Dashin' Davis Fisher Clinches AMA Pro GNC2 Championship With 2 Rounds Remaining in 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Season

Davis Fisher has had an amazing run to his championship efforts in the 2015 AMA Pro GNC2 class aboard the Parkinson Brothers Racing mounts, wrapping up the series' title with two rounds still to go in the season (Calistoga Half-Mile/rescheduled date TBA soon, Las Vegas Short Track/November 20.)

After coming in second during the 2014 season to champion Kyle Johnson and missing a couple of rounds due to injuries suffered at the Indy Mile, Fisher was ready to go after the crown he nearly won in his first season in the series when then-team owner TJ Burnett decided to step away from competition for the season, instead concentrating on not only family matters but his health as well. Burnett was also left with machines ready to go for the new season built on what was supposed to have been the 2014 '650' platform as what the series ran in the Pro Twins class last year, when in early March the rules were amended to allow the GNC2 boys to run bikes built under the '750' platform as what was being fielded in the GNC1/Expert class.

So Oregon resident and fast kid on the prowl Fisher was able to hook up with the Parkinson Brothers Racing team, who had teamed with the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports team for the 2014 season in hopes of garnering a title for 2-Time AMA Grand National Champion Jake Johnson when Johnson wasn't aboard one of the LBM team's fast Ducatis, Kawasaki or XR750 which he had at his disposal for the Twins Series events.

As it turned out, the pairing of Fisher with the PBR team was a match made in heaven, while also utilizing some of Burnett's keen eye towards fast guys in the sport and the use of some of his equipment for back-up machines. With the GNC2 series split into Singles and Twins events, Davis had a wealth of solid equipment at his disposal, and even incorporated one of Allen Rodenborn's Racing Unlimited Kawasakis to win the first Springfield Mile event with in late May, which three events into the season was his first of four wins (so far!) on the season.

In the shot above, Fisher dazzles with his massive bike control efforts at the rough Lima Half-Mile on the #67M Parkinson Brothers Racing/Bob Lanphere's Beaverton Motorcycles/Dan Wall Racing-backed Honda CRF450R during qualifying at the Allen County Fairgrounds-hosted event on June 28 in round 5 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season in the AMA Pro GNC2 class.

Of note--Lima was perhaps one of the races where Fisher really showed those on hand in the stands and at the track what he was truly capable of. During his qualifying heat race #2 in the early laps, coming out of turn 4 Fisher all but clipped a fence post on the outside edge of the track, causing him to slip back to the back of the pack. Gathering it back up and literally roaring back through the pack, Fisher had caught early leaders Andrew Luker and Ryan Wells, had gotten around them both, and sailed on to take the checkered flag to win in front of Wells by just over one second. It was an amazing display of talent and control, and at the time those who saw it first hand, like myself, knew right there and then that the future of AMA Pro Flat Track was looking pretty damn slick and fast and was in damn good hands! Fisher ended up finishing in 2nd-place in the junior league National that day behind winner JR Addison, but left with seven point lead in the championship standings in what could well have been a major deficit if not for his great control in turning it around in his heat race.

Fisher did have some rough results on the season, and thankfully for the rest of the series' combatants it kept them in the hunt right up until last weekend when he clinched the series championship at the Delaware Half-Mile on September 19. At Daytona I (13th-place), the Sacto Mile (17th-place) and Indy (15th-place) the youngster from the Great Northwest Territory showed that he is actually human and that the other title contenders in other young hot shoes like JR Addison, Bronson Bauman, Wells and Dan Bromley might have a shot at the title. Unfortunately for them, the other nine rounds Fisher finished he either won or came in as the runner-up.

In the shot above, Fisher is interviewed by AMA Pro Flat Track and FansChoice.TV's Dani Medin during the podium ceremonies after he took the win at the Springfield Mile II aboard the #67M Parkinson Brothers Racing/Bob Lanphere's Beaverton Motorcycles/Dan Wall Racing-backed Kawasaki in the GNC2 final on September 6.

With now just the final two rounds remaining, the young speedster could sit back on his laurels and get ready for his jump to the GNC1 class for the 2016 season in The Rolling Thunder Show. But I wouldn't expect that, nor should anyone else, even with a 60-point championship battle already in his back pocket and the lure of the big boys ahead in the greatest racing series on two wheels in the world.

