Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

~ DIRT TRACK AMA Grand National Championship/Camel Pro Series: RoundJ3 think that my mile track skills are getting better and better, and hopefully they'll carry me through these last few races and to the championship." With four races remaining in the series - three miles and one half mile - Carr's chances of winning his first Grand National Championship look better than ever as he now enjoys a 17-point lead over Parker, 189-172. "My leg didn't bother me at all," said Parker of the knee that he injured four weeks earlier at the Oklahoma City Half Mile. "It was a little stiff walking around, but once the adrenaline took over on the track, I never thought about it. I just should have pushed him the whole way instead of easing up at the end. It won't happen again." . Finishing a distant third was Ricky Graham, aboard the Goad-Irby Honda. The two-time Grand National Champion led more laps than anyone throughout the race, but was forced to slow near the halfway point with a blistered rear tire. " "I honestly felt more comfortable than I ever have on that bike ... real loose," said Graham. "I kinda had a feeling that I was riding it too hard. I was up high, and when your tires go away you can't stay up there." The track stayed smooth throughout the night, but like Graham, many riders struggled with excessive tire wear. Among those was HarleyDavidson factory rider Kevin Atherton, who joined Graham at the front of the pack for the first half of the race before dropping to seventh at the finish. "I couldn't believe how fast Ricky was going, but I had to stay with him," said Atherton. "I knew his tires were going to go away eventually, but mine went first." For his win, Carr pocketed $6250 of the $40,000 purse, as well as the $5000 first prize in the $10,000 Camel Challenge. Though the night was financially sweet, Carr must surely have his eyes set on the $100,000 bonus from the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company for winning the Grand National Championship. ~ Time trials' Chris Carr (20), Ricky Graham (3) and Scott Parker (1) ran away ~ the main. Carr beat Parker and Graham to the finish line. Carr's quest continues at Indy Mile By Donn Maeda Photos by Bert Shepard INDIANAPOLIS, IN, AUG. 22. hen the white flag flew near the end of the Indy Mile main event, more than a few of the 6822 spectators on hand left their seats in an attempt to beat the rush home. And why not? After all, Scott P41rker began the last lap with a healthy lead over his teammate and rival, Chris Carr. But while most people dismissed the race as over, Carr gritted his teeth, W 6 twisted his throttle, and turned in what was arguably his best lap of the night to not only reel in Parker, but pass the four-time Grand National Champion well before they sped across the finish line. "I looked back and thought that there was no way he'd catch me," said a bewildered Parker. "I cruised the last lap and he came out of nowhere." Carr's come-from-behind win at the Indianapolis State Fairgrounds was the first at the facility for the 24-yearold from Valley Springs, California, and the three-time series runner-up hopes that his most recent win is a prelude of things to come. "It feels great to. beat Scotty at Indy. He's won the last four in a row here," said Team Harley-Davidson's Carr. "I Atherton provided the excitement early in the day when he parted company with his factory HarleyDavidson during practice, but proved to be unshaken by his trip into the hay bales by later turning in the fastest qualifying lap. Atherton rounded the smooth, soft track in 37.220 seconds at an average speed of 96.722 mph. Though be was easily. the fastest, Atherton's time was well off the track record of 35.2111102.241 set by threetime Grand National Champion Bubba Shobert in 1985. "The turns are real brushed off, it hasn't grooved up real good yet," said Atherton of the track that left a dark brown layer of dirt on the riders and their machines. "In practice, I got out into the loose stuff and didn't know it was so deep. I went to pull a tearoff because I got sprayed and before I knew it, I was in the hay bales." Sakaida Racing's Terry Poovey, Parker, Carr, Graham and Hud Racing-sponsored Billy Herndon rounded out the six fastest qualifiers, in that order, and would compete in the five-lap Camel Challenge later in the evening. Heats As fast qualifier, Atherton chose to start the first 10-1ap heat race on the outside pole. The inside pole proved to be faster though, as Link Cycle's Michael Scott grabbed the holeshot and led the way into turn one. F&S

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