Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Varnes added. "My Suzuki is running reaJ strong tonight, and I think I can get around a couple guys if I have to." lady Luck smiled on Schnabel and Sam STORY BY BERT SUMNER F orty-two professionals representing 13 states converged on the Sheboygan County Fair Park's 1/3-mile oval for the 21 st annual Dairyland Classic presented by Revolution Performance. A record crowd came to the Plymouth, Wisconsin, event to watch 10 AMA Grand National numbers start the 12rider main event, and 20 laps later, Bartel's H-D-sponsored Shaun Russell from San Jose, California, was crowned as the new Dairyland Classic champion. Russell grabbed the all-important holeshot, then fended off Team Suzuki Flat Track/Parts Unlimited's Kevin Varnes and Saddlemen's Jared Mees for the win. For the second year in a row, Joe Kopp claimed the Revolution Performance Fast Qualifier bonus on his Jones Powersports-sponsored KTM with a lap of 17.038 seconds (70.429mph). Mees (17.083), Bryan Smith (17.089) and Steve Murray (17.092) earned the pole positions for the other Pro heat races. Russell actually waved off what would have been the fastest time of the night at 17.028; his second effort wasn't nearly as quick at 17.191. Russell quickly recovered from his time-trial gaffe by claiming the first Pro heat-race win and taking White's 40 PHOTOS BY PETE EMME H-D-sponsored Raun Wood with him to the main event. Mees and Suzuki's Jake Johnson transferred out of heat two, while Moroney's H-D-sponsored Smith dove under Pro-sport rider Jesse Janisch to win heat three. Janisch had to hold off ferocious attacks from Memphis Shades' J.R. Schnabel to claim the final transfer. Varnes claimed the pole position for the main event by winning heat four, while MidAmerica H-D's Kenny Coolbeth held off Hall's Cycles' Murray for the last transfer. Defending Dairyland Classic champion Jethro Halbert hounded Murray for seven laps in the first semi on his Zanotti Racing Honda before making the allimportant pass on the final circuit for the only transfer spot. Kopp led the second semi wire-to-wire, while Schnabel claimed the third semi in 2: 17.9 - the fastest eight-lap race of the evening - to earn a ticket to the main for himself and runner-up Sam Halbert. Varnes chose the inside pole for the main event, with Russell, Smith, Mees, Coolbeth and Wood alongside. Janisch held down the inside pole of row two, with Johnson, Schnabel, Jethro Halbert, Kopp and Sam Halbert rounding out the field. All riders agreed that the holeshot was going to decide the race, although JUNE 29, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS Halbert when Smith and Wood - the riders directly in front of each - jumped the start and found themselves on the third row. At the flash of the green light, Russell barely nipped by Varnes heading into turn one and claimed the Revolution Performance Holeshot bonus. More importantly, he led Varnes, Coolbeth, Mees, Schnabel and Sam Halbert - the latter two coming off secondrow starts - at the end of lap one. On lap two, Coolbeth surrendered third place to Mees, while Smith claimed eighth from Johnson. Kopp and Janisch - riding the only two production frames in the main event circulated at the rear. "The framers were way too hooked up tonight," Kopp said afterward. "It was real slippery tonight, which didn't help, but for the fourth year in a row, the track was perfectly smooth." Varnes stayed in Russell's shadow for the entire 20 laps, but he never found enough grip to pull off the drive he thought he had. Russell claimed the win - fittingly with a "Jim Sumner Memorial" sticker on his tank ahead of Varnes, Mees, Schnabel, Sam Halbert, Jethro Halbert, Coolbeth, Smith, Johnson, Wood, Kopp and Janisch. Local favorite Schnabel claimed his second win in the three-year history of the Jim Sumner Memorial Dash For Cash, stating in the winners' circle that, "It's important that we keep this [win] among the Wisconsin riders who grew up racing with Jim." Schnabel won the inaugural Dash in 2003, while Jeremy DeRuyter, also of West Bend, won the Dash in 2004. Jim Sumner wore NatkliIlil IIlirnbcir 4S ftam I death in 2002, Ryan Webber grabbed the holeshot in the Youth main event and held the point for three laps before polesitter Jacob Cunningham grabbed the lead and checked out. Webber held the runner-up spot for two more laps before succumbing to Kevin Walther and Jacob White. The final order was Cunningham, Walther, White and Webber. Polesitter Jeffrey Carver and Brock Schwarzenbacher fought throughout the Amateur main, with the duo leading Cody Reifsnider, heat-race winner D.J. Siosser and Patrick Ferrell to the checkers. Heat-race winners Dan Vrana and John Hundertmark raced to the front of the Vintage & Twins main event, with Reifsnider, Art Mischler and Richard Waschek in pursuit. On lap six, Hundertmark surrendered second to Reifsnider then, a lap later, slowed to a stop with a blown motor. Tony Giorno charged through the pack to claim third place on lap seven to complete the podium. eN SHEBOYGAN COUNTY FAIR PARK PLYMOUTH, WISCONSIN RfSULTS: JUNE 3, 2005 PRO MAIN; I. Shaun Russell (Rtx); 2. Kev;n v.me, (Suz); 3. J...ed Mees (Rtx); ~. J.R. Schnabel (Y=); 5. S..-n H~be« (Hon); 6. Jethro H~be" (Hon); 7. Kenny Coobeth (KT11); B. Bryan Smnh (Hon); 9. Joke Johnson (Suz); 10. Raun Wood (Rtx); 11. Joe Kopp (KT11); 12. Jesse Janisch (Hon). YOUTH MAIN: I. Jacob Cunningham (Han): 2. Kevin Walther (KTM); 3. Jacob White (Suz);". Ryan Webber (Yam); 5. w..de Johman (Hon); 6. _ Hoffman (5uz); 7. Nkholas Hamen (Hon); B. Billy Veach (Hon); 9. Kelly Ratliff (Hon); 10. Julieanna Grasser (Hon). AMATEUR MAIN; I. Jeff.." ear.., (Kaw); 2. Brock Schwanenbachec (Hon); 3. Cody Reif,nide, (Y=); ~. D.). Siosser (Suz); 5. Patrick Ferrell (Hon); 6. Chris lau~heimer (Han); 7. Nick Smith (Hon); 8. Jacob White (Suz); 9. Katie Hawkins (Yam); 10. Michael Carlton (Yam); II. Duwayne Montgonnecy (Yam); 12. Clay Johnson (Hon). VINTAGE & TWINS; I. Dan Vcana (Tn); 2. Cody Re;l,nide, (Y..-n); 3. Tony GK>mo (H-D);~. An M5chlec (Tn); 5. Dan lauters (Suz); 6. Scott Johnson (Yam); 7. Bill Berger (Hon); B. Rkhacd Waschek (Y..-n); 9. Bm Vr.>na (Tn); 10. Dave D..-abooh (Yam); II. louie Laut.... (H-D); 12. John Hunde

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