Congrats to a very worthy champion in young Mr. Davis, for wowing us and showing us that the future of AMA Pro Flat Track is indeed in good hands. Great job man!

Second-year AMA Pro Flat Track competitor Davis Fisher routs GNC2 competition, clinches 2015 championship with two rounds to go

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 25, 2015) - It has been a year to remember for 17-year-old Davis Fisher, who just last weekend clinched the GNC2 championship after winning the Roar on the Shore in Delmar, Del., by 5.171 seconds. The second-year competitor entered the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track season as the odds-on favorite to claim the GNC2 championship after coming up one point shy of the title a year ago, but even the experts couldn't have predicted the kind of success that he would go on to have this year.   "This means so much to me," said Fisher. "To lock up the GNC2 championship before the season is actually over is just an incredible feeling. After the way things ended last year, how I lost by a single point, I had a bitter-sweet taste in my mouth all last offseason and I just wanted to get back to racing. I knew I had a good chance of being at the top again this year and I just wanted to give myself the best opportunity to place well every weekend. I can't thank my dad, Parkinson Brothers Racing, and the rest of my sponsors enough for allowing me to get this far."   Fisher's rout of the GNC2 competition this season is evidenced by his 60 point lead in the GNC2 point standings. The most fascinating part of it all is the fact that he suffered three motorcycle malfunctions, all of which resulted in 13th-place or worse finishing positions, and he still managed to run away with the points lead. Other than his three mishaps, which happened at Daytona (13th), Sacramento (17th) and Indianapolis (15th), Fisher never finished worse than second in any race this season.           Davis Fisher on the #67M Parkinson Brothers Kawasaki leads during one of the GNC2 heat races at the Delmar Half-Mile last weekend. Fisher took the win in the GNC2 class for his fourth of the season and clinched the championship with two round remaining for the year. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.         In total, Fisher has won four of the 12 GNC2 main events this season, including both outings at Springfield, Black Hills, and most recently Delaware. He has finished in second place in the other rounds and his 205 points in the standings tower over second-place Bronson Bauman's 145 points.   Of the four races that he has won so far in 2015, Fisher dominated three of them by almost a full second or more. His closest margin of victory came at the first Springfield Mile, where he edged out Jamison Minor by a mere .089 seconds, demonstrating that he's not only capable of winning by a landslide, but he's a fighter in close races as well.   Fisher's impeccable performance in GNC2 this season brings two major questions to the table. Will he graduate to the elite Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines class in 2016? If so, how will he fare against the best dirt track motorcycle racers in the world?   The answer to the first question is yes, he does plan to move up to the GNC1 ranks next season. The answer to the second is to be determined, but AMA Pro Flat Track color commentator and seven-time Grand National Champion Chris Carr seems to think Fisher will be just fine. "Personally, I think Davis Fisher is the best young flat tracker I have seen since Nicky Hayden," said Carr.   The newly-crowned GNC2 champion and Warren, Ore., native appears to have confidence in himself as well.   "I'm looking forward to 2016 and getting the chance to compete against those guys," said Fisher. "They are the best in the world and they have all kinds of experience that I don't have yet. I think I have a lot to learn and I'm looking forward to the challenge. I am going to take the same mindset up there as I have in GNC2, which is to stay focused every round and to fight for top-ten finishes. I think it will all work out."   Fisher doesn't possess the experience yet, but he does possess the talent. There will be many intriguing storylines heading into the AMA Pro Flat Track offseason this year and Fisher's plans to compete in GNC1 for 2016 will be one of the most compelling.

About AMA Pro Flat Track:   AMA Pro Flat Track is the world's premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft/, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or live stream the on-track action on FansChoice.tv. About AMA Pro Racing:   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

Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. Takes 2nd Win of the Season at AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship GNC1 Delaware Half-Mile, Davis Fisher Wins GNC2 Race & Wraps Up Championship

Round 13 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series hit the east coast last night, and former 3-Time AMA Grand National Champion Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. dominated the 25-lap National main to take the 35th win of his long and illustrious career in front of what was reported as a large crowd at the Delaware Half-Mile.

After qualifying in the 4th-place spot behind Jake Johnson, Dominic Collindres and Nichole Mees, the King of Cool was able to bring it home just behind series points leader Jared Mees in the first heat to qualify for the Dash for Cash, where he went on to turn the tables on The Jammer and take the win and the extra bonus point that goes along with it. Starting from the pole in the main, Coolbeth set sail during both portions of the red flag-delayed event (which saw Sammy Halbert crash out, mostly unhurt, but ruining his evening and his mark of all  top-9s on the season.)

