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Henry Wiles jumps out front on lap one of the final on his #17 Obermeyer/Arai/Motion Pro Yamaha in the September 2007 running of the AMA Pro Flat Track Springfield Short Track at the Arena at the fabled Illinois State Fairgrounds. Jared Mees on the #21 Saddlemen/
Montgomeryville Cycle/American Honda, Kenny Coolbeth on the #31 Bettencourt's/
Spectro/Fox Honda and Jake Johnson on the #1 American Suzuki/Parts Unlimited/Leo Vince-sponsored Suzuki are close behind. Hammerin Hank went on to win his first of many final events at the Springfield Arena some 24 laps later. As of the last few years he has wins in the spring TT to go along with his mastery of the late summer short track
Look for Henry to put it to them tomorrow night in the last Singles event of the season where he has dominated for several years now, as well as on all of the IMDA-run events. With six in a row at Peoria including last month's win (it probably would be seven if not for the rain-out in 2007), as well as his mastery of the short track at Springfield. Barring any mishaps he should clinch the title in the AMA Pro Flat Track Singles Series tomorrow night as well on his #1 Monster Energy/Motion Pro/Don's Kawasaki.
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The fastest mile track that the AMA Pro Flat Track Series races is the famous Springfield Mile at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Running two events each year-one over the Memorial Day Weekend to kick off the summer and one over Labor Day Weekend to wrap-up the summer-this is the track that everyone loves to see, racers and fans alike. Averaging just over 100 MPH on this mile track, this is one fast and furious race for everyone in attendance. Sunday afternoon's running should be no different as round 14 of the AMA Pro Flat Track K&N Filters presented by Motorcycle Superstore.com Series counts it down to the end of the 2010 season. While the overall point standings has Joe Kopp on the #3 Lloyd Bros/Latus H-D/American Agip team out front over Sammy Halbert on the #7 Kings Kustoms/KK Motorcycle Supply/Nelson Racing team, Halbert does lead the Twins points going into this weekend's events.
In this shot from the Labor Day Weekend in September of 2007, Joe Kopp #3, Nick Cummings on the #22, Chris Carr on the #4, Willie McCoy on the #59, Bryan Smith on the #42 and Kenny Coolbeth on the #1 blast off the front row in the final main event. In the second row, getting sideways is Illinois' own Rob Pearson on the #27, Logan Myers on the #24, Jared Mees on the #21 and JR Schnabel on the #33 Suzuki following suit. Off the third row comes Tim Eades on the #72 and Jake Johnson on the #14 Suzuki. All other riders pictured were on XR's.
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The weekend that every flat track fan loves to see is almost upon us as the AMA Pro Flat Track Series hits the Illinois State Fairgrounds for the IMDA's annual running of the Springfield Short Track at the Springfield Arena on Saturday night and the Springfield Mile on the oval Sunday afternoon. Any race put on by the Illinois Motorcycle Dealer Association is a great event, as these folks have been showing race fans a great race program for years. But the events at Springfield, although a dawning of the long winter months to come with the end of summer drawing near, are a sure-fire way to get anyone's adrenaline flowing that helps to last over the long winter break.
With rounds 13 and 14 this weekend, the AMA Pro Flat Track K&N Filters presented by Motorcycle Superstore.com Series wraps up the Singles portion of the schedule this weekend in what will likely be the re-crowning of defending Singles Champion, Henry Wiles. Hammerin Hank has been rock solid in the Singles events this year, winning the spring TT at Springfield, the Gas City/I69 Short Track in June and his sixth win in a row at the famed Peoria TT last month. He also got a 2nd and an 8th place finish at the opening rounds in Daytona to help him stand atop the Singles points standings with 113 points to runner-up Joe Kopp with 92 points and third place in points man, Jared Mees with 90 points. Things would have to go drastically wrong for the #1 Monster Energy/Don's Kawasaki rider to NOT clinch the title tomorrow night. I'm not a betting man but my money is on Henry to take his second Singles Championship in a row home tomorrow night, not that that is a stretch by any means. This young man exudes confidence and it will float to the top like the cream of the crop come tomorrow evening.
Switching over to the big fairgrounds mile oval for Sunday's action, Joe Kopp takes a 12 point lead over second place in the overall point standings Sammy Halbert 221-209. Jake Johnson sits in third with 207 points and defending Twins Champ Jared Mees sits fourth with 198 points. In the Twins Championship, Halbert leads leads Johnson 136-131, with Kopp in the third spot with 129 points. After crowning the Singles Champion tomorrow night, the battle for the last four rounds is essentially, and more importantly, for the overall. After Springfield, you still have the half mile in Knoxville, Iowa, as well as the last two mile rounds in Minnesota and a return to Arizona to wrap up the schedule the second weekend of October.
