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Carr (1) and Schnabel (33) went at it for a while before Carr tired and Schnabel shot back by. set up the fateful finish. Hayden, meanwhile, mowed his way through the pack, closing quickly on the pair. "J.R. and Chris were riding really good, but I knew that if they would just keep racing each other, then they might help me," Hayden said. "I seen them spinning off four, and I knew if I just settled down and rolled it on instead of grabbing a handful, that I might have a chance. I found that line in one and two in the shade, and it had some good grip, and I just went for it. Chris is still the man here, though. He has won this thing 13 times. Today was just our day, but just because I won, that doesn't take away what he has done here." Afterward, Carr showed graciousness in defeat that was befitting of his royal moniker. He was ... a prince. "I'm really happy for the streak that we put together here, and I still do have one streak left - I've never been off the box in the last 18 years that I've come here." Carr was also able to take solace in the fact that he extended his championship points lead. "I don't know how much we moved out on the guys today, but in the end, for me, that [championship] is the most important thing," Carr said. "Obviously, I wanted to keep the string alive, but it wasn't meant to be today. But my goal from the beginning of the year was to win the Grand National Championship, and we're one step closer to that today." Carr also thanked the Peoria fans who have supported him over the years. "I've been coming here since 1983, and I just fell in love with this place," Carr said. "I want to thank the fans from the bottom of my heart for 20 years of sheer joy and pleasure here. You have made my life very specia I, and I won't ever forget you for that - I promise." KTM/Jones Powersports' Joe Kopp, the 1997 Peoria TT winner, finished fourth after running in second place in the early going. Woody Kyle Racing/Fox/Arai's Tommy Hayden finished fifth. Fast qualifier Schnabel had the pole in the first of the four 10-lap heats, when the track was arguably at its best, and he led Coziahr H-D/ Country Motors' Johnny Murphree and Innovative Tech's Jeremy DeRuyter over the jump at the start. USC Racing/1 stlegal.com/Hap Jonessponsored Terry Poovey passed inside DeRuyter up the front straightaway to take away the third and final transfer spot early. Schnabel was 10 lengths ahead of Murphree by the halfway point. He would almost double that en route to the win, followed by Murphree. Poovey held off Art Skaggs/Ronnie Anderson-backed Chris Boone for third. Schnabel would wind up with fast time to sit on the pole for the main event. He had made it look pretty easy. "It wasn't that easy," Schnabel said. "Johnny kept me honest. The Atherton had the pole for heat three, with Carr to his immediate right, but Bartels' Harley-Davidson/Custom Chrome/Arai's Shaun Russell led the field through turn one, only to get passed by Atherton and Carr on the opening lap. Atherton led laps one and two, with Carr trying to work underneath him in turns one and two and outside him off turns three and four. Carr finally got under Atherton to take the lead off turn four on lap six and then pulled away for an easy victory. Atherton was second, followed by Dallas Harley-Davidson/KK Supply/Shoei-backed Willie McCoy. Nicky Hayden had the pole for a brutal final heat, which also included Gardner Racing/Walters Brothers H-D/ Lancaster H-D's Bryan Bigelow, Memphis Shades/Parts Unlimited's Kevin Varnes, Team Harley-Davidson's Rich King and Tommy Hayden on the front row, and Sloppy/Parts UnUmited/Wiseco's Roger Lee Hayden on the inside of row two. Tommy Hayden got on point, with Nicky following him over the jump on the opening lap. Bigelow settled into third, with King fourth and Varnes fifth. Nicky started pushing Tommy hard by lap three and stuffed it underneath him in turn three on lap five, only to give the spot back off four, allowing King to jump into the battle for the lead. Two laps later, King made a daring pass, grinding up the inside of both Haydens going into turn one to take the lead. Nicky tried to go with King, and made an insane leap off the jump, only to lose control and crash on lap eight. He was up quickly, but the race was called complete. King got the win, with Tommy Hayden second and Bigelow third. Nicky would have to gain entry from the first semi. Nicky Hayden came from row two and picked off DeRuyter, Moroney's H-D/SuperTrapp's Jake Johnson and Boone to win the first semi. Hayden took the lead from Boone up the front straightaway on lap five. Roger Lee Hayden led every lap of the second last five laps I felt smooth, but we need to feel like that for the first five laps in the main event too, because everyone will have the same racetrack in the main event." Kopp had the pole for heat two, but he rounded the first turn fourth, behind Maryotts Honda/BBRP/Aupperle Construction's Dan Stanley, Dutrows Honda/Lancaster H-D/Saddlemen Racing's Steve Beattie, and Mike Lynch Racing/Arai's A.J. Eslick. Kopp passed Eslick after the jump and dropped Beattie to third up the front straight at the start of lap two. Kopp got a better drive off turn four to pass Stanley for the lead on lap three. Kopp was able to pull away from Stanley and Beattie for the win. Dodge Brothers/Saddlemen Racing/National Cycle Supply's Kevin The last lap: Nicky Hayden (69) started on the penalty line but still managed to pass Schnabel (33) on the outside in tum two on the white-flag lap. Schnabel hung on for second. cue I e n e _ S • AUGUST 28,2002 19