In the end, Coolbeth took the win by just over 1.6 seconds over runner-up Jeffrey Carver, Jr. on the #23 Don's Kawasaki (in his best-ever Twins finish) and 3rd-place finisher Jake Johnson on the #5 factory H-D XR750 (and his second top-3 in-a-row.) Rounding out the top-5 was Collindres in another super solid run on the #66 Babe Demay-tuned Memphis Shades Yamaha and Rookie of the Year lock Jarod Vanderkooi on the #17F Don's Kawasaki (in his second top-5 and fourth top-10 of the season.)

In the shot above, Coolbeth is seen on the #2 Zanotti Racing/H-D Motor Co/Gator H-D-sponsored and Dave Atherton-tuned XR750 prior to the start of practice at round 12 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines class at the Springfield Mile II on September 6.

Of note for last night's event, Nichole Mees in her last season of full-time racing crashed out in her heat on the #15 Black Hills H-D XR750 and suffered an eye socket fracture that will require some follow-up surgery, per her husband Jared's Facebook post from last night and today, and Mikey Martin suffered a crash during qualifying on the #91 Weirbach Racing Kawasaki that saw him beaten, banged up and sore, but apparently with no major serious injuries.

Title battle men Jared Mees on the #1 Rogers Racing XR and Bryan Smith on the #42 Howerton Motorsports Kawasaki both suffered from problems in Delaware during the National main. Mees jumped the start and was relegated to the fourth row for the start, as was Smith who was forced to the back due to having to roll out his back up for the main. In the end, Mees ended up in 8th-place in the final, and Smith ended the night in 14th-place after suffering more shifter-related problems during the race. They leave Delaware with Mees still back out front of the championship battle by seven points, 188-181 points.

A big congrats to Kenny Coolbeth on his great win last night, and to the rest of the great competitors in The Rolling Thunder Show for another fine show!

Full results from last night's event can be seen here thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track, and Larry Lawrence put together this fine report from last night's race on Cycle News.com.

In the AMA Pro GNC2 race, Dashin' Davis Fisher took his fourth win of the season on the #67M Parkinson Brothers Kawasaki to wrap up the championship title in the class with two rounds remaining, and become the youngest winner of a Pro Singles/Twins/GNC2 championship since the class' inception in the 2009 season. Last night's win marked Fisher's fourth win of the season and ninth top-2 finish of the year.

In the shot above, Fisher is surrounded by the lovely ladies of Harley-Davidson and Vance & Hines racing getting ready to be interviewed on the podium by AMA Pro Flat Track and FansChoice.TV's Dani Medin after taking the win in the GNC2 class at the Springfield Mile II on the #67M Parkinson Brothers Racing/Racing Unlimited/Bob Lanphere's Beaverton Motorcycles-backed Kawasaki on September 6, 2015. Also celebrating are runner-up Tristan Avery #16S (L) and 3rd-place finisher Ryan Wells #94B (R.)

A big congrats to new champion Davis Fisher on his wrapping up of the title. Fisher, along with riders Bronson Bauman (2nd-place last night on the #30Z Lombardi's H-D XR) and Dan Bromley (3rd-place last night on the #54 Bill Werner Racing Kawasaki) along with Ryan Wells and several other great racers in the GNC2 class are living proof that the future of AMA Pro Flat Track's Rolling Thunder Show is in great shape as these fine young men work their way to the top of the ranks in the greatest racing series on two wheels in the world!


After last week's announcement that the Calistoga Half-Mile was to be postponed due to the devastation of the California wild fires that have created so much destruction and forced hundreds and possibly thousands not only out of but without their homes, the series awaits the word on when/if the race will be rescheduled. As it stands as of now, rescheduling is in the works, dependent obviously on Mother Nature and the ability to get the fires under control. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who are going through the devastation out west and hope things get brought under control soon so everyone can get back to some semblance of normalcy in their lives.

