Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Johnny Murphree (20) and Shaun Russell (28) were both fast early but dropped off after the restart. Murphree slipped to fourth. Russell fell to eighth. of times, but I just didn't get by enough to pull it down on him. Dang it, I wanted a win tonight, and I thought I had it. We'll take a third, a podium. We need to string some podiums together like a couple of years ago, and this is a good start." While the heroics were going on up front, journeyman Expert Ken Yoder pushed his Red's Racing/Nort/Dan Perry-backed Honda into contention for the win. He would finish fourth, his best Grand National result ever. "I rode down as low as I could get, right down on the berm, that little knob," Yoder said. "I got nervous once I realized where I was at. I lost it the last couple of laps. I had never been in that position. I choked. Garth and I rode the bottom in the heat, and we stayed there in the main. I couldn't believe those guys kept staying high. We just kept inching up there; I guess that's where they were comfortable. I didn't try to gain any- my own 1] @@ Rich King thing on the restart, just stay in line and protect my position." Murphree's fifth-place finish was far from satisfying for the title hopeful. "I got beat today by some guys that were better short trackers than me," Murphree said. "I don't understand that. I've [ridden] laps on a track just like this back home. I thought I had it wired. I guess that's what you get for thinking. Another lesson learned. I guess I'll just have to go to the front at Springfield to make up for it." CN RACE: 6th Rich King gated poorly on his Factory Harley-Davidson-backed H-D XR500R but weaved his way through the field to his sixth place finish. "As the race went on, I felt better and better, and we were moving forward all night: King said. My starts were killing me all night. I thought I was going to pull a fast one on the first lap and pull around the outside, but I got tangled up with another rider right off the bat, and I think I had to have been in 13th or so. The 01' Harley Blast just kept working better and better. I was hoping in a couple more laps I would get up there with that front group. I was gaining, but I just couldn't quite get there. It's hard to believe that after 30 laps you'd want a few more, ain't it?" @'fJ Mike Hacker 7th Mike Hacker is slowly coming to terms with his factory-backed Honda. The Super Trapp/Moroney's Honda-backed Virginian came home seventh on it. "I had run into Joe [Koppl and lost a position just before the red flag, so that gave me a chance to regather myself: Hacker said. "I just wish I'd went a little higher the last nine laps. I was brushing the cushion, but I wasn't running as high as them. I'm happy 1got my Honda working good for me. I'm leaving here with some points, unlike Daytona. I wanted to come here and run decent, and I think I did pretty decent. I think we've got the Honda figured out for me. " Paul Battla Arana Tunica, Mississippi Results: March 29, 2003 [Raund 2 of 1BJ HEAT I (to laps; 10 riders, top 2 transfer): 1. Chris Cerr (Vor); 2. Rob Peerson (Hon); 3. Brylln Bigelow (Hon): 4. Chris Hart (Hon); 5. Cherlie Orr (Hon): 6. Mike Varnes (Rot); 7. Jeff lllndrum (Rot); 8. Gary Rogers (Hon); 9. Brett Pllnkey (ROLL 10. Jake Johnson (Hon). TIme: 2 min., 2.476 sec. HEAT 2 (10 laps: 10 riders. top 2 transfer): 1. Johnny Murphree (Rot); 2. Steve Bellttie (Hon): 3. Pat Behrle (Rot); 4. lllkk Plilimer (Hon); 5. Chris Boone (Rot); 6. Brian Vincent (Hon); 7. Willie McCoy (ATK); 8. Joel Henson (Hon); 9. Kenny Dah!;n (Rot); 10. Sret Sowders (Hon). Time: 2 min., 3.792 sec. HEAT 3 (10 laps; 10 riders. top 2 transfer): 1. Shaun Russell (Rot); 2. Rich King (H·D): 3. A.J. Eslick (Suz); 4. J.R. Schnabel (Yam): 5. Jason Tyer ~® Shaun Russell 1] 1] Bryan Bigelow 8th After running so strong for two-thirds of the race, an eighth-place finish was a bitter pill for Shaun Russell to swallow. "Just one of those things, some times it goes with you, sometimes it goes against you: Russell said. "Somebody got a wheel underneath me right away, and it pushed me out a little bit. The track changed after the restart. It was changing before the red flag, but I just wasn't ready for it. There were a lot of people going everywhere. It was just one of those things." 