Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. Takes AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Win at the Daytona Short Track II, Brandon Wilhelm Takes 1st-Ever Pro Singles Win

Round 2 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season saw the resurgence of 3-Time AMA Grand National Twins Champion and '07 Singles Champion Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. as The King of Cool showed at 36 years young he's not done yet with putting it on top of the box.

After losing his factory Harley-Davidson ride over the off-season, Coolbeth hooked-up with the powerhouse Zanotti Racing squad and showed last night that his off-season training and the equipment that team owner Dave Zanotti fields are a great combination for the long time veteran.

After a lackluster 17th-place finish on Thursday night, Coolbeth turned it around into a runaway last night when he took the lead from early leader Jake Johnson on lap five to run off with the win by just over 4 seconds. And he leaves Daytona tied for 3rd-place in the championship standings with Brandon Robinson, both with 30 points, just 12 back of leader Sammy Halbert and three points behind 2nd-place man Jake Johnson.

After being on Kawasakis the last three seasons, KC2 is back on the familiar Hondas that he piloted for some time before the 2011 season when he originally started riding the Chaplin Kawis. And between Zanotti's great pairing of Coolbeth with team mate Steve Bonsey (3rd-place last night-see below), new tuner Dave Atherton (who wrenched for 2013 AMA Grand National Champion Brad Baker last season) and the rock solid Honda CRF450R's that the Zanotti team has always fielded, this combination looked ultra tough last night in Daytona.

In the shot above, Coolbeth hammers the #2 Chaplin Kawasaki/JRC Transportation KX450F during the final qualifying round at the Peoria TT on August 11, 2013. In what is a testament to his turnaround, Coolbeth missed the Peoria TT from last season.

This will be one of the guys to keep an eye on come Springfield in just 70 days, as the Zanotti team also fields a pretty tough stable of XR-750s and is still working on their Kawasaki that they started during last year's off-season that could possibly be ready come late May. Either way, Coolbeth knows Springfield well, as does the Zanotti squad, and with two-time National winner and team mate Bonsey settling in nicely with the squad could be the powerhouse duo to run away with it all come Memorial Day weekend.

Jake Johnson made the best of night 2 in Daytona last night on the #5 Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Honda by winning the fastest heat, the Dash and coming home the meat in a Zanotti Racing sandwich to finish in the 2nd-place spot in the 25-lap National main, after leading the first five laps.

Obviously rejuvenated during the off-season, Jersey Jake rode like the 2-Time AMA Grand National Champion and 2-Time Singles Champion that he is, and the smiles told it all on the podium. It was great to see after switching teams late last season and leaving the Zanotti Racing squad to hook up with The Lloyd Boys. Tuner Brent Armbruster put a horse under Jake for him and his confidence level was escalated after a 10th-place finish on Thursday night. Jake leaves Daytona nine points back of Sammy Halbert, 2nd-place in the standings (42-33 points.)

In the shot above Jake does his magic in round 7 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship at the Peoria TT on August 11, which was his first ride on the #5 Parkinson Brothers Racing/Arai Honda CRF450R after leaving the Zanotti team.

Steve Bonsey rounded out the podium finishers on the #80 Zanotti Racing Honda. Winning his heat and getting 4th-place in the Dash, the Salinas, CA. resident coupled his night with his 9th-place finish on Thursday night to leave Daytona tied for 5th-place in the points with previous night's winner Briar Bauman, with 28 points.

In the shot above, Bonsey works the #80 Zanotti Racing/RGR Honda CRF450R during the National main at the Peoria TT on August 11, 2013 in his first National appearance for the team.

Sammy Halbert left Daytona last night not only leading the points, but as the current king of Daytona after taking fast time both evenings, winning the Dash on Thursday, grabbing 3rd-place in last night' Dash and finishes of 2nd-place and 4th-place for his two-night tally.

The King of Social Media came back to Daytona after missing last year's season-openers due to injuries and late last season due to injuries on a tear, and made the most of what has obviously been a strong off-season training regimen. Sammy and his brother Jethro were the only Yamahas in the top-10 last night, with Jethro finishing in 10th-place on one of Sammy's solidly-prepared mounts.

In the shot above from the final qualifying round at the Springfield Short Track on September 15, 2012, The Slammer guides his #7 The South Ass/Fredericktown Yamaha YZ450F into turn one.

Brandon Wilhelm took his first-ever win in the Pro Singles division in his third season in the class. The Aurora, IN. resident led all 18 laps in the Pro Singles main to take the win over first-year Pro Davis Fisher by just over .5 seconds.