Kenny Coolbeth Jr. wins wild GNC1 main at the Roar on the Shore

Davis Fisher clinches GNC2 championship with fourth victory of 2015

DELMAR, Del. (Sept. 19, 2015) - Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. started fast and finished faster on Saturday night at the Roar on the Shore in Delmar, Del. The No. 2 Zanotti Racing Harley-Davidson rider led all 25 laps of the Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines main event at Delaware International Speedway to earn his second win of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track season.    Coolbeth's victory brought the packed house to their feet when he crossed the finish line 1.661 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Jeffrey Carver, Jr. With the win, Coolbeth now sits third in the Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines point standings and the victory marked his 35th in a long and successful career at the top level of the sport.   "This win feels really good," said Coolbeth, Jr. "And it's all due to great people. If it wasn't for the Atherton family and Dave Zanotti, I wouldn't be doing this. It's a dream come true for me to be racing motorcycles and it always has been. I have accomplished a lot in my career and I'm thankful for it. We just need to keep winning races."         Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. won the 35th race of his long and illustrious career last night on the #2 Zanotti Racing XR750 at the Roar by the Shore in Delmar, DE. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.               Aside from riding a brilliant race in Delaware, Coolbeth, Jr. benefited from two pre-race issues faced by heavy hitters Jared Mees and Bryan Smith.   During his sighting lap, Smith suffered a bike malfunction to his No. 42 Crosley Radio Kawasaki and was forced to switch to his backup bike, which resulted in the "Mile Specialist" having to start from the penalty row. Mees, the defending GNC1 champion and current series points leader, found himself starting next to Smith after jumping the start and being sent back to the penalty row as well.  This was now Sammy Halbert's race to lose. The Briggs Auto pilot, who came into the weekend third in the points, started from the front row and battled hard with the lead pack aboard his No. 69 Harley-Davidson in the early laps of the race. By Lap 13, Halbert had climbed from seventh to fourth and was poised to take over a podium spot from the No. 5 Factory Harley-Davidson of Jake Johnson. In a rare miscue, Halbert went down in between Turns 3 and 4, bringing out a red flag and breaking a handlebar that ended his night. On the restart, Coolbeth, Jr. resumed his dominant march by continually building his lead from 0.378 of a second on Lap 13 to 1.661 seconds at the end of the race. Mees maintained a respectable eighth-place finish, while Smith was never able to find his groove, finishing an eventual 14th.  Mees now sits seven points ahead of Smith in the standings, 188-181, while Coolbeth, Jr. finds himself in third place just 20 points off the lead.   Carver's impressive runner-up finish aboard the No. 23 Don's Kawasaki machine was his career-best finish aboard a twin-cylinder machine in AMA Pro Flat Track competition. The Alton, Ill., rider now sits 10th in the Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines point standings. Jake Johnson was able to maintain his third-place position throughout the main event aboard the No. 5 Factory Harley-Davidson. Young guns Dominic Colindres, riding the No. 66Y Babe Demay Yamaha, and Jarod Vanderkooi, teammate to Carver, Jr. and pilot of the No. 17F Don's Kawasaki machine, rounded out the top five, respectively.    GNC2   Davis Fisher earned the Roar on the Shore GNC2 main event victory on Saturday night and clinched the GNC2 championship with the win. Fisher's dominance in 2015 has been a record-setting year and the entire flat track world is eager to see what he can do when he graduates to the premier Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines class, which many expect will happen next season.   "I don't know what to think right now, I am just so excited," said Fisher. "This was a great rebound season after losing out to Kyle Johnson by one point in the GNC2 championship chase last season. To be on top with two rounds to go still feels quite amazing. I have to thank all of my sponsors for giving me this opportunity and also all of the fans for coming out."   Although two rounds remain in 2015, Fisher sits a whopping 60 points ahead of second-place rider Bronson Bauman and his nine podium appearances and four victories are the reasons why.   Bauman, riding the No. 30Z Lombardi's Harley-Davidson machine, finished second on Saturday night and he has now recorded four podium appearances in the last six rounds. Closing out the podium in Delaware was No. 54A Bill Werner Racing Kawasaki pilot Dan Bromley. Ryan Wells, riding the M&J Racing Kawasaki and Tristan Avery, pilot of the Rod Ayers Motorsports Kawasaki, rounded out the top five, respectively, on Saturday night.   Next Up   The Ramspur Winery Calistoga Half-Mile presented by Triumph, previously scheduled on Sept. 26 as Round 13 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track schedule, has been postponed due to the California wildfires. Calistoga Speedway is located at the Napa County Fairgrounds, which are being used as an evacuation center for those displaced by the fires. Additional information on the rescheduling of the event will be released as soon as it is available. How to Watch:   FansChoice.tv is the official home for live streaming coverage of AMA Pro Flat Track events. The site also provides coverage of IMSA's development and single-make series, and NASCAR's touring and weekly series. Catch all the action at http://www.FansChoice.tv. About AMA Pro Flat Track: AMA Pro Flat Track is the world's premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft/, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or live stream the on-track action on FansChoice.tv.

