Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championships Round B: Allen County Fairgrounds Do's Harley-Davidson mount but gave way to the Smokin' Moes/Simons Performance-backed Scott Stump on the last lap. Battlefield Harley-Davidson's Shawn Baer, WD-40/Lava/Jay Springsteen's Andy Springsteen and another Doc's Harley-Davidson - with Corby Scherb on board - filled out the top half of the field. Heat wins went to Scott Scherb, Mees and McDermitt. eN Allen County Fairgrounds Lima, Ohio Results; June 28, 2003 [Round 8 of 181 HEAT 1 (10 laps; 13 riders. top 3 transfer): I. Goo Roeder II (H-D); 2. Rich King (H-D); 3. Paul Lynch (H-D); 4. Garth Bastian (H·D); 5. Sam Lowe (H-D); 6. Chris Boone (H-D); 7. John Nickens iii (H·D); B. Tom McGrane Jr. (Suz); 9. Pat Behrle (Suz); 10. Barry Benkert (Hon): 11. Jeke Johnson (H·O): 12. Nick Williams (Sue): 13. Joe Duvall (H-D). Time: 4 min., 18.263 sec. HEAT 2 (10 laps; 13 riders, top 3 transfer): 1. Chris Carr (H· D); 2. Chris Hart (H·D); 3. J.R. Schnabel (H-D); 4. Dominic Beaulac (H·D); 5. Kenny Coolbeth (H-D); 6. Shaun Russell (H-D); 7. Jason Tyer (H·D); 8. Mike Hinds (H-D); 9. Robert Lewis (H-D); 10. Roy Miller (SUl); 11. David Lloyd (Apr); 12. R.J. Overholt (Suz); 13. Dave Rayburn (H-D). Time: 4 min., 17.885 sec. HEAT 3 (10 laps; 13 riders. top 3 transfer): I. Joe Kopp (H-D); 2. Willie McCoy (H·D); 3. Johnny Murphree (H-D); 4. Bryan Smith (H-D); 5. Ricky Winsett Jr. (H-D); 6. Kevin Atherton (H-D): 7. Gary Rogers (H-D); B. Tim Eades (H-D); g. Steve Uberty (H-D); 10. Ken Yoder (H·D); 11. Kyle Long (H-D); 12. ChDrlie ltalia (H-D); 13. Jerry V~lnderkooi (Suz). Time: 13 min., 19.743 sec. (Red Aag) HEAT 4 (10 Laps; 14 riders. top 3 transfer): I. Jay Springsteen (H·D): 2. Steve Beattie (H·D); 3. Allron Crellmer (H-D); 4. Chris Evans (H·D); 5. Bryan Bigelow (H-D); 6. Shawn Clark (H·D); 7. Mike Hacker (H-D); B. A.J. Eslick (SUl); g. Cory BB3 NATIONAL Following the GNC program, a full Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance show was run. son/McDermitt Racing's Cory McDermitt closed at the end of the race but could never mount a serious challenge. McDermitt's second-place finish keeps him four points ahead of Lancaster Harley-Davidson/Sad- McDermitt (H·D): 10. Raun Wood (H·D); 11. Jeff Landrum (H·D); 12. Kevin Varnes .lSuz): 13. Stephanie Welch (H·D); 14. Jared Mees (A-D). Time: 4 min.. 20.060 sec. the defending series champion, Mees. dlemen-backed Jared Mees rode his Doc's Harley-Davidson/Jim E. Hart Racing Sportster to his second Jenny Wagner's Scott Scherb filled win of the year as he led the 12-lap out the podium. Scott's son Merle fol- main all the way. Lima Harley-David- lowed in fourth most of the race on his BRIEFLY. •• mvown RRCE @Jay Springsteen 7th Bartels' Harley-Davidson/Corbin-backed Springsteen ran as high as fourth but gave way to a couple of young guns late in the race. "I had a good day: Springer said. 'We didn't have to make too many changes to the bike. We've been coming here for 20 years, so we kind of know how to set the bike up. Coolbeth got by me, but I thought I was going to catch Carr there the last five laps or whatever. Then Schnabel came up there and got both of us. He had a different line, and we were trying to run the bottom." Area Harley-Davidson shops pumped up the purse. including $500 for each heat and semi winner. Thiel's Wheels. Jim's H-D. Lima H-D, Mid·Ohio H-D, H·D Sales & Service of Napoleon. Roeder H-D. Aces and Eights H-D. and Toledo & Signature H-D all contributed. fP@) Johnny Murphree As is often the case. the winner finds everything to be easy. "It was so easy. compared to the normal Lima," Joe Kopp said. " I was thinking of Scotty Parker just about every lap. I knew he was here watching. and I've seen him diamond this track off and win It so many limes. I kept coming off four so low, It was like 'Hey Scotty. look at thiS. I've got your line.' I was still Sick last week and dldn't feel like dOing anything most of the week. I dldn't run. didn't work out or ride my bike all week. I was a vegetable all week, Just trying