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AMA Mid-South C'ship Winter Hare Scrambles Series Round 11: Hazzard Hill Summers "TINS '''I1I~ 1I1".....I..I~, Allen "TINS 'I'III~ T (Above) P.A. Allen 117) got the STORV AND PHOTOS holeshot, finished second overall and wrapped up the Mld-50uth Championship Winter Hare Scrambles Series championship at round 11. BV DEBBIE ALLEN VANLEER, TN, MAR. 30 azzard Hill was an exciting place to be at the 11 th round of the Mid-South Championship Winter Hare Scrambles Series. Scott Summers conquered another round of the Pirelli Tire/Moose/Parts Unlimited/White Brothers-sponsored series, while two of Mid-South's fastest riders waged war for this season's championship. Dustin Gibson and defending champion P.A. Allen were fighting to stay in front of each other. This was Gibson's last chance to battle for the championship: If he finished in front of Allen, they would have to fight for the title at the last round; if Allen beat Gibson, he would be the 2003 series champion. With that in mind, it was a knockdown, drag-out fight the entire race. At the end of the contest, Summers took the checkered flag, while Allen became this season's overall winner. Off the start, nine AA riders rounded the first turn with Allen in the lead. He led them around nine miles and stayed out front until Jeff Cregg passed him about a mile from the tent. Allen, Gibson and Mike Sampson followed within seconds of the leader, and Summers came through in seventh place. "I had a decent start, coming around the first turn in fourth place, and I was looking for opportunities to pass," said Summers. "The track was pretty technical, so there were really no places to pass. Then we came to a creek jump that was kind of a drop-off. Whoever was in front of me H 42 APRIL 30, 2003' c: U c: I IAbove right) Scott Summers finished in first place overall at Hazzard Hill In Vanleer, Tennessee. hit the other side and almost came to a stop, so I couldn't go any further without stopping, turning around and getting a good run to jump it. I lost three positions there." During the next lap, Summers took advantage of almost everyone's mistakes. He made the fastest lap time and got the lead about half a mile from the score tent. "After the second lap, it was really a pretty uneventful race," said the Honda's Riders Club/American Honda, Oils and Chemicals/Summers Racing Components/ Alpinestars/ Oakley-backed Summers. "Everything went smooth, and it was really perfect conditions for racing." This was not the case for Allen and Gibson. They battled each other and swapped for second place the entire time. During the third lap, Gibson came by the tent without his shroud and was trying to catch Allen. During the next lap, he was in front of Allen but went down when a lapper in front of him slowed down. Allen was to his right and became wedged in by a big oak tree and Gibson's bike, tire and body. Allen rocked back and forth several times to get untangled, and he left the scene first, and Gibson followed him into their last lap. "It was a good race, and I knew I had to stay in front of Dustin to win," e n e vv 55 said Allen. "If I stayed in front of him, then that would mean the overall championship for me, and I would be able to race at the next GNCC. So I had to finish in front of him, and that was my only goal today." On the last lap, the Team Green Kawasaki/GPR/Twin Air/Pro Circuit/Dunlop Tire-supported Allen checked out and finished the race in second place overall and became the overall champion for his third season in a row. Blair Bersano got third overall. Gibson came in fourth overall, and Cregg finished in fifth overall. "We all just battled it out on the last lap," said the FMF Suzuki/ Clarke/Lowe