In the shot above, Wilhelm on the #24J Wilhelm Racing/SD Racing Honda dices with Coy Matthews on the #30F Kings Kustoms/LZ Racing Honda during final qualifying in the AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles Championship at the Springfield Short Track on September 15, 2012.

A big shout-out and congrats goes out to Wilhelm for his first victory as well as to David Fisher, the newest member of the TJ Burnett Farms Racing team. Fisher, who has been contesting a lot of the All-Star and amateur races since last season for the Burnett tea, just turned 16 in the off-season and made his Pro debut at Daytona. Fisher leaves Daytona in 4th-place in the Pro Singles standings, eleven points behind early points leader Wilhelm (40-29 points.) Watch out for Fisher, Wilhelm and Thursday night's winner Ryan Wells this season as they should be the class of the field this year.

In what was a night, and even two nights of polar opposites, defending AMA Grand National Champion Brad Baker had a Daytona that I am sure he is ready to soon forget and get on with the racing in Springfield some 70 days down the road.

After being DQed on Thursday night for switching bikes for the main event (apparently when switching mounts his original mount didn't come from the required-by-the-rules back-up impound spot), Baker fought his way to a 4th-place finish in his heat and made the main for last night's show. He ended up with an 11th-place finish that saw him leave Daytona in 16th-place in the standings after the first two rounds.

Henry Wiles, however, did a super job of turning what could have been a disastrous opening two races into what may have been his best Daytona results ever. Daytona has never been kind to the King of the Singles Series, and this year started to look like things weren't going to change in that respect for Hammerin' Hank.

Forced to use his provisional after finishes of 7th in his heat and 12th in his semi on Thursday night, Hank worked his way up to finish in 6th-place after coming off the back row. Last night started to look like a carbon copy of that effort with a 7th-place in his heat, but he came back to score a 2nd-place finish in his semi to make the field.

From the middle of the third row, Wiles worked his way through traffic like a man possessed and carded another 6th-place finish, which sees him leave Daytona in 7th-place in the points. Not a bad Daytona for The Hammer after the way things started off for him!

In the shot above, Baker can be seen on his #12 Brothers Powersports/Schenk Racing Enterprise Honda alongside Wiles on the #17 Don's Kawasaki/DPC Racing KX450F. Jake Johnson on the #1 Zanotti Racing/Arai Honda is also shown as the three await the first round of practice at the final National held at the Springfield Short Track on September 15, 2012.

Without a doubt, a big honorable mention and very possibly the ride of the night (and event overall) was Brandon Robinson's come-from-behind romp to take a solid 5th-place finish in round 2 last night in Daytona.

After being involved in a lap 2 get off with rookie Expert Jake Constantine, BRob44 made a run through the field that was one of the highlights of the night. Robinson brought his #44 USC Racing Kawasaki through the field, picking off riders one by one after coming from the penalty line, and looked to get into the top-4 until he basically ran out of time in the 25-lap main. It was the stuff that legends are made of, and left him solidly in 4th-place in the standings after his previous evening's 3rd-place finish.

In the shot above, Robinson can be seen on the #44 TJ Burnett Farms Racing/USC Racing Kawasaki KX450F during round 7 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship on August 11 during the National main at the Peoria TT.

You can read the rundown from last night's race in Daytona Beach here thanks to Cycle News' Larry Lawrence, who was on the scene covering The Rolling Thunder Show's season-openers.

Full results from last night's round 2 are here thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track.

And again, a big shout out to AMA Pro Flat Track and their new venture, FansChoice.TV which brought us again some excellent coverage last night of the action on the limestone quarter mile in Daytona. Coupled with the live timing and scoring already available, it was great being able to see the action as it happened transpire on the track. Bravo!

And a great start to the season it was, as we also congratulate Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. and the Zanotti Racing team for a great win last night, and 3rd-place finish with Steve Bonsey. A solid start for the season to the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports/Parkinson Brothers Racing team with rider Jake Johnson, and all of the racers, sponsors and teams who make The Rolling Thunder Show the greatest racing on two wheels in the world that it is. What a great season opener!

So as we get ready for the 70-day lull before round 3 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship at the Springfield Mile on May 25, you can check out the press release below from AMA Pro Flat Track and see the official version of last night's romp on the beach.

Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. Wins Wild AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Main Event at DAYTONA Flat Track Round 2; Brandon Wilhelm Takes Pro Singles Checkered Flag

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 14, 2014) - Morris, Connecticut's Kenny Coolbeth Jr. (Zanotti Racing/Honda) took home his first AMA Pro Flat Track victory in 2014 to close out Friday night's Grand National at DAYTONA Flat Track, Round 2 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track schedule.   "I've wanted this win for a long time and it feels amazing to finally get it," said a calm and collected Coolbeth, Jr. "I've been working hard all winter. I have a great team behind me with the best equipment and I think it's going to be a great season. To tell you the truth, I wish the Springfield Mile was tomorrow."   Coolbeth, Jr. almost beat the field twice Friday night, as he claimed victory by over four full seconds and lapped multiple riders in the process. Once Coolbeth, Jr. passed Coatesville, Pennsylvania's Jake Johnson (Ramspur Winery/Honda) on lap five, he pressed the turbo button and dusted the competition for the remainder of the race.         Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. on the #2 Zanotti Racing Honda took the lead on lap 5 of the 25-lap National main at Daytona last night and never looked back, taking the win by just over 4 seconds from 2nd-place finisher Jake Johnson. It was the first Singles Series victory for Coolbeth since Du Quoin in April 2011 and his first overall since Pomona in October 2012. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.       At the midway point, Coolbeth, Jr. had opened up over a 2.5 second lead over Johnson and it was clear that it was his night. Even in defeat, Johnson's second place finish had to be a refreshing rebound for him after his lackluster 10th place performance in the season opener last night.   Salinas, California's Stevie Bonsey (Zanotti Racing/Honda) started second on the grid and reverted back a spot as he finished third to round out the night's podium. Graham, Washington's Sammy Halbert (Fredericktown Yamaha/Yamaha) put together another impressive performance Friday night with a fourth place finish. The 26-year-old appears to be in great health this season as he is two-for-two in top-five performances to begin 2014.   Oxford, Pennsylvania's Brandon Robinson (USC Kawasaki/Kawasaki) undoubtedly had one of the fastest bikes in Friday night's main event. After crashing on lap two and being forced to start from the back of the pack, Robinson maneuvered his way through traffic on his way to a fifth-place finish.   AMA Pro Singles   The AMA Pro Singles main event was an 18-lap shootout for the checkered flag and it was Aurora, Indiana's Brandon Wilhelm (Wilhelm Racing/Honda), starting from sixth on the grid, who came away with the win in what developed into an absolute thriller. "I can't believe this is happening right now," said an ecstatic Wilhelm. "It feels so good. The track was a little slick but it wasn't bad. I just had to work the throttle a little bit and it worked in my favor. I've never felt anything like this before, it's truly an amazing feeling."   Wilhelm got the holeshot and was cruising to his first win of the season before two riders went down and forced the red flags to fly. The staggered start meant that Wilhelm's more than a second lead would be diminished and he'd have to really fight if he wanted to earn the victory. Wilhelm did just that, as he slammed the throttle and earned the first win of his career.   The story of the night was the strength of the underdog. As impressive as Wilhelm's victory was after starting from sixth on the grid, Warren, Oregon's Davis Fisher (TJ Burnett Farms/Honda) knifed his way to an impressive second-place finish after starting in the ninth position. If that isn't intriguing enough, third-place finisher Justin Jones (Jones Racing/Honda) came all the way back from 11th on the grid to round out the podium after passing Ryan Wells (KTM/KTM) on lap 15. Bucyrus, Ohio's J.R. Addison (Parkinson Bros Racing/Honda) and last night's AMA Pro Singles main event winner and Albion, N.Y product Ryan Wells put together solid performances to close out the top-five.   Next Up   The stars of AMA Pro Flat Track will head to Springfield, Ill. for the Springfield Mile at the Illinois State Fairgrounds on May 25, 2014.   How to Watch   FansChoice.tv will be the official home for live streaming coverage of AMA Pro Flat Track and AMA Pro Road Racing events in 2014. The site will also provide coverage of IMSA's development and single-make series, and NASCAR's touring and weekly series.   About AMA Pro Flat Track AMA Pro Flat Track is a national motorcycle racing series in North America and is considered one of the oldest forms of motorcycle racing. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, the Series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track racing in the world. The 2014 schedule consists of 16 rounds on the country's finest flat track courses. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft.

AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines.  Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.   For additional information contact:   AMA Pro Racing Communications, (386) 492-1014, communications@amaproracing.com