to get my body healthy. Coziahr Harley-Davidson/National Cycle/Kiesow Harley-Davidson's Murphree was a solid eighth. "I'm happier with this eighth place than I was with last week's third: he said. "Last week, on that little clay short track, we couldn't accept anything other than a win. I was talking big smack before the race about a top five, but I was really just hoping to make the main. I didn't even make the main here last year. If this would have grooved up on the bottom, we would have been in business. Maybe another 50 laps, it would have." Kopp's KTM teammate Kenny Coolbeth IS not thought of as a cushion rider and was very happy With hiS fourth-place finish. "I felt good all day, but I screwed up in my heat." Coolbeth said. "If I would have got off the line in my heat. I think I could have been right up there with Joe in the main. Once you get behind in these things, It'S hard to see, and you just get caught up in everything. It was unfortunate that we had to run the semi. That's pretty good for me on a cush· ion track; it's the best I've ever done at Lima. Usually I'm going out of here just glad I made the main event. Our confidence is pretty high ngh! now; the team is pretty strong right now. " Johnny Murphree was another top contender just hoping for the best. "In practice I was horrible and uncomfortable all night." Murphree said. "In the heat It got a little better. but I still wasn't aggressive like I normally am. In the main I started feeling better, but we're still searching. Like how do you tum the thing in the bumps, how do you get out of the cushion once you're up in It. The fact Is. we learned a lot about cushion racing tonight. If I could have got a better start. I was on point to get Joe. but we're not that far along with our cushion strategy. It's opposite of every· thing I've taught myself. On clay tracks if s all about laying the bike over then standing it up and getting traction. Here you just lay the thing over. grab a hand full of throttle. hang on to the inside and hope for the best. I'm not comfortable doing that yet. We got lucky with Chris dropping back to sixth. Joe winning the thing put us back in third again, but you know, one bad weekend and you go from the lead to third or from the third to the lead. I'm not going to worry about that until it comes time. Right now, we need to go win Sharon, Pennsyivania." Rich King had a full week in front of him, as he was headed to Springfield, Illinois, and the Ama· teur Nationals. "I don't like getting tired, so I'm going have to go home and go to work," King said. "Well, first. I have to go to the Amateur Nationais to help my son, Aaron. That's harder work anyway. " 28 JULY 9, 2003 eye. e n e _ s (ffJ@) Dominic Beaulac' 8th 9th Elka Suspension/Mike Lynch-backed Dominic Beaulac led last year's race for about eight laps before fading, and the young Canadian came into tonight's race with high hopes. "I had transmission problems in my qualifying heat and started last, but I got up to third: Beaulac said. "That sucks, though, because I'm not able to do the dash for cash. In the heat I also got a bad start. My bike would not work on the hard stuff, so I just went up and held it wide open. I just put my mind to run wide open, just like last year. That was the way I run the main, too. This year I am in better shape than last year. Last year I start first and go backwards to finish ninth. This year I start like] 6th and go to ninth position. I passed a lot of people." @4} Aaron Creamer 10th Motorcyclist'S Post's/NF Sheldon's Harley-Davidson's Aaron Creamer ran as high as sixth early in the race before slipping to 10th. "I felt good all night, but I've got to work harder on my training: Creamer said. "I should have had at least sixth place, but I got tired. I felt real good in my heat, but again that's another thing; I should have got second - maybe even won it. I'm happy, though. That's my best finish in a National so far, but I've got to search a little harder. That's what it's all about."

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