About AMA Pro Racing:   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

Reviewing Round 12 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship as Bryan Smith Takes Another Win at the Springfield Mile II and Makes a Race for the Crown

Round 12 of the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series saw a great battle in the 25-lap National main at the Springfield Mile II last weekend between the top-2 in the championship standings, but in the end Bryan Smith on the #42 Crosley Brands/Howerton Motorsports/Villa-Esparza-sponsored and Kawasaki-backed EX650 pulled out all the stops and saved his tire to take the win in front of a packed Labor Day house at the Illinois State Fairgrounds oval. The win was Smith's second of the year at the mecca of speed, and fifth overall in points races (after also having earlier in the season won the non-points XGames event in Texas) and put him in solid contention for the championship crown against defending AMA Grand National Champion Jared Mees.

With the Howerton team of Jeff Gordon and Ricky Howerton (above, rolling out during the rider intros at Springfield on September 6), along with team wrench Dink Glidden, heading up the charge, Smith was able to save his tire and get the advantage on the last lap to take the win over Mees by .026 seconds and 3rd-place finisher and former 2-Time AMA Grand National Champ Jake Johnson by .027 seconds in what was a near photo finish of the classic battle the three front runners had put on during the whole race.

One of the feel-good happenings at Springfield saw Nichole Mees on the #15 Willie McCoy/H-D of Wausau Harley-Davidson XR750 take her first heat race win of her great career at Springfield, beating out the likes of Jake Johnson (above, during qualifying on the #5 Harley-Davidson Motor Co/Screaming Eagle Performance Parts/Arai Helmets-sponsored factory XR), Doug Lawrence and rookie of the year standout Jarod Vanderkooi. Mees, on the #15 Black Hills H-D/Jerry Kennedy/Wausau H-D-backed XR750 had the fans in the stands rocking with her heat race win in what is her swan song final season of racing before hanging up her steel shoe to concentrate full time on her teaching career. There weren't too many dry eyes in the house when she rolled onto the podium to celebrate the heat race #1 win, and it was well-deserved.

Jared Mees on the #1 Las Vegas H-D/Rogers Racing/Harley-Davidson Motor Co.-backed XR750 did all he could do to keep Flyin' Bryan honest during the 25-lap main at Springfield, but came up inches short in taking the win. He did, however, retain the points lead in the championship by one point (177-176 points) over his Michigan rival and close friend.

Above, the Rogers Racing team of Mees, Kenny Tolbert and Sammy Sweet wait out the red flag stoppage during the second round of qualifying at Springfield brought on by the get-off by Johnny Lewis on the #10 Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Ducati. Unfortunately, Lewis suffered a concussion and what was suspected as a rebreak of a former ankle injury and his day was done when he was wheeled out of the LBM pits by the ambulance. It's been a rough year for the Lloyd Boys between Lewis' get offs at both Springfields and former 3-Time World Superbike Champ Troy Bayliss crash at the Sacto Mile in late May, and unfortunately not only was their day done, but their season as well. At least Lewis' injuries weren't ultra serious and he'll be back another day to fight the good fights, as I am sure the team headed up by Mike and Dave Lloyd will, as well.

Sammy Halbert won the Dash for Cash on his #69 Briggs Auto/Martin Trucking/Lucas Oil-sponsored and Johnny Goad-tuned Kawasaki, getting the extra point and the pole spot for the start in the Grand National main at Springfield. The tough-as-nails Kawi pilot and Washington State resident finished the day in the 4th-place spot after running at the front with the top-6 and kept his hopes in the fight for the championship with his 3rd-place in the standings (156 points.) The Slammer also kept his streak of top-9 finishes on the year intact with his run at the Labor Day weekend extravaganza.

