FLAT TRACK
AMERICAN FLAT TRACK SERIES
ROUND 7 / MAY 28, 2018
ILLINOIS STATE FAIRGROUNDS / SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
P88
not only left the racetrack soaked, but knocked
out power to the entire fairgrounds.
Once it became obvious the track could not
be made ready before dark, the race was post-
poned until Monday (fortunately the Memorial
Day holiday) where things would resume with
the first AFT Twins semi. Unfortunately the rain
did little to cool things down and Monday, once
again, featured brutal heat.
With the qualifying taken care of, fast semi
winner, Kenny Coolbeth (Nila Racing/Columbia
Avionics Indian Scout FTR750) led the 18-rider
field to the line for the start of the 25-mile race.
Fellow semi winner, defending Grand National
Champion and current points leader, Jared
Mees (Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing In-
dian Scout FTR750) started the race much like
he has spent the season, in first place.
Coolbeth was locked in second with Brad
Baker (Indian Motorcycle/Allstate Motorcycle
Insurance Indian Scout FTR750), Carver, Davis
Fisher (Double D Performance/Bob Lanphere/
Richie Morris Racing, Indian Scout FTR750)
and Harley-Davidson Motor Company/Vance &
Hines teammates Brandon Robinson and Jarod
Vanderkooi right behind.
Carver moved to second and briefly led on
lap five before Mees regained control. On lap
eight Carver took the lead once again, but this
time he started to pull away and was never
headed again. Fisher took over second and
the veteran trio of Mees, Coolbeth and Bryan
Smith (Indian Motorcycle/Allstate Motorcycle
Insurance Indian Scout FTR750) hooked up
and waited for Carver's tire to surrender to his
blistering pace.
"I wasn't sure if I could break the draft, but
I knew I had a little more entry speed than
those guys. I figured I would try it at first," said
Carver. "If it didn't work I was going to sit on
the back of Mees' tire and try to wait to see
where I could get him, but not pass him. Once
I had a lap or two and knew that I was in the
