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/842139
FLAT TRACK AMERICAN FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 9 / JUNE 24, 2017 ALLEN COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS / LIMA, OHIO P74 pretty much gone," said Stollings. "We have been struggling. Glad to make it through 15 laps." Former class champion Kyle Johnson (Parkinson Brothers Racing Honda) also benefited from the restart as a couple of mistakes had dropped him proved to be just in time. "On the last lap Kevin started gaining on me big time. I rode a low line the last lap and pulled it off." Stollings finished just 0.155 of a second back. "It was a good battle with Parker. The restart kind of helped me because he was The plan was working as Kevin Stollings (Ben Evans Rac- ing/Dave's Cycles Honda) was holding down second, but slowly slipping back. Then the red flag came out at the halfway point when Jesse Janisch fell in turn three. When the race restarted Nor- ris tried to pick up where he left off, but it just wasn't the same. "We were going good the whole race until the restart. I was struggling a little after that," said Norris. After riding the whole race on the high line, Norris moved to the bottom on the last lap and it This was the second year Nichole and Jared Mees have promoted the Lima Half Mile and things were preceding great for the new parents. The heavy rains that moved through the area on Friday left pleasant temperatures and did surprisingly little damage to the racetrack. A large crowd of spectators was arriving as Jared went about setting fast qualify- ing time and putting himself on the pole for the rich George Roeder Memorial Dash. Geo Roeder and family gathered nearly $16,000 to be awarded to the six fastest qualifiers with $9400 going to the winner. The four-lap Dash was held during opening ceremonies and Jared Mees wasted no time claiming the money on his Indian Motorcycle/ Rogers Racing Indian Scout. Brad Baker claimed second over even- tual national winner Briar Bauman. Jeffrey Carver, Chad Cose (Ritchie Reynolds Racing/Otten Racing Kawasaki) and Davis Fisher rounded out the field. Unfortunately for Jared Mees, this was the highlight of his night. A couple of mistakes would end his hopes of winning his own race. Mees jumped the start and was sent to the fourth row for the start. When the 10-lap race got underway, Mees charged to the front and finished a solid fourth. The finish would have given him a second- row start in the main, but review of the tapes after the race showed Mees had, once again, rolled early and was assessed a 10-second penalty, which is a death sentence in the competi- tive dirt track world. It dropped him to an 11th-place finish and into promoter clothes for the remainder of the night. "I jumped the start when I was on the back row and the rulebook is as clear as day that they add 10 seconds to my time and that pushed me out of the main event. It's very unfortunate," said Mees. "I definitely wanted to be out there racing. I felt awesome in the semi-final. Rules are rules." Defending Grand National Champion Bryan Smith was celebrating his Briefly... The Twins podium looked a little different this time with some new faces. (Left to right) Carver, Bauman and Baker celebrate on the Lima podium.