Brandon Robinson led a lap a ran in the top-6 during the National main at Springfield on the Brent Armbruster-wrenched #44 Latus Motors/Castrol/Triumph America-sponsored Triumph Bonneville. BRob's day almost came to a sudden end on the last lap of the final, though while racing with former Grand National Champ Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. Coming through turn 3 and heading towards turn 4, the draft closed up sucking Brandon in, where he came into slight contact with Coolbeth, thankfully with both able to gather it up without going down, but Robinson in the process caught the inside guard rail with his left hand tearing a nasty gash into his clutch hand. He still brought it home in 6th-place behind Coolbeth, and still has a lock on 5th-place in the championship standings behind KC2 (143-123 points) heading into the Roar at the Shore in Delaware on Saturday, September 19.

Dashin' Davis Fisher continued his domination of not only Springfield this year in the AMA Pro GNC2 class, but in his grasp of the championship lead for the title. After having to restart his heat from the back row on a back up, the youngster and future of AMA Pro Flat Track's Rolling Thunder Show whittled his way through the field to take the win in his heat, and in the final led all 12 laps to take the win on the #67M Parkinson Brothers Racing/Bob Lanphere Beaverton Motorcycles/Dan Wall Racing-backed Kawasaki. It was the Washington State rider's third win of the year and eight top-2 finish. Davis now has a huge lead in the championship standings heading to Delaware over Jamison Minor (181-130 points) and could feasibly wrap it up next Saturday.

One of the other feel-good events of the day at Springfield was seeing former Springfield winner Shayna Texter get it all together to put it in the field for her first National main start of the season on the #52 Richie Morris Racing/McElroy Packaging/Brain Leathers-sponsored Kawasaki. In the first qualifying session, the young lady from Pennsylvania had put it in the top-4 and eventually put herself into the starting field with a 27th-place spot out of the 45 riders who took a timed lap, and she worked her magic with her new team to make the National main in heat race #3 coming home behind winner Sammy Halbert, Jared Mees and her older brother Cory Texter (more on CTex below). Seeing her and her brother race together in not only their heat but in the main was a wonderful sight, and with Nichole Mees also in the field made for the first time in AMA Grand National history that two women had made a main event at the same time. VERY COOL!

Shayna finished the day in a solid 10th-place, and got the monkey off her back after suffering through the first 2/3's of the season with not looking like things were working out for her. With her new digs with the RMR team, she now is not only looking more comfortable, but more confident as well. Watch out boys, if she gets hot, this could make for an even better show then what the series has been offering anyway!

Cory Texter just recently unveiled his new #65 Cory Texter Racing/Cycle World Magazine/McElroy Packaging-sponsored Kawasaki Vulcan mount, and was able to put it in the field at Springfield with a solid 3rd-place finish in his heat while battling with his younger sister Shayna (see above). They put on a fine show racing side-by-side in Springfield, and this time Shayna won out with CTex bringing it home in the 11th-place spot. CTex has dubbed his new mount 'The Black Hammer' and not only is it fitting, but it hits strong and hard as well.

Rookie of the Year lock and Ohio-resident Jarod Vanderkooi continued to impress at Springfield by taking an 8th-place finish on the #17F Don's Kawasaki/DPC Racing/Floyd Tapp-backed Kawasaki EX650. Qualifying 10th, the youngster and future of AMA Pro Flat Track took his 4th-place finish in heat race #1 to card himself his starting spot on the second row of the National main. His 8th-place finish was his third-best effort of the year (7th DuQuoin, 5th Charlotte) and he now sits solidly in the 12-place spot of the standings with three rounds to go.

The top-6 in the National main weren't spread out much more than this during the 25-lap final, and at times put on a show typical of great mile racing, drafting and moving and shuffling back and forth throughout the just shy of 15 minute race. It was without a doubt one of the best recent main events to watch as these six guys wowed the crowd and the folks like me on the track as they came by lap-after-lap going for it.

This was just past the half-way point as Smith on the #42 Crosley/Howerton Kawasaki leads into turn 1, with Jared Mees on the #1 Las Vegas H-D Rogers Racing XR, Sammy Halbert on the #69 Briggs Auto/Martin Trucking Kawasaki, Jake Johnson on the #5 H-D Motor Co/Arai XR, Brandon Robinson on the #44 Latus Motors/Castrol Triumph and Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. on the #2 Zanotti Racing/H-D Motor Company XR all trying to keep in the draft.

Smith lead the majority of laps on the day with 14 at the front, followed by Mees with 8, Jake with 2 and Robinson with 1. But that was just at the stripe. There were many others throughout the race all over the track with all of the drafting and shuffling going on.