Racing Suspension/ Smith Sport Optics-backed Bersano. "Dustin crashed out, and I got around him. I had a line all set for P.A.; I knew he was going on the inside in this one spot, because that's what he did the lap before, but he stepped it up and was too far away. It was good racing, though, and that's what it is all about." "I was first on the first lap, so I got a hundred dollars," M2R Helmets/ Scott Goggles/Moose-supported Cregg said. "Three miles into the first lap, P.A. slowed down because he had a stick in his back break. I got by him, and I think I wore myself out staying in the lead, because I finished the race in fifth place." Castle Power Sports-supported Jason Wofford won the Four-Stroke A class and came in 12th overall. "This was the best track of the year," Wofford enthused. The buzz on the day was about AA rider Robbie King, who was showing off his freestyle skills at Hazzard Hill. He would hit a 5-foot jump at the bot- tom and sail 70 feet up through the trees and land on top. The question most often heard on the day was, "Who was that guy on the Yamaha? He was awesome!" _ IIlIZzard Hili V ••I_, Tenness•• Results: Men:h 38, Z003 lRo...d 111 O/A: 1. Scott Summers (Hon); 2. P.A. Allen (Kaw); 3. Blair Berseno (Suz); 4. Dustin Gibson (KTM); 5. J.ff Cr.gg (Kow); 6. Mlk. Sampson (Vam); 7. John Robbins (KTM); 8. Timmy P'Pool (SUI); 9. Mich8el Cornett (Kew); 10. Clint Robinson (KTM). AA: 1. Scott Summers (Hon); 2. P.A. Allen (Kew); 3. Blair Berslino (SUI); 4. Dustin Gibson (KTM); 5. J.ff Cr.gg (Kow). 250/0PEN A: I. Timmy P'Pool (Suz); 2. Micho.1 Cornett (KlIw); 3. Clint Robinson (KTM); 4, Alan Westerfield (Suz); 5. Josh Scott (Yem). 4-STRK A: I. J.son Wofford (KTM); 2. Jock Boil.y (KTM); 3. Rob.rt Adkins (KTM); 4. Rob.rt Uch (Yom); 5. Dean Gr.w. «KTM). 200 A: I. D.r.k Brotch.r (KTM); 2. Chris Taylor (KTM); 3. Cloy H.dg.poth (KTM); 4. Chris Bach (KTM); 5. Mark Ak.rs (KTM). SR A: 1. Steve Martin (Suz); 2. Steve Thomas (KTM); 3. Cloy Stuck.y (KTM); 4. DolI.s Moy.r (Yam); 5. Robert Kirchner (Suz). VET A; I. Horv.y Whitok.r (Kow); 2. Greg Elrod (Suz): 3. Taras Mossey (KTM); 4. Thomas Bennett (Hon); 5. Joson Dick.y (Suz). 250 B: 1. Brllndon Jones (Vern); 2. Nathan Alering (Suz): 3. Hayden Moore (Hon); 4. Michllel Barnick (KllW); 5. Eric Meeks (Kew). 4-STRK B: I. Jon Buckner (Yem); 2. Rye" Creasor (Hon); 3. Bnmdon Wofford (Suz); 4. Keith Lewis (Vom); 5. K.vln Beet.1I (KTM). OPEN. B: I. Lucas Snell (Yem); 2. Mark Jones (Hon); 3. James Smith (KTM); 4. Bred Brlldley (KTM); 5. G.ylon Rog.... (Yam). 200 B: I. ShDne O'Blinion (Suz); 2. Damon Prince (Suz); 3. Mike Scherzinger (Hon): 4. Spencer Ricketts (Yam); 5. Scott Meredith (Kaw). VET 8: 1. Richard Word (SUI); 2. Scott Kirchoff (Suz); 3. James Fleming (Hon): 4. Greg Brannon (KTM); 5. Todd Lov.tt (KTM). SR B: 1. Jerry Cestleman (Kew); 2. Teven Middl.brook (KTM); 3. Ron Dilb.ck (KTM); 4. Jim Sorrels (Hon); 5. John Gleus (Yam). S/SR: 1. John Giles (Yam); 2. Ronnie Hllckett (Suz); 3. Leon Parker (Cen); 4. Sidney Robinson (KTM); 5. Ronnie Sn.lI (Hon). 250/0PEN C: 1. Walter Taylor (Yam); 2. Seth Summers (K.w); 3. Jok. Voung (KTM): 4. Geoffrey Vermilyea (Suz); 5. Joe Browning (Kaw). 200 C: 1. Chris Knight (Kew); 2. Mark Richter (Hus); 3. Robert Rogers (KTM); 4. Michael Wood (KTM); 5. Adam Elliot (KTM). 4-STRK C: 1. Bryan Sullivan (Yam); 2. Jeff Jackson (Kew); 3. Richerd Brown (KTM); 4. Reece Ewton (Yam); 5. Billy Clark (Hon). VET C: I. Darin Sizemore Yam); 2. Chance Blackmore (KTM); 3. Rusty Lewis (TM); 4. Charles Cunninghllm (Kaw); 5. John Robinson (Yam). SR C: 1. Keel Irvin (KTM); 2. Greg Gibson (Yam); 3. Beau Nicewlnter (Vern); 4. Charles Cashion (Hon); 5. TIm W.shecher (Hon). BEG: l. Tyler Phillips (Hon): 2. Andrew Deere; 3. Thomas Mitchell (Kaw).