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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/146687
Scott Parker (I) drafted past Chris Carr (20) for the win with only inches to spare. Larry Pegram overcame a mediocre start and raced across the finish line third. three had fallen prey to a charging Parker. When Parker assumed second, Pegram enjoyed a 10-bike length lead, but the champ quickly did away with that and took over the point on lap five. The two riders traded the lead a few times, with Parker leading the way as they received the white £lag. Pegram held back and trailed Parker down the back straight, but his plans of a finish line draft pass were dashed when Parker blitzed through three and four. Parker won and Pegram was a close second, while Hale, Farris and Brow finished in a cluster some four seconds behind.. "A couple of guys jumped the start, so I didn't go," said Parker. "Then I took off and still got a pretty good start. Then I took and reeled 'em in and won." The third heat saw another anxious field. Canadian National Champion Steve Beattie and Billy Herndon jumped the gun on the first try, and Ted Taylor joined them on the penalty line after jumping the start on the retry. On the second restart, Beattie sped off the penalty line and trailed only leader Atherton, Dan Ingram and Graham through turn one. Graham made quick work of Ingram and glued himself to Atherton's rear fender. The lead duo began to pull away from the rest of the pack, led by Ingram, who held onto third to the finish ahead of Herndon and Taylor. Atherton and Graham traded the. lead repeatedly throughout the remainder of the race, and Atherton led the way down the back straight on the final lap. Graham opted to trail Atherton through the last two turns, and pulled alongside as they raced towards the finish line. Graham's charge came up a hair short, though, and Atherton was awarded the win in what would be the fastest heat of the night. "I wanted Ricky to pass me on the last lap so I could draft him auhe line, but he wouldn't do it," said Atherton. "I honestly didn't know if I had won or not. I was ready to pull into the pits." Durelle put his pole position to good use by grabbing the holeshot in heat four. To his dismay, however, the red £lag came out when Rusty Rogers wa~ knocked off his motorcycle in the first turn. Chris Evans struck Rogers' downed machine and joined Rogers in the dirt. Trailing Darling were Camlin, Greg Sims and Ingram. Darling led for two laps before being passed by Cax.nlin and Farris. Camlin held off the repeated attacks of Farris to score the win, while Darling maintained a firm grip on third, despite a last-lap charge by Ingram. Camlin, Farris and Darling headed for the main, while the rest were sent packing. Roeder nabbed the holeshot in semi two, ahead of Hale, Mertens and Herndon. Hale charged to the front of the pack and engaged in a drafting duel with Roeder, while Herndon worked past Mertens and waited for an opportunity to pass. Herndon smoked past both riders and into the lead on the last lap and crossed the line inches ahead of Herndon. Rich King snuck up on Hale at the finish, and edged him for the third and final transfer. The third and final semi saw Springsteen grab the lead, only to fall prey to Jones on the opening lap. Not to be outdone, Springsteen retook the lead and the two began to pull away from the rest of the field, which was led by Brow. Jones matched Springsteen's every move and squeaked by the three-time champ at the line, while Brow finished a lonely third and would join them in the main. Steve Morehead (42) led Ricky Graham (3), Davey Durelle (58) and Kevin Atherton (23) at the start of the 25-lap National. "It's not my fault! It's not my fault!" shouted Rogers immediately afer the crash. "Someone came blazing on the inside of me and knocked my handlebars out from under me." Rogers, in only his second race after being suspended for dangerous riding, was not found at fault by AMA officials. On the restart, Durelle again stole the holeshot and led Morehead, Jay Springsteen and George Roeder II. Morehead zapped Durelle on the first lap and the race was on. Durelle and Morehead drafted each othertwice a lap, and were joined by Roeder on lap four. The three riders each took turns . leading until Durelle and Morehead broke away from Roeder on lap seven. The finish saw Morehead trail Durelle out of four and slipstream past inches before the line. Springsteen snuck up and passed Roeder for third, but would lead the rest of the field into a semi. "I could get Durelle on the front chute, but he'd get me in tha back," said Morehead. "Then all of a sudden Roeder passed both of us and it got interesting'" Semis Chance Darling bliued off the line at the start of the first eight-lap semi that offered three transfer spots. Camel Challenge Fast qualifier Poovey chose to start the five-lap $10,000 Camel Chal~enge on the outside pole with Parker, Graham, Durelle, Morehead and Atherton to his left. The $5000 winner's share of the purse made the clutch hands of Parker, Poovey and Morehead a little itchy, and the three veterans were sent to the penalty line after jumping the gun. GrCl;ham reacted quickest to the £lash of the green light and led Durelle, Poovey, Atherton, Morehead and Parker into turn one. Durelle took over momentarily on the back straight, but it was Graham who led as they began lap two. Atherton forced his way into the lead on lap two, but was just as quickly shoved back to third by Durelle and· Graham on the next circuit. Parker stormed out of nowhere on lap four and into third, and drafted past Atherton and. Graham as they blasted down the back straight for the last time. Graham tucked in behind Parker as they negotiated turns three and four, but came up short in the sprint to the finish. Parker led Graham, Atherton and a distant Durelle across the line, while Poovey finished a few bike lengths further back. Morehead pulled into the pits before 13