Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1546195
AUGUST 23, 2006 • C Y C L E N E W S 14 A week after AMA/Prostar czar Keith "Scooter" Kizer announced he was leav- ing the series behind for a position as road- racing director for the AMA; the drag-racing sanction was blessed with a weekend of the best-possible weather that one could hope for in August. The Pingel Thundernationals Indianapolis event is always one of the most competitive of the year, and record runs and stirring performances made sure that this year's edition didn't disappoint. Some serious off-track issues took two- time Fast By Gast Pro Modified champion Charlie Farrar away from the game for sev- eral races this summer. But Farrar and the C&W Cycleworks brother duo of tuner Russ and crew chief Carl "Doobs" Nyberg were back at it in Indy, showing the rest of the class how it's done, with a record 6.618 at 204.73 mph on the Speedtech nitrous- huffed mount. Farrar beat David Vantine in a rare all- Kawasaki Pro Modified final. Vantine came back to the class this season after sitting most of the millennium out so far. But it hasn't been an easy return to action for Vantine and this current-edition Orient Express Kawasaki, as the bike has burst into flames twice this season from top-end nitrous backfires. Help Me Ride Super Street class-points- leader Rickey Gadson missed the Norwalk round when tuner Coby Adams couldn't make it to that race. Gadson and Adams returned with a brand-new, Speedtech nitrous-fitted, black Kawasaki ZX14 at Indy and had their work cut out for them on the new bike. But after a midday-tuning session on the MSP dyno, Adams boosted the bike from eighth to fourth in the qualifying order. Gadson caught a huge break after a broken air-shifter plunger had him crossing the line a distant second in round one. But apparent round winner Scott Leonard was disqualified for an illegal aftermarket gas tank and Gadson was back in the hunt and scored the final round kill over Quicktime Racing's Eric Sanzotera and his old-school GSXR. Sixteen-year-old, second-generation racer Jeremy Teasley set a record and scored the win on the MSP Suzuki GSXR in the high- ly competitive Lockhart-Phillips 1000 Supersport class. Teasley, who weighs 145 pounds in leathers and helmet, started the season by banging the wall and breaking his hand. But Teasley is fully dialed into the red bike now, and prevailed on a day when class leaders Vince Woska Jr. (who didn't claim a milestone record in Virginia) and Richard Gadson were both out-raced in round two. And what would the Indy race be without a crowd-pleasing 5.99, 234.29-mph win by Pingel-sponsored Larry "Spiderman" McBride? Larry's brother, Steve; Roland Stuart; and teammate Jimmy Brantley; and team worked relentlessly on their Top Fuel bikes all weekend after being "stuck" in the 6.0s. McBride got a tough challenge from nitro rookie Korry Hogan and the Mike Dryden team in the semi, and then beat teammate Brantley in the final. Other Indy winners were Travis Davis, Shane Estes, Phil Stoll, Bryan Edmondson, Joe Rey, Kevin Kluger, Rob Schenz, Jerry Hurley, Bruce Sauer, Debbie Knebel and Roger Wilhelm. T T i i m m H H a a i i l l e e y y I n another announcement from Mike Kidd Entertainment Group (MKEG), the inaugural BooKoo Energy Drink U.S. Open of Arenacross will be held at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, on February 9-11, 2007. This event will carry a $100,000 purse, with $50,000 going to the U.S. Open of Arenacross Champion. Sunday will be dedicated to youth and amateur riders who have qualified from previous BooKoo Arenacross Championship Series events to compete for their shot at becoming a champion in their respective class. Pro racing will consist of two classes: 250cc and 450cc racing both Friday and Saturday nights. This premier event will also be the final round of the BooKoo Arenacross Championship Series. Points will be awarded in all four main events to determine the U.S. Open of Arenacross Champion. On Monday evening following the event, also at the Mohegan Sun, will be the BooKoo Arenacross Championship Series Awards Ceremonies, where the separate $100,000 points fund will be distributed to the top 15 riders of the series. "The addition of the U.S. Open of Arenacross to our final round of the BooKoo Arenacross Series creates a whole new level of anticipation," Shane Schaefer, event manager of MKEG said. "The best Arenacross racers competing for a record Arenacross purse will cer- tainly create a spectacular event for our fans, sponsors, and racers." Farrar Takes Indy Prostar Charlie Farrar won the Pro Modified final during Prostar racing in Indy. Inaugural U.S. Open of Arenacross Announced Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry (left) checked out the racing at the Grand National Championship at Ponca City. Here, the governor poses with one of Ponca's biggest winner, Trey Canard. PHOTO BY DR. RON DENSFORD