Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Formula USAlDrag Specialties National Dirt Track Series Round 6: The Red Mile (Left) J.R. Schnabel ftnished seventh on the Red Mile and now ftnd. himself tied with Poover for the • erle.lead. (Bottom) Challenge aetlon: King (80) (pIctured In hi. he" race) appeared to have the main event In the bag, but hi. fac10ry machine let go early In the race. finish. Snyder claimed the fourth spot over Stanley, while Poovey held off Schnabel for sixth. When asked later if she was now "officially" back from her injuries, Snyder beamed: "Yes, I am!" The Pro Singles points standings now show Schnabel and Poovey tied at the top with 186 points each, with King right behind at 184. Kopp's early exit has dented his championship hopes, as he sits fourth with 150. Kenny Coolbeth, who skipped Lexington, sits fifth in the points with 104. Poovey's Honda RS750 topped the first Super Singles & Twins heat race over Kopp, King, and ATK-mounted Smith. Beattie topped the second heat race over Aprilia-mounted Stanley, Rusty Rogers' Suzuki, and Tyer. Beattie's time of 5: 12.223 (92.242 mph) gave him the pole for the main. Schnabel, Poovey, McCoy, West, and Snyder rounded out the top 10. Pegram, Murray, McDermitt, Brown, Bailey, Vincent, and Rogers rounded out the field. King led the restart and once again asserted his dominance by building a huge lead before hitting turn three. Smith, Kopp, Stanley and Durelle were next across the stripe. Durelle charged into third on the fifth lap and began to dice with Smith and Kopp over second. By the seventh lap, King held a three-second lead over the Smith/Kopp/Durelle scrap, which in turn had a three· second gap over Stanley/Schnabel/Poovey. Then there was another five-second gap over Snyder, West, McCoy and Pegram. Snyder was definitely on the move on her factory Blast. By lap 12, she had separated from the West/McCoy/ McDermitt/Pegram squabble and was clearly gaining on the battle for fifth. On lap 19, she caught that battle, and on lap 21, she knocked the door down by claiming the fifth spot with another draft move deep into turn three. On lap 22, Smith and Durelle continued to swap positions in turn four, while Kopp began to fade. Stanley, Snyder and Schnabel heatedly debated the fifth spot, with Poovey biding his time right behind. On lap 23, Kopp's strong ride went for naught when his KTM went silent going into turn one after its stator broke. Snyder and Schnabel continued to scrap over the fourth position, while Stanley joined Poovey at the rear of that group. As King collected his second win of the year, Smith drafted past Durelle to claim the runner-up spot. Stanley, meanwhile, appeared headed for the infield in an attempt to keep Snyder at bay in their battle for fourth, while Poovey and Schnabel used a more traditional line to the 42 AUGUST 21 ,2002' .,. U .,. I _ n __ s King grabbed the lead in the Super Singles & Twins main event and appeared to be on his way to an uncontested win. By lap two, King held a three-second lead over Beattie, who held a similar lead over Kopp, who was battling his XR against the A TK Super Single of Smith. As the pack stretched out on lap six, King's charge ended abruptly when his XR gave up the ghost in turn three. "It had started slowing down the lap before it quit," King said. Beattie ran unmolested the remaining six laps, as did the rest of the field. For Beattie, the win not only meant a $9000 payday, but also vindication to those who questioned his return to racing after breaking his neck in a practice crash at the Springfield Mile on Memorial Day. "People ask why I came back after an injury like that to race again, and this is why," Beattie said. "To stand here on the podium is just great. It's better than any drug." As the laps wound down, Poovey put on a charge that carried him past Smith, while Stanley charged his Aprilia past Kopp. Stanley would later comment that the Aprilia was the fastest bike he'd ever ridden. "I was making up all my time in the corners. I had no problems," Stanley said in response to the question as to whether or not the 1000s can negotiate corners as well as the 750s. "I hope I get to ride it for the rest of the year". King eamed $2600 for winning the Pro Singles main event, but he was far down the list of money winners . Beattie topped the list with a $9000 payday in purse and contingencies for the Super Singles and Twins win. Smith claimed $6200 in Pro Singles money and $ 1800 in Super Singles and Twins money for an $8000 payday. Poovey was third on the money list with $5920, of which $ 1420 was Pro Singles and $4500 was Super Singles and Twins money. Stanley took home $4470 ($2070 in Pro Singles and $2400 in Super Singles & TWins), while Durelle rounded out the top five with $3700 (all in Pro Singles money). The top four in the Pro Singles main event were a Harley-Davidson (Rotax engine), a Honda, a Suzuki and a Buell. The top four in the Super Singles & Twins were a Harley, a Honda, an ATK, and an Aprilia. While Formula USA's program concept may be a constant source of debate, if you like multi-brand racing, they've got it. eN TIl. Red Mil. lulep.1lHtIIdrJ IIauIIs: July 27, ZIID2 l......d & lit 111 PRO SINGLES I'IAlN: J. Rich King (H-D); 2. Brye" Smith (Hon); 3. Oeve Durelle (Suz); 4. Jennifer Snyder (H-D); 5. Don Stonley (Hon); 6. Terry Poovey (Hon); 7. J.R. Schnobel (Hon); 8. WUUe McCoy (ATK); 9. Lorry Pegrom (Suz): 10. Corey McDermitt eRtx); 11. Cory West (Hon); 12. Gery Rogers (Hon); 13. Wesley Brown (Hon); 14. Steve Murroy (KTM); 15. Brion Vincent (Hon); 16. Trent Boiley (CeM); 17. Joe Kopp (KTM); 18. Joson Tyer (ATK). FORMULA USA/DRAG SPECIALTIES NATIONAL DIRT TRACK SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 6 of 11 rounds): 1. (TIE) J.R. Schnobel (186/1 win)/Terry Poovey (186); 3. Rich King (184/2 wins); 4. Joe Kopp (150/1 win): 5. Kenny Coolbeth (104); 6. Don Stonley (102): 7. (TIE) Bryon Smith (88)/Lorry Pogrom (88)/Chrts Corr (88/2 wins): 10. Willie McCoy (86); 11. Jored 1'1... (62); 12. Bryon Bigelow (60); 13. (TIE) Steve Murroy/Trenton Boiley (56): 15. Merle Scherb (50); 16. (TIE) Cory We.t/Corey McDermitt (44): 18. Bronoon Cortwrlght (42); 19. Mott Wolt (40): 20. Scooter Vernon (36). SUPER SINGLES & TWINS MAIN: 1. Steve Beottle (H-D: 2. Terry Poovey (Hon); 3. Bryon Smith (ATK); 4. Don Stonley (Apr): 5. Joe Kopp (H-D): 6. Willie McCoy (H-D);. 7. Gory Roge.. (H-D): 8. Joson Tyer (H-D): 9. Rusty Roge.. (Suz): 10. RIch KIng (H-D). Upcoming Rounds: Round 7 - sacramento, CA, September 14 Rounds 8/9 - Tacoma, WA, September 21-22

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