AMA Pro Flat Track Announces Partnership with Cometic Gasket for 2014-2015 Grand National Championship Seasons

In less than 72 hours, the first race of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season will be upon us as riders hit the track for the first practice sessions of the day on Thursday, March 13, and AMA Pro Flat Track has a new partnering sponsor on board to better help the teams for the next two seasons.

Cometic Gasket was today announced as the new partner/sponsor for The Rolling Thunder Show and they will bring their expertise to each of the 16 rounds on the series' calendar this season and into next year. Cometic will be on-hand at each of the National races to help the racers and teams involved in the teardown process after each of the main events finishes up and the top finishing teams are required to teardown their motors for inspection purposes.

In the shot above taken at the final National main at the Springfield Short Track on September 15, 2012, heat race #2 roars off the line in round 12 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season as the riders roll it on in hopes of making the 18-rider main inside the Illinois State Fairgrounds Multipurpose Arena.

(L-R) Matt Weidman on his #20 DFW Honda/SNIP-sponsored CRF450R, Steve Bonsey on his #80 Alpinestars/Mack Daddy Racing Honda, Jethro Halbert on his #69 Van's Yamaha/Woody Kyle Racing YZ450F (partially hidden behind Bonsey), Chad Cose on his #49 Chad Cose Racing/Reynolds Bros. Honda, Briar Bauman on the #10Z Rod Lake/Arai Helmets Honda and Brad Baker on his #12 Brothers Powersports/Schenk Racing Enterprises Honda spin it up as they head towards turn one.

Also seen coming off row 2 in this shot are Justin Hittle on his #81 Bob Berry Racing/Grayboy Motorsports Honda, Shaun Russell on his #28 self-sponsored Honda and Mikey Martin on the #91 Bonneville Performance/WKR Honda.

You can check out the full press release below that came out earlier today from the folks on Fentress Boulevard in Daytona Beach on the new signing for The Rolling Thunder Show as we all get ready to welcome all the riders, teams, sponsors and fans back to the action in what is gearing up to be another action packed season in the greatest racing series on two wheels in the world this coming Thursday and Friday, March 13-14 as the boys and girls of the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship get ready to pour the coals on for another big kick-off at the Daytona Short Track. Let's go racing folks! 

AMA Pro Racing Announces Partnership with Cometic for 2014 and 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Seasons

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 10, 2014) - Officials from AMA Pro Racing and Cometic Gasket, Inc., have announced a two-year partnership for the 2014 and 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track seasons. As part of the partnership, Cometic will provide four custom tents to be deployed in the AMA Pro Flat Track inspection area, as well as free replacement gasket sets for any rider whose engine is disassembled as part of the tech inspection process.   "We are very excited about this new official partnership with Cometic," said Dan Johnsen, Director of AMA Pro Flat Track. "Cometic has been in our paddock for several years now and they have been extremely reliable and beneficial to us. It's imperative to have replacement gaskets available for when a rider's engine gets disassembled during a technical inspection and we're glad to have Cometic provide this service."       Jared Mees is shown on the #1 Rogers Racing XR-750 during the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season. AMA Pro Flat Track today announced their new partnership with Cometic Gasket for the next two seasons to help riders and teams involved in the teardown areas of technical inspection at each of the National main event programs. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.           The large co-branded tents will be pitched for the first time this week as the DAYTONA Flat Track once again plays host to the AMA Pro Flat Track season opener as the series kicks off the 2014 season with a doubleheader on the quarter-mile lime rock track located outside Daytona International Speedway's west banking on March 13-14, 2014.   For tickets and more information, please visit http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.   About Cometic Gasket, Inc.:   Cometic Gasket, Inc., is a leading worldwide supplier of shelf-stock, custom and short-run gaskets for the performance aftermarket, original equipment, powersports andmotorsports industries. What originally began in 1989, in an 800 square-foot office with limited production capabilities, has evolved into a 70,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art manufacturing center.  Cometic Gasket is 100 percent family-owned and located 30 miles east of Cleveland in Concord Township, Ohio. Today, Cometic produces and ships more than 5,000 types of gaskets to customers worldwide.

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

 

AMA Pro Flat Track: Matt Weidman Forced to Sit Out Next Few Rounds of 2013 Season Due to Injuries

Matt Weidman and the #20 Greg Crow Racing/White's H-D/SNIP/Fiorio Investments-sponsored XR750 team are shown being introduced by AMA Pro Flat Track announcer Mylas Copeland during round 4 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season at the Springfield Mile I on May 27.

