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AMAIProgressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championships Round 12: Hagerstown Speedway STORY AND PHOTOS BY DAVE HOENIG/FLAT TRAK FOTOS HAGERSTOWN, MD, AUG. 10 nt took over half the season, but Rich ~ King and the Harley-Davidson Motor Company found their way back into the AMA's Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship's winner's circle when they won the Hagerstown Half Mile. In doing so, King became the 10th different winner in the 12 races this year. "I needed this win really bad, just because of the year I'm having," King said. Two other riders, each looking for his first National win, looked to have the Hagerstown Speedway half-mile wired, but mechanical failures squashed their dreams. After leading the first three laps, Moroney's HarleyDavidson/SuperTrapp's Jake Johnson gave way to Kenny Cool beth. Four laps later, Johnson went to the sidelines. "It started seizing up," Johnson said. "It had to have started slowing down, before Kenny got me, because every time I came off the corner it was just lugging more and more. Once Kenny got around me. it really started to bind up. We've had some tough luck this year, but we know we can run up there and lead these things. I guess I'll just go home, pout all week, and hopefully we can get Peoria figured out pretty quick and We've been working so hard to get "I thought Kenny was gone," Mur- put it up front there." this win. I'm trying to keep my head phree said. ") was focused on Kenny, The Corbin/Samson Racingbacked Coolbeth rocketed away from straight, but it's really hard. Maybe we'll win Peoria. That would be a and I was racing, I never gave a second thought to Rich. As soon as Johnny Murphree, King and Bryan Bigelow. Then, as Coolbeth went into the first turn on lap II, his bike let good one." With Coolbeth dropping out, Coziahr Harley-Davidson/Country Motors' Kenny was gone and I was leading the thing, I started thinking about what was going on behind me. Rich out a sickening crunch and expired. "I think it was a pinion gear or Johnny Murphree looked to be in position to repeat his June Hager- caught up, and we started racing back and forth, but after a couple of something," Coolbeth said. "It's hard. stown win. laps I didn't see him or hear him and I (Above) Rich King won his first AMA Grand National main event of the season at the Hagerstown Half Mlle. King took the lead away from Johnny Murphree with seven laps to go. (Right) Chris Carr (i) diced with Bryan Bigelow (11) in the main event. The reigning champ caught a few breaks and wound up third, while Bigelow was fourth. cue I e n u _ S • AUGUST 21, 2002 23