AMA Progressive Insurance Flat Track Championships
r
By SCOTT ROUSSEAU
PHoTos BY DAVE HOENIG/FLATTRAKFOTOS.COM
uaJity Checked Certified Pre-owned For d
Racing's Chris Car r nee ded only to make
the main event at the inaugural Du Q uoin
Sho rt Trac k in order to cinc h his sixt h
_ _w career AMA Grand National, and he did
just that.
o ney's Cycles/American Honda's Jake Johnso n had yet to ea rn a victory w hen the Du Quoin Short
Track main event left the sta rting line, but after 30 furious
laps, he did just that .
On a night worthy of cele bration, johnson won the Du
Quoin Short Track in front of a nearly full grandstand at
the Du Quoin State Fairgro unds, wh ile Carr retained his
number-one plate for anot her year.
"I was getting nervous because I wanted to kee p my
streak going of getting at least one win a year," jo hnso n
said. " I knew this wou ld be the best shot for me , and I
pulled it off. I love these indoor short trac ks, but I was kind
of having my doubts early in the day. You just never know
what can happen at a place like this. I just took my time
and tr ied to ease my way to the front without doing anything stup id, and I pulled it off."
To get his win, the 20-year-old johnson had to not only
come from the second row, but he also had to pull off a
pass on the scourge of all small-bore riders, Memphis
Shades/Parts Unlimited Y
amaha's J.R. Schnabel. Johnson
came from eighth to fourth in the first eight laps of the
main eve nt, wh ile Schnabel ran down polesitter and early
race leader, Mack Daddy Racing's Henry Wiles. Schnabel
22
OCTOBER 6 ,2004 • CYCLE NEWS
40th Anniversary