Weidman, the 2008 AMA Pro Flat Track Rookie of the Year and the first-time winner at the Daytona Short Track II in March 2012, is being forced to sit out the next few rounds of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season due to injuries suffered from a crash at the Ocala, Florida track back on March 12, as well as some issues still hanging on from his Lima Half-Mile crash in June 2012.

Matt contacted me earlier today to let us all know what his situation is, and you can read his full release below as well as his message to Stu's Shots.

Matt is shown at the Springfield Mile II on September 16 as he heads out for his heat race on the #20 Scott Powersports/Saddlemen/Fiorio Investments/SNIP-sponsored Kawasaki, at round 13 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season.



Matt's release

As most of you have known me for several years, you know that I have raced flat track since the age of 4 and turned pro at 16.  This is my 6th season as an Expert Pro and I have been in the top-10 every year.  I strive to always do my best in everything.  Most of you also know that I attend college online, working on my Bachelor's and then on for my Master's Degree in Accounting.  I also work full time.

I am sorry that this has taken so long since Daytona, but I have been having some problems and wanted to update all my great sponsors who have supported me for many years.  I crashed hard at Ocala on March 12th and suffered a concussion.  It is really hard to not race when you are even half-capable, especially after months of prep and spending money on race bikes and travel, so I decided to race Daytona.

I am probably one of the few racers that will tell you they Love the Daytona track, I always do good here and look forward to this track.  I wanted two more podiums this year, but walked away content with a 6th- and 7th-place finish, and I had to come from last place, both nights!

I am having residual effects from the concussion and saw a Sports Neurologist two weeks ago, he works with the Yankees, Pro Bull riders, boxers and other professional athletes.  My brain is fine, but needs to rest.

I am taking a couple months off, possibly more, and hope to return for Lima, which is my favorite track.  I will probably race a limited schedule this year.  Mike Scott, who is my Twins Series ride/sponsor, has been very understanding and will be ready when I am.  I have been very fortunate in 17 years of racing, to have only broken two bones, but have had several concussions.  I also had a severe upper respiratory infection after Daytona and after a couple weeks of antibiotics, was finally better. It has been a rough month, so I am sorry for the delay, but thanks to all of my great sponsors!


Matt Weidman #20


I also received this personal note from Matt today concerning his injuries:

"I wanted to let you know, you always give me great press.  The neurologist said I also suffered a small bleed in my brain last year at Lima, and I am guessing this is serious enough to take my time and heal.  I have some visual symptoms left and am going to see an eye doctor probably next week to make sure everything is okay and hopefully in a couple months that will clear up, too.

"This was the letter I sent to my sponsors, you can change it if you like.  I also put something on my Facebook page to my fans.  I will miss everyone at Springfield, you know what a race junky I am, and this is hard for me."

Take care,

Matt


We really hate to hear this news about Matt, one of the nicest racers on the circuit as well as one of the most capable.

Having followed closely Matt's progression in The Rolling Thunder Show since his first AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship podium at the Lima Half-Mile in June 2010, the New York State resident is one of the hardest chargers on the circuit, as well as one of the most well-rounded people around the sport.

With the support and backing from his Mom and Dad (Rachel and Guy) for years, last season was the first full season that they haven't been around to help support him at the track, after 'retiring' from full-time competition at the end of the 2011 season.  But their great upbringing is still there with Matt himself, every time he unloads and every time he talks to his friends and fans around the track.

After starting the 2012 season riding for the DFW Honda team in the Singles Series events (where he promptly went out and won his first-ever Grand National race at Daytona II), Matt also spent time riding for the GCR Racing team in the early part of the 2012 season in the Twins Series events.  Matt was riding for the GCR team when he set fast time at Lima in June '12, where minutes later in the closing session of qualifying he crashed heavily coming out of turn 2, ironically while riding his family-supported White's H-D XR750, that was all but totaled in the melee when Matt caught the outside fence and was pitched into the track end-over-end.

After suffering a shoulder and ankle injury, Matt returned later in the season to race for the Mike Scott/Scott Powersports Kawasaki 650R-based Twins Series team, starting with the Indy Mile on August 18.  Matt finished the season riding the bike that former rider Johnny Lewis had vacated after the Hagerstown Half-Mile round in early July, and ended the season ranked 10th in the overall points standings in the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season.

Matt will be sorely missed at the track, but obviously right now the best thing to do is get healed up completely so he can get back to doing what he loves best.....racing. 

We wish Matt a speedy and complete recovery and to let him know we're behind him all the way in knowing he'll return as soon as he can to throw another leg over a flat track bike in anger with the best again.  Get well man, thanks, and heal-up quickly!

AMA Pro Flat Track: IMDA & RIDE Academy Team to Bring 'Legends