Joe Kopp is again entered on his Lloyd Bros Ducati 1098 for the mile, and last weekend's winner of the Lucas Oil Indy Mile, Bryan Smith on his #42 Werner Springsteen Monster Energy Kawasaki looking to make it two big track wins in a row for the rapidly growing effort headed up by two of the legends in AMA Flat Track racing, Bill Werner and former 3-Time GN Champ Jay Springsteen. I sure wouldn't bet against this team after their hot win at Indy, and with the momentum that a big win like that can bring should keep this effort rolling strong through the end of the season and into 2o11.
The other usual suspects will be in attendance on the mile Sunday as well. After 7-Time Champ Chris Carr's great run in his dash win and second place in the main at Indy, many thought we wouldn't hear much more this year out of this seasoned veteran before his great run at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. WRONG! You never count out a competitor of his experience and Chris could very likely be the one to spoil everybody else's party come Sunday afternoon. Look for the Lancaster H-D-sponsored seasoned veteran to be in the mix all day-and for that matter through the end of the season-now that he has the juice from his Indy podium to help propel his momentum. Always better late then never from this great ambassador of this great sport of flat track.
Among others to watch as the greatest show on two wheels hits the Illinois State Fairgrounds are Kenny Coolbeth, Jr., the 3-Time GN Twins Champ, riding the factory H-D Screamin Eagle XR. The King of Cool kept his cool for a fine third place at Indy after having a somewhat slow start--for him--to the season. Jake Johnson on the #5 Zanotti Racing XR is right there protecting his points, and the former 2-Time Singles Champ has simply owned the Springfield Mile the last two stops. Sammy Halbert is sure to run strong, again, on his #7 XR and this stop should be no exception for the little man with the big throttle hand. And Jared Mees, the defending Twins Champ on his #1 Rogers Lake XR is always a threat on the big tracks and has a great overall finishing record at Springfield as well. Sunday should be no different for Jammin Jared.
Also to be watched for the weekend are in no particular order:
Shawn Baer on the #32 Bonneville Performance Triumph. Shawn and the team won their first GNC race in bagging the first semi at Indy and did so in fine form. Look for Shawn to make the team's fourth GN Twins event of the year at Springfield on Sunday afternoon. And if you like wild and exciting rides on the mile, look no further then Matt Weidman on the #20 White's/
SNIP H-D XR after his thrilling ride on the outside at Indy to wow the fans in what was one of the most exciting parts of the Indy race. If the track cushions up, look for Matt to march to the front. And look for this man on the scene to need some oxygen after it's over if so.
Henry Wiles missed the main by .315 seconds at Indy on his #17 KK Motorcycle Supply/Adkins Bros XR in the second semi. I don't expect to see that again, especially after having his momentum going after tomorrow night's short track event, and as strong as he romped the field earlier in the season on the Lima half mile.
With the weather looking good throughout the Midwest, racing should be great and glorious at Springfield this weekend. With the usual great direction of AMA Flat Track Manager Mike Kidd, his brother Gary and track-prep specialist and former GNC competitor The Findlay Flyer, Steve Morehead, in charge of the show, the greatest show on wheels should have a great weekend ahead of it. As of this writing they are at the arena working on track prep for tonight's amateur races and getting ready for tomorrow night as well.
You can check out all the links you need below to follow all the action, and after the weekend Stu's Shots will have on-the-scene race reports and shots to help fill in this great racing weekend. Now, let's get WFO and go racing folks........and thanks again, and as always, for stopping in to check us out!
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Short Track event info:
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Springfield Mile II event info:
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AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National overall points standings:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Singles points standings:
http://amaproracing.com/ft/events/standings.cfm?class=gn&c=fl
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AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Twins points standings:
http://amaproracing.com/ft/events/standings.cfm?class=gn&c=gn
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Springfield Arena cam:
http://www.agr.state.il.us/isf/webcam/mpa1.php?cam=12
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You can click here to help you find your way to the Illinois State Fairgrounds as well as to find you way around inside once you are there:
http://www.agr.state.il.us/isf/maps/
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Springfield weather from The Weather Underground:
http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=62701
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As of this writing, AMA Pro Flat Track doesn't have the link up for Live Timing and Scoring, and since the string changes for each race, I won't be able to update over the weekend. But you should be able to get the link here as they post it the day of the event at the top of the page:
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You can also get update from THE place for the flat track crowd at FlatTrack.com and checking out the forum listings at the bottom of the page:
http://www.flattrack.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=46
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