Of note-Coolbeth had to win his semi to make it to the show, and made a charge off the third row that saw him in the top-8 within the first lap or two of the main, and finishing in the 5th-place spot for what surely will earn him the MotoBatt Hard Charger Award for the race. He was a man on fire at the start, and throughout, and Dave Atherton had KC's XR humming for the day!!

With two laps to go, Sammy Halbert took his turn trying to latch onto and get around Bryan Smith, and just past the stripe got a wheel on him, but Smith, who managed his tire the best of anyone in the top-4 to be able to slip out front in the run to the checkers over Mees and Johnson. In the tech teardown area, Smith's tire had enough tread he could probably still run another heat race on it, Johnson's would have made a few more laps without any problems, but Mees' tire was visibly chunked and ravaged.

One of the great things about the best racing on two wheels in the world show is every once in awhile a new, or long-time player in the sport finally breaks through to make it to the show and gain a National number. Last Sunday at Springfield, that person was Kentucky's own Zakk Palmer, the former Pro Singles Springfield winner putting his beautiful #81C Palmer Racing/Western Hills Honda-Yamaha/Durelle Racing Products-sponsored Kawasaki into the show via his 3rd-place finish in his semi behind Coolbeth and Stevie Bonsey. Palmer finished in the 15th-place spot on the day, on the lead lap and will lose his letter for next year as he earned his National number the hard-fought way. Good for you man, great job!

Heat race #1 blasts off to start the racing for the day at the Springfield Mile I on Sunday, September 6 with 2010-11 AMA Grand National Champ Jake Johnson leading the field heading towards turn 1 on the #5 H-D Motor Co factory XR. In hot pursuit are Nichole Mees on the #15 Wausau H-D of Willie McCoy/Black Hills H-D-sponsored XR, Doug Lawrence on the #73 Glidden Racing/Dreyer Motorsports/Tucker Rocky-backed Kawi, Jarod Vanderkooi on the #17F Don's Kawasaki/DPC Racing-backed Kawi and Steve Bonsey on the #80 Cliff Racing/Dodge Brothers Racing/Classic H-D-backed XR.

Nichole led Jake, Doug and Jarod home to take her first-ever heat race win at the Springfield Mile, and ended up finishing the day in the 16th-place spot in the main after brushing the wall on the back straight hard enough to wear a hole in her boot and bend her shifter, all the while keeping it on two wheels and out of harms way.

Lawrence took a 9th-place finish in the main on just his fourth time on the Glidden/Dreyer Kawi, while Bonsey worked his way into the main via his 2nd-place in semi race #1 behind Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. The Salinas, CA. resident finished the day with a very strong 7th-place finish in the main to keep a stronghold on 9th-place in the standings.

Bonsey on the #80 Cliff Racing XR drafts outside former Rookie of the Year Briar Bauman on the #14 USC/Hart Racing/Stevens Racing Kawasaki during one of the qualifying sessions at Springfield. Bonsey (as noted above) finished the day in the 7th-place spot in the National main, but Bauman was relegated to the truck after crashing hard in heat race #1 after contact. He was mostly unhurt, but his bike was all but destroyed in the wild crash. Bauman still has a stranglehold on the 6th-place spot in the overall standings (108 points) in spite of not making the main.


You can check out the full results of the day here thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track, and Cycle News' own Larry Lawrence put together a great report on all the happenings at the Springfield Mile II which you can check out here as well.

Next up, the men and women of The Rolling Thunder Show head to the Roar on the Shore in Delmar, Delaware for a new event this Saturday, September 19 in what will surely be another stellar event on the series' calendar.

A big thanks to Tommra Kiesow for again heading up the team that put on another super event at the Illinois State Fairgrounds mile oval. You guys rock and put on the best of shows and we thank you for your great support of this wonderful sport we all love!

