mine standard. I know on a lot of tracks it helps. Jim Kelly doesn't want to do it. and I told him mine's the only one that sounds like a real Harley out there." Atherton feels his problems can be traced to his chassis setup. "Hopefully. this is a turning point for us," he said. "We were trying a new chassis. and it's just not my style. I'm 'old school.' All the new guys like them high and short. I've never been able to ride those. I like mine low and long. so we're going back to that." Bryan Bigelow. on the other hand. was trying something new. "I tried a brand-new J&M chas- sis today.' Bigelow said. "It had never been started up before today. It's a brand-new deal. and it was wonderful. Fourth is okay. They say fourths will get you a championship. but not with Chris getting thirds.• .Jay Springsteen was packing for a busman's holiday after Hagerstown. "My driver [wife Judyl. she better get practiced up." Springer said. "We're headed for Billings. Montana. We're going to nde a half mile and do some fishing while Peoria is going on.• Once again. .Joe Kopp has some healing to do after his heat-race crash. "I'm okay. but my leg is sore and there's a little bit of sweiling.· Kopp said. "It would be a lot better if next week's track didn'tlnclude a Jump.' Although a lot of lime remains in the points race. Chris Carr clings to a 16-point lead over Johnny Murphree. Bryan Bigelow is Just two points back of Murphree. Kevin Vames is four back of Bigelow. while Kenny Coolbeth's title hopes have taken a savage hit the last two weeks. and he hiS now 20 points behind Vames. .Jared Mees is running roughshod over the Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance Series. as he holds a 42-pointlead over Scott Scherb. James Hart is just three back of Scherb. while Brian Thomas IS 16 behind Hart. ty line. We came from the back all night, and this isn't an easy place to do that. I would have liked to start up front with those guys to see what I could do. That's part of it, though." Rounding out the top 10 was Paul Seliscac/Cayuga Tool & Die's Shawn Clark. "Five [Nationals] in a row!" Clark said. "We've always really struggled at this place. I've never made a main event here_ We're real excited to make the show tonight. Our program is moving forward. We just need some sponsorship. We got to a level and then couldn't move forward. We're not making good decisions for the main event. We can't keep up with the racetrack, but I think we're slowly doing a better job. I lost my main mechanic, who did all my setup with me. I'm making all the setup decisions myself. We're just building our program from the ground up. Main event time is kind of frustrating, but we're doing the best we can." Willie McCoy pushed his Dallas Harley-Davidson/KK Supply-backed Harley all the way from last to eleventh as he led a five- rider pack that shuffled around the whole race. Schnabel Racing/West bend HarleyDavidson's J.R. Schnabel, Performance-Lombardi Harley-Davidson's Chris Hart, Geo Roeder II (KK Supply/Las Vegas Harley-Davidson) and Lancaster Harley-Davidson/Saddle- men/Dodge Brothers' Steve Beattie rounded out the finishers. Coolbeth, Johnson and North East HarleyDavidson/Motorcycle Post's Aaron Creamer failed to finish. Kevin Atherton passed Bryan Bigelow and won the first heat. Steve Beattie finally shook off J.R. Schn· abel to take the last direct transfer. The second and fastest heat was won by Kenny Coolbeth over Jake Johnson and Kevin Varnes. This heat was red-flagged when Shawn