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AMA Hotshoe National Gordon Park Speedway ee-e lk a..,... .. _ his WIll' to winning his debut :zso.aoscc Pro Sport nICe, at the AlIA Hotslloe National In Augusta, Georgia. STORY AND PHOTOS BY JAY IRVIN AUGUSTA, GA, JULY 27 his was the first professional f1attrack race that Augusta, Georgia, had seen in more than 25 years. Craig Kane and his Augusta HarleyDavidson crew did a top-notch job of hosting their first AMA Hotshoe National. Nearly 3000 dedicated fans ignored the terrible weather and showed up to cheer on their favorite riders. Nevertheless, Mother Nature stepped in and rained on their parade; the race had to be postponed until the next day. With a forecast for more rain, the riders, fans and promoters had their fingers crossed, hoping to squeeze in some racing on Sunday. Nearly all of the riders stayed to race, and, surprisingly, most of the fans came back as well. After a few light sprinkles and some last-minute track prep, the action finally started. The first class to hit the track was the 250-505cc Pro Sport riders. In heat one, Chase Sconyers took the holes hot on his Honda of Statesboro/Easy Riders of Augusta-backed cycle. Sconyers had his hands full with Eaken Racing rider Daniel Gedeon and Augusta Harley-David- T HO/LL STOP THE son/PBW Racing ace Thomas Pulliam. The top three stayed within feet of each other the entire heat. The race for fourth was also one to watch, with Boyle Brothers Racing's Gary Boyle and Myco Plastics rider Cole Pulliam engaged in a heated battle of their own. When the checkers flew, Sconyers took the win, with Gedeon second and Thomas third. The 250-505cc Pro Sport main was even more exciting. Again, Sconyers managed to nail the start, and Gedeon and Thomas were in the hunt. This time, the action out front was much more intense. Thomas appeared to be sizing up the leaders for a pass. Unfortunately, he went down at about the halfway point, ruining his shot at victory. This gave Gedeon and Sconyers some breathing room. Maryland rider Jason Isennock took over the third spot and started to make time on the leaders. Boyle and Cole were running fourth and fifth, respectively. In the end, Sconyers took the win, Gedeon was second, and Isennock took third. This was Sconyers' professional debut. The bigge~t class of the night was the 250-505cc Expert class. Heat one saw Tim Eades get the holeshot on his Roper/Silkolene/Arai-backed machine and pull away to take an easy win. Paradise Tire/Motion Pro rider Chris Klinefelter took second, and Robert McClendon took third on his Df,D Cycle/FMF/Powerline Speed and Marine ride. The day's holeshot artist, Greg Tysor, won the second heat, with Scott Powersports/Supertrapp/Graceland Masonry rider Raun Wood second and Jf,M Racing Products-backed Noot Irvin a very close third. In the main, Tysor got the holeshot and tried to check out. Wood completed the first lap in second by mere inches. Klinefelter was running third, with Irvin and Eades fourth and fifth. Irvin passed Klinefelter for third and began to track down the leaders. Eades followed suit and also passed Klinefelter. Out front, Wood made his way by Tysor and was setting a blistering pace. Tysor was locked on to Wood's rear wheel, waiting for a mistake. At the checkers, Wood held on for the win, Tysor took second, and Irvin secured third by half a wheel's length over Eades. A heavy afternoon shower cut the program short. The two finals yet to be run were the 750-1000cc Expert and 883cc Sportster Performance classes. In the 750-1000cc Expert heat, Tysor pulled a monster holeshot on his Continental Tire/WKR/Motulbacked supertracker (which caused some controversy at race's end). Las Vegas Harley-Davidson/KK-backed Joe Roeder was in hot pursuit. Roeder was a man on a mission, applying Raun Wood (88), Hoot Irvin (52C) and Greg Tysor (47) in the winners' circle after the 250·505cc Expert main event.. IN the pressure until he made the pass for the lead. Behind the leaders, Eades was leading Wood and a very determined Mike Hacker. A few laps in, Hacker put his Supertrapp/American Honda/Moroney's-backed ride into third and set his sights on Tysor and Roeder. However, time ran out for Hacker, and all he could manage was a close third. Roeder took the win, and Tysor held on for second. The 883cc heat race saw Cape Fear Harley-Davidson rider Robert Lewis muscle his way into the lead in turn one. Irvin settled into a close second. Irvin made a few runs at Lewis and appeared to have the speed to be a contender but was unable to make a move. Tilley Harley-Davidson rider Shane Fox was keeping the leaders honest in third, and McClendon was in the mix as well. The fast foursome stayed close the entire heat. Lewis took the win, Irvin was second, Fox was third, and McClendon placed fourth. Judging from the close competition in the heat. the main event would have been one to watch. eN liardon Pari< Speedw.y Auguste, 6eorgi. Results: July 27, 2003 505 PRO SPT HEAT 1: I. Chase Sconyers (Hen); 2. Daniel Gedeon; 3. Thomas Pulliam (Han); 4. Gary Boyle: 5. Cole Pulliam (Rot). 505 PRO SPT MAIN: 1. Chase Sconyers (Hon): 2. Daniel Gedeon; 3. Jason Isennock; 4. Gary Boyle; 5. Cole Pulliam (ROI). 50S EX HEAT 1: I. Tim Eades: 2. Chris Klinefelter; 3. Robert McClendon; 4. Robert Lewis; 5. Tom McGrane. 505 EX HEAT 2: 1. Greg Tysor (Han); 2. Raun Wood; 3. NOOl Irvin (Hen); 4. Bryan Douglas: 5. Greg Boyle. 505 EX MAIN: 1. Raun Wood: 2. Greg Tysor (Hon); 3. Noot Irvin (Hon): 4. Tim Eades; 5. Chris Klinefelter. 750-1000 EX; I. Joe Roeder (H·D); 2. Greg Tysor (Suz): 3. Mike Hacker (H-D); 4. Tim Eades (H· D); 5. Raun wood (Hon). 883 SPTSTR PERF; I. Robert Lewis (H· D); 2. Noot Irvin (H-D); 3. Shane Fox (H-D): 4. Robert McClendon (H-D).