Bryan Smith wins epic Springfield Mile II to tighten Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines points chase

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Sept. 6, 2015) - In an epic finish that came down to the final lap, Bryan Smith edged out a fast field of AMA Pro Flat Track stars to capture his whopping sixth Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines victory of the 2015 season.   Smith's win puts him a single point behind defending GNC1 champion Jared Mees in the championship hunt with three rounds remaining. The Michigan native deftly double drafted past Mees and Jake Johnson on the final lap to snatch the victory. With four out of five Mile wins aboard his No. 42 Crosley Radio Kawasaki in 2015, Smith continues to cement his legacy as the top Mile-circuit rider of his generation.   "On the last corner, I was wondering where Johnson came from, he about schooled Jared and I," said Smith. "It was just a fun race. We were all so fast, and I was just trying to consistently stay out front but conserve my tire at the same time. It's literally like threading the needle out there. I didn't win the Dash for Cash so I'm pretty bummed about that but I'll take the main event win over the dash any day."   Like most of his recent wins on a Mile course, Smith had to fight for this one. In fact, the gap between Smith and second- and third-place finishers, Mees and Johnson, was a mere .027 seconds. Johnson held the lead coming out of turn four of the final lap before coughing up the lead to Smith at the finish line, eventually finishing third.       Bryan Smith on the #42 Crosley/Howerton Kawasaki leads the field into turn 3 on the first lap of the 25-lap National main at the Springfield Mile II on September 6, and went on to score his second victory of the season on the Illinois State Fairgrounds oval, and fifth of the season overall to jump within one point of series points leader and defending AMA Grand National Champion Jared Mees. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Brian J. Nelson.         Second-place finisher Mees rode his No. 1 Las Vegas Harley-Davidson hard on Sunday, and he almost pulled off the upset in front of a jam-packed audience at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The defending champion leaves the Midwest with a one-point lead over Smith in the standings as the two head into the season's final three rounds.   Although he experienced the bitter sweetness of finishing third, Johnson performed extraordinarily on Sunday aboard the No. 5 Factory Harley-Davidson. The two-time champion has filled in admirably for the injured Brad Baker since taking over last month, posting the fastest qualifying time of the day and also finishing second in the Dash for Cash.   Fourth-place finisher Sammy Halbert wasn't in the photo finish at the end, but he was a legitimate threat to win throughout the race. The No. 69 Briggs Auto Kawasaki pilot made aggressive moves to get to the front of the pack during several points of the race and though he never registered a leading lap on the official lap chart, he did find himself out front multiple times. Halbert's shining moment on Sunday was his thrilling Dash for Cash victory, and he now sits third in the point standings behind Mees and Smith.   Rounding out the top-five finishers on Sunday was No. 2 Zanotti Racing rider Kenny Coolbeth Jr. The three-time champion had to use a Semi 1 win to qualify for the main event and he took full advantage of his opportunity, turning a 14th-starting position in the Main to a fifth-place finish.   Brandon Robinson, riding the No. 44 Latus Motors Racing Triumph, also led the race at one point before finishing an eventual sixth.   GNC2   Davis Fisher continues to turn heads during his record setting 2015 GNC2 campaign, as the No. 67M Parkinson Brothers Racing Kawasaki pilot earned his third win and eighth podium finish this season on Sunday at the Springfield Mile.   Fisher's Springfield Mile win was his second at the historic venue this season and the 17-year-old has all but locked up the GNC2 championship with three rounds to go. His 181 points tower over next-best competitor Jamison Minor's 131 in the GNC2 point standings.   Earning his second runner-up finish of 2015 on Sunday was Tristan Avery. The No. 16S Rod Ayers Motorsports Kawasaki pilot has proven to be lethal on the twin this year, as he also recorded a Du Quoin Mile win back in July. Avery now sits seventh in the GNC2 point standings.   Rounding out the Springfield Mile podium on Sunday was No. 94B Suzuki pilot Ryan Wells. Wells now has three third-place finishes under his belt in 2015 and he now sits 10th in the standings. No. 24F Smith Racing Kawasaki rider J.R. Addison and No. 20J Bruce Lowe Excavating Suzuki pilot Ben Lowe, rounding out the top-five finishers, respectively.   Next Up   The stars of AMA Pro Flat Track visit Delmar, Delaware for Round 12 on Saturday, Sept. 19. For tickets and more information regarding the event, fans are encouraged to visit http://delawareracing.com/DirtTrack/.     About FansChoice.tv:   FansChoice.tv is the official home for live streaming coverage of AMA Pro Flat Track events. The site also provides coverage of IMSA's development and single-make series, and NASCAR's touring and weekly series. Catch all the action at http://www.FansChoice.tv.   About AMA Pro Flat Track: AMA Pro Flat Track is the world's premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft/, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or live stream the on-track action on FansChoice.tv.

About AMA Pro Racing:   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