Russell, Joe Kopp and Mike Varnes crashed in turn three on lap two. Varnes made the restart, while Kopp would not return until the semi. Russell would take a precautionary ride to the hospital, where he was released just as the night's racing ended. The senior citizens flexed their muscles in the third heat, as Rich King held off Terry Poovey. Jay Springsteen passed Shawn Clark on the last lap for the last transfer. The last heat saw Johnny Murphree and Chris Carr square off, with Murphree coming out on top. Geo Roeder held off Paul Lynch, who had come from the penalty line, for third. Willie McCoy worked his way around Chris Boone, Chris Hart and early leader Ricky Winsett to win the first semi. Hart passed Winsett on the last lap for the last transfer. Aaron Creamer grabbed the lead in semi two over Gary Rogers, Tim Eades Aguilar (H-D); 10. Jeff Uindrum (H-D); II. Shaun Russell (H-D); 12. Joe Kopp (H-D). and Rusty Rogers. J.R. Schnabel was on the charge, though, and he took the win over Creamer. The last semi saw Shawn Clark take the lead from Bryan Smith and easily move to the main over Paul Lynch. Shaking off the effects of his heat-race get-off, Jones Powers ports' Joe Kopp closed drastically on Lynch, but ran out of laps. Time: 3 min., 55.405 sec. HEAT 3 (10 Laps: 12 riders, top three transfer): I. Rich King (H-D); 2. Terry Poovey (H-D); 3. Jay Springsteen (H-D); 4. Shewn Clark (H-D); 5. Chris Hart (H-D); 6. Rusty Rogers (H-D); 7. Bryan Smith (H-D); 8. Sam Lowe (H-D); 9. Tim Eades (H-D); 10. Jess Roeder (H-D); 11. Brian Thomas (Sue); 12. Roy Miller (Suz). Time: 3 min .. 59.613 sec. HEAT 4 (10 laps; 12 riders. top three transfer): I. Johnny Murphree (H-D); 2. Chris Carr (H-D); 3. Geo Roeder II (H-D); 4. Paul Lynch (H-D); 5. Greg Teague (H-D); 6. Ricky Winsett Jr. (H-D); 7. Joe Eades (H-D); 8. Kyle Long (H-D); 9. Dove Raybum (H-D); 10. Ken Yoder (H-D); 11. Brandon CartWright (H-D); 12. TImmy Mitchell (H-D). Time: 4 min., 02.295 sec. SEMI 1 (8 laps; 11 riders. top two transfer); I. Willie McCoy (H-D); 2. Chris Hart (H-D); 3. Ricky Winsett Jr. (H-D); 4. Garth Basbon (H-D); 5. Chris Boone (HoD); 6. SlIm Lowe (H-Ol: 7. Dave Reyburn (H-D); 8. Brent Armbruster (H-D ; 9. Brian Thomas (Bue); 10. Tom McGnme Jr. (Suz ; 11. Jeff Lendrum (Suz). Tune: 3 min., 13.371 sec. SEM.) 2 (8 laps; 12 riders. top two transfer): 1. J.R. Schnabel (H-D); 2. Allron Creamer (H· D); 3. Tim Eades (H-D); 4. Rusty ROQers (H·D); 5. (jreg Teogue (H-D); 6. Gary Rogers (H-D); 7. Kyle Long (H-D); 8. Brandon Cartwright (H-D); 9. Georgie Price IV (Suz); 10. Raun Wood (Apr); 11. TImmy Mitcheli (H·D); 12. Shoun Russeli (H-D). nme: 3 min., 13.012 sec. SEMI 3 (8 laps; 12 riders, top two transfer): I. Shawn Clark (H-D); 2. Poul Lynch (H-D); 3. Joe Kopp (H-D); 4. Bryon Smith (H-D); 5. Joe Eades (HD); 6. John Nickens III (H-D); 7. Mike Vames (H-D); 8. Ken Yoder (H-D); 9. A.J. Eslick (H-D); 10. Jose Aguilar (H-D); 11. Roy Miller (Su,); 12. Jess Roeder (H-D). Time: 3 min .. 12.834 sec. GRAND NATIONAL (25 laps; 18 riders); I. Rich King (H-D); 2. Johnny Murphree (H-D); 3. Chris Corr (H-D); 4. Bryon Bigelow (H-D); 5. KeVIn Atherton (HD); 6, Terry Poovey (H-D); 7. Joy Springsteen (H-D); 8. Kevin Varnes (H·D); 9. Paul Lynch (H·D); 10. Shawn CiDrk (H-D); 11. Willie McCoy (H-D); 12. J.R. Schnabel (H-D); 13. Chris Hart (H-D); 14. Geo Roeder II (H-D); 15. Steve Beattie (H-D); 16. Ken Cool beth Jr. (H-D); 17. Jake Johnson (H-D); 18. AlIren Creamer (H·O). Time: 9 min., 52.906 sec. AMA/PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE U.S. FLAT TRACK CHA/IIPIONSHIP SERIES POlrrrs STANDINGS (After 12 of 20 rounds): I. Chris Carr (171/2 wins); 2. Johnny Murphree (155/1 win): 3. Bryan Bigelow (153/1 win); 4. Kevin Varnes (149/1 win); 5. Kenny Cool beth (129); 6. Jay Spri~steen (110); 7. Joe K0Pl' (95); 8. Geo Roeder II (86); 9. (11E) Terry Poovey (79)/Kevin Atherton (79); 11. J.R. Schnobel (76); 12. Shaun Russeli (72); 13. Jake Johnson (71); 14. Chns Hart (69/1 win); 15. Nicky Hayden (61/2 wins); 16. Rich King (60/1 win); 17. Paul Lynch (58); 18. Shown Clark (55); 19. Wilhe McCoy (50); 20. Steve Beattie (36). HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER PERFOR/IIANCE /llAIN (12 laps; 17 riders); 1. Jared Mees; 2. A.J. Eslick; 3. Rusty Rogers; 4. Jess Roeder; 5. James Hart: 6. Robert Lewis; 7. Scott Scherb; 8. Merle Scherb; 9. Cory McDermitt; 10. John Faulkner 111; 11. Josh Toungett: 12. Brian Thomas; 13. Paul Normandin: 14. Stephanie Welch; 15. Brian Kromroy; 16. Joel Henson; 17. Chris Boone. Tune: 5 min., 01.504 sec. HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER PERFORMANCE SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After g of 13 rounds): 1. Jared Mees (161/4 wins): 2. Scott Scherb (119); 3. James Hart (I 16); 4. Brian Thomas (100); 5. Rusty Rogers (94/1 win); 6. A.J. Eslick (92/1 win); 7. John Faulkner III (90); 8. Yuhiko Hirao (81): 9. Josh Toungett (68); 10. Robert Lewis (63); 11. (TIE) Merle Scherb (54)/Jess Roeder (54/1); 13. Brion Kromroy (50); 14. K.C. Knodel (47); 15, Bryon Smith (46/1 win); 16. Joke Johnson (45/1 win); 17. Shane Fox (40); 18. (TIE) Stephanie Welch (33)/Mork Witham (33); 20. (TIE) Joel Henson (25)(Timmy Mitchell (25). HARLEY·DAVIDSDN SPDRTSTER PERFDRMANCE NATIDNAL R&D Machine/Carl Patrick-backed Rusty Rogers led the 17 -rider field around for the first of 12 laps. Despite a sick-sounding engine, Rogers led James Hart, Scott Scherb, A.J. Eslick and Jared Mees. Frieze Harley-Davidson/Air Hawk's Eslick slipped by the Coziahr HarleyDavidson/Kiesow Racing-backed Hart, but just couldn't put Rogers away. Series points leader Jared Mees was working his Moroney's Harley-Davidson/Michael's HarleyDavidson to the front from fifth on the first lap. At the halfway point, Mees moved into second and parked on Rogers' rear wheel. On the ninth lap, Rogers' Sportster coughed one too many times, and Mees was on his way to his fourth win of the year. One lap later, Eslick also got by Rogers, but the comeback veteran held on for third over a closing Jess Roeder (Lima Harley-Davidson/roederharley.com) and Hart. Mees, Hart and Rogers had won the three heats that established the main-event grid. eN Hagerstown Speedway Hagerstown, Maryland Results: August 10. 2002 (Round 12 of 20) HEAT 1 (10 lal?s; 11 riders. top three transfer): 1. Kevin Atherton (H·O); 2. Bryan Bigelow (H~D); ~. Steve Beattie (H-D); 4. J.R. Schnabel (H-D); 5. Willie McCoy (H-D); 6. John Nickens III (H-D); 7. Aaron Creomer (H-D); 8. Chris Boone (H-D); 9. A.J. Eslick (H-O); 10. Georgie Price (Suz): It. Tom McGnme (Suz). Time: 3 min .. 56.526 sec. HEAT 2 (10 laps; 12 riders, top three transfer): 1. Ken Coolbeth Jr. (H-D); 2. Joke Johnson (H-D); 3. Kevin Vames (H-D); 4. Gorth Bastion (H-D); 5. Gory Rogers (H-O); 6. Mike Varnes (H·D): 7. Brent Armbruster (H·D): 8. Raun Wood (Apr); 9. Jose cue I • Upcoming Rounds: Round 13 - Peoria. Illinois, August 18 Round 14 - Sedalia, Missouri, August 24 n • _ os • AUGUST 21. 2002 25

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