FLAT TRACK
2017 AMERICAN FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 11 / JULY 29, 2017
NAPA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS / CALISTOGA, CALIFORNIA
P70
as Halbert settled into a safe
second well ahead of the battling
teammates, Baker and Smith.
Bauman was able to regroup
and close back up on the Indi-
ans and finished fifth less than a
second behind Smith.
Jeffrey Carver (Ben Evans
Racing/Carver's BBQ Kawa-
saki) struggled most of the day
and was forced to win the Last
Chance qualifier to make it to the
semis, but things came together
after that. Carver was able to get
a good start and then hold off
Jarod Vanderkooi (Richie Mor-
ris Racing/McElroy Packaging
Kawasaki) for sixth.
Vanderkooi had his best fin-
red flag stopped the race on lap
nine when Ryan Varnes (Myers
Motorsports Kawasaki) fell in
turn two.
Many times, a midrace restart
will change the complexion of
a race, not so much this time.
Mees rocketed off the line
and resumed clicking off near-
perfect laps. "Before the restart,
Kenny [Tolbert] came up to me
and said, 'Just keep doing what
you're doing, you're two-tenths
a lap quicker than everyone.' I
thought, 'Okay, as long as I can
come off of turn two nice and
clean I should be fine.'"
Mees' lead grew to over four
seconds over the last 16 laps,
"I got a decent start in the
main and was running third and
got up to second," said Halbert.
"That was pretty much it for the
rest of the race. Just ran a solid
second."
Mees grabbed the holeshot
and was never headed, as he
quickly opened a lead of over
three seconds. Briar Bauman
(Zanotti Racing/Rod Lake Rac-
ing Kawasaki) held second early,
but gave way to Halbert on lap
six and then came under attack
from the Indian Motorcycle/All-
state Motorcycle Insurance team
of Brad Baker and Bryan Smith.
Baker got by on lap eight and
Smith moved up a lap later. A
Brad Baker (6)
out-dueled Bryan
Smith for the final
podium position.
