Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

--------------------------------------------------- ..~ DIRT TRACK AMAAmateur/YouthDirtTrackNationalChaml!ionshil!_s m I.R. Schnabel (16) passed Nicky Hayden (69) and Paul Lynch (19) to win the 250cc Modified class in the Short Track competition. John Flesher (11) topped the 250cc DTX Short Track race, which featured one restart and was cut short after another red flag. Haydens clean house in Illinois By Dave Hoenig Photos by Flat Trak Fotos HENRY, IL, IULY 4-5 PEORIA, IL, JULY S-ll ore than 650 amateur dirt trackers from across the United States ventured to central Illinois for the AMA Amateur and Youth Dirt Track National Championships, but it was the Hayden family - Roger Lee, Nicky, Tommy and Jenny - who came away the big winners. The Haydens proved their versatility as they captured nine National Championships over the four days of competition that visited the Henry Half Mile oval, the Peoria Short Track oval and the famous Peoria TT course. Individual cham'pions were crowned on the three different tracks, and overall class champions were crowned. Rain played a major role in the event, as Tuesday's short track races at Peoria were drenched with four inches of rain. The normally smooth, wide quarter-mile oval was transformed.into.a rough, narrow grooved track., Rain spoiled the show on the final day, Sunday, July 12, at the Peoria TT. While the Youth (51cc to 125cc) classes were able to beat the rain on Saturday, Sunday's (200cc to Open class) races were rained out. The final round is rescheduled for August I, the day before round 12 of the Camel Pro Series. Although there are still 10 National titles to be decided, Earl's Racing and M 14 the Schnabel Electric Racing teams have won the most so far. The Neil Keen/Mota-Liberty /Larry Davis/ Shoei/SBS/TsubakilBobby Lewis/ Lou's Leathers-sponsored Marlin and Recil Hart-tuned bikes of Earl's Racing have been ridden to nine National wins by the Hayden family. Schnabel Electric's victory total stands at seven. Everyone who treks to the Nationals has a dream of gold and glory. For most there's some disappointment and no one could be more disappointed than Kenny Coolbeth, the defending National Champion in the 250cc Modified and Open classes. Coolbeth skipped the Half Mile Nationals to race in Canada. He made it to the Short Track Nationals and proved he was ready to race, winning his 250cc heat, then coming back in tl)e Open class to win that heat also. But as he slowed down after the checkered flag at the end of the Open class heat, he hooked a rut in turn one and high-sided. "It was just stupid. I relaxed when it was over and it just gpl me," Coolbeth said. He suffered a broken collarbone, ending his chance to defend his titles in his last year as an amateur. Half Mile The Half Mile Nationals were run on July 4-5 at Henry and the largest field, the Pee Wee class, was actually the smallest, as 18 of the tiny tots battled on the cushion half-mile oval. K.G. Knodel took control of a race-long battle and bested Scooter Vernon, Robby Shinn and Tyler SmUlders for the win. The 125cc Modified class belonged to Nicky Hayden, who stormed by JR. Schnabel on lap two and was long gone. Schnabel cruised easily in second, while Paul Lynch and Garth Bastian battled over third until the last lap, when Bastain's mount expired. Roger, Lee Hayden dominated the 65cc DTX race, winning by a full straightaway. Jeremy Thompson passed Nick Godfrey and held him off to'take second. The Schnabel Racing team swept the 125cc DTX class. JR. Schnabel led teammate Brian Zurn 'from start to finish with Paul Lynch well back in third. . The 65cc Modified main featured an excellent race between Brandon Rose and Roger Lee Hayden, as the two battled down to the wire. Hayden came out on top with Rose right behind. Timmy Huss took an equally tight race for third from Justin Filson. The 85cc Modified (12-15 yrs.) race was exciting. Jenny Hayden led Mike Farro, John Winsett, Jr. and Jason Tyer in a tight race that saw Winsett move into second on lap three and challenge Hayden for the lead. As lap five started, Winsett tried to dive under Hayden in turn two, but made contact and high-sided, bringing out the red flag. Hayden led the single-file restart into turn one, but the surprise was Joshua Knott, who was running second. Knott originally suffered a poor start and was mired in eighth _ when the red £lag came out. As Knott put pressure on Hayden, Winsett moved from last to third in one lap. Knott took over the lead from Hayden with two laps left and held on to it to score the win. Winsett took third, well ahead of Tyer and Farro. Brandon Rose tooli command of the 85cc DTX (7-Il) class at the start, running out front ahead of Tom Skethway, Justin Filson and Jeremy Thompson. Rose got a little breathing room while Thompson worked his way to the front of the three-way battle for second. By the halfway point, Thompson had worked free and was giving Rose a good run. Thompson slipped into the lead a lap later and held on for the win. Rose, Filson and Skethway followed.. John Winsett, Jr., Andy Pelinsky and Jason Tyer shot to the front of the 85cc DTX (12-15) class. Winsett soo.n pulled away while Tyer worked his way around Pelinsky to move into second. Tyer made it close the last two laps, but Winsett held on for the win with Pelinsky a solid third over Nicholas Evans. Roger Lee Hayden got the holeshot in the 85cc Modified (7-II) class main as Jeremy Thompson held down second over Jason Goodwin and Brandon Rose. Rose was on the move and took over second on lap five, but Hayden rode uncontested to his third win of the day. The last race of the day fell to Nicky Hayden, once again topping JR. Schnabel and Paul Lynch. Joshua Knott rode alone in fourth. On Sunday, Nicky Hayden picked up where he left off Saturday and ran away with. the win in the 250cc Modified class. Hayden pulled away from a tight race between J.R. Schnabel and Paul Lynch. Jason Sentell, Steve Hall, Pat Towler and Billy Martin were locked'in a battle for fourth. Towler came ,out on top over Hall and Sentell. The 200cc Modified class belonged to Sloan's Cycle-sponsored Dennis Williams and his vintage Bultaco. Williams dominated the National then survived a teardown after he was protested. . . "I don't mind. I knew we were legal. This just buys me a nice meal," said Williams as he pocketed the protest money. While Williams was sailing along out front, Terry Adams, John Lambrick, Mike Copeland, Scott Schnabel , and Roy Miller were in a tight race for second. Adams pulled to a solid second while Schnabel worked his way around Lambrick on the last lap for third. ' Dave Kolenda successfully defended his Senior +30 class title by easily winning the main event over former National #28, Mike Caves. John Winsett, Sr. held down third until the last lap when Don Herring slipped by. The 250cc DTX class saw a Kawasaki sweep by the first four riders. JR. Schnabel led every lap and finished well ahead of fellow Kawasaki riders Curt Knitt, Jason Sentell and Mike Bertram. , John Kolenda got his HarleyDavidson XR750 off the line first at the start of the Senior +40 main with Bill Snyder, Don Herring and Ronnie Atherton on his rear wheel. Snyder slipped his Honda into the lead on lap four only to see Kolenda and Herring charge by on the next lap. WoodRotax-mounted Herring then took over the lead for good and went on to win as Snyder took over second, dropping Kolenda back to third. . The Open class main .was up next. Paul Morgan was.making his first start

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