10th Gardner Racing's Bryan Bigelow worked his way from last to 10th but felt all he needed was more time. "It's very, very tough to make up time: Bigelow said. "Everyone is running the same speed. Just getting into the program is tough. In the heat 1got right where I wanted to be, and then some guy runs in way deeper and has no chance of making it stick, but it's a fighting effort; you can't get mad at the guy. That's indoor racing. It's a vicious circle I was fighting tonight. Greg [Crowl was making changes to the bike all night. We got into the main through a semi, so I had to start on the third row, and on a little indoor, that's way too far back. I'd like to have seen it run all 30 laps. It took me about 12 laps to get in my rhythm; once I got into that rhythm, I was good." ~'fJ[;) Rob Pearson 13th Rob Pearson made his first Grand National main event in just his second try, as he finished second to Chris Carr in the fastest heat of the night. Pearson got an excellent start in the main and ran as high as fifth before dropping back. He was running in 12th when he and Steve Beattie tangled. Pearson restarted quickly and was able to stay on the lead lap. cue I (Rot); 6. Dominic Beaulac (ROl); 7. Paul Lynch (Hon); 8. Shawn Clark (Rol); 9. Brendon Cartwright (Hon); 10. Merle Scherb (Hon). Time: 2 min.. 5.177 sec. HEAT 4 (10 laps; 10~. top 2lntnsf...); I. Mike Hack... (Hon); 2. Aaron Creamer (Hon); 3. Man: Williams (Hon); 4. Raun wood (ROI); 5. Terry Poovey (Hon); 6. Eric Rickman (Hon); 7. Nool hvin (Yam); 8. Scott Scherb (Hon); 9. Tim Eades (Yam); 10. Greg Teague (ROI). Time: 2 min., 7.997 sec. HEAT 5 (10 laps: 10 riders, top 2 transfer): 1. Garth Bastian (W·R); 2. Ken Yoder (Hon); 3. Cory McDermitt (Rot); 4. Ken Coolbeth Jr. (KTM); 5. Tom McGrZlOe Jr. (Rot); 6. Kevin Atherton (Vam): 7. Brian Thomas (ATK); 8. Joe Duvall (Rot); 9. Mark Burch (Han); 10. Scott Deubler (Rot). TIme: 2 mm., 7.405 sec. HEAT 6 (10 laps: 10 riders, top 2 transfer): 1. Joe Kopp (KTM); 2. Don Mullen II (Hon); 3. Henry Wiles (Rot); 4. Bryan Smith (ATK); 5. Sam Lowe (Han); 6. Kevin Vemes (Suz); 7. Jared Cheney (Rot): 8. John Nickens III (Hon): 9. Kevin Hilbert (ATK): 10. Greg Tysor (Hon). Time: 2 min.. 8.239 sec. SEMI 1 (8 laps: 12 riders. winner transfers): I. Bryan Bigelow (Hon); 2. Dominic Beeulac (Rot); 3. Chris Hart (Hon); 4. Zakk Palmer (Hon); 5. Brandon Cartwright (Hon); 6. Merle Scherb (Hon); 7. Chris Boone (Rot); 8. Jason Tyer (Rot); g. Jeff Landrum (Rot); 10. Gary Rogers (Hon); 11. Joel Henson (Han); 12. Kenny Dahlin (Rot). TIme: I min.. 34.276 sec. SEMI 2 (8 laps; 12 riders. winner transfers): 1. A.J. Eslick (Suz); 2. Charlie Orr (Han); 3. Pat Behrle (Rot); 4. J.R. Schnabel (Vern); 5. Jake Johnson (Han); 6. Paui Lynch (Hon); 7. Willie McCoy (ATK); 8. Brian Vincent (Han); 9. Mike Varnes (Rot): 10. Shawn C1l1rk (Rot); 11. Brett Pankey (Rot); 12. Bret Sowders (Hon). Time: 1 min., 37.017 sec. SEMI 3 (6 laps; 12 riders. winner tlllnsfers): I. Terry Poovey (Rot): 2. Reun Wood (Rot): 3. Ken Coolbeth Jr. (KTM); 4. Cory McDermitt (Rot); 5. Gre9 Tysor (Hon); 6. Sam Lowe (Han); 7. Kevin Varnes (SU2); 8. Brian Thomas (ATK); 9. TIm Eades (Yam); 10. Scott Scherb (Hon); 11. Kevin Hilbert (ATK); 12. Joe Duvall (Rot) TIme: 1 min.. 36.314 sec. SEMJ 4 (8 laps; 12 riders. winner transfers): 1. Tom McGrane Jr. (Rot): 2. Kevin Atherton (Yam): 3. Eric Rickman (Hon): 4. Henry Wiles (Rot); 5. Jerad Cheney (Rot); 6. John Nickens III (Han); 7. Noot Irvin (Vern); 6. ~rk Burch (Hon); 9. ~rc Williams (Han): 10. Bryan Smith (ATK); II. Scott Deubler (Rot); 12. Greg Teague (Rot). TIme: I min., 40.354 sec. GRAND NATIONAL (30 laps. ) 6 riders): I. Garth Bastian (W-R): 2. Chris Cerr (Vor); 3. Joe Kopp (KTM); 4. Ken Yoder (Hon): 5. Johnny Murphree (Rot); 6. Rich King (H-D); 7. Mike Hacker (Hon); 8. Shoun Russell (Rot); 9. Don Mullen II (Hon); 10. Bryan Bigelow (Han); 11. Terry Poovey (Rot); 12. A.J. Eslick (Suz): 13. Rob Peerson (Hon); 14. Tom McGrane Jr. (Rot); 15. Aaron Creemer (Hen): 16. Steve Beettle (Hon). Time: None, due to red flag AMA PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE U.S. FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 2 of 18 rounds): 1. Chris Carr (42/1 win); 2. Johnny Murphree (33); 3. Joe Kopp (29); 4. Rich King (24); 5. Garth Bostian (23/1); 6. Jay Springsteen (16): 7. (TIE) Ken Yoder/Jake Johnson (15); 9. Brett Landes (14); 10. (TIE) Mike Hocker/Ricky Winsett Jr. (12); 12. (TIE) Terry Poovey/Shaun Russell (II): 14. (TIE) Don Mullen II/Raun Wood (10); 16. (TIE) Bryon Bigelow/Mike Varnes (9); 18. J.R. Schnabel (8); 19. (TIE) A.J. Eslick/Cory McDermitt (7). Upcoming Rounds: Round 3 - Springfield. Illinois, May 24 Round 4 - Springfield, Illinois, May 25 e n e _ so • APRIL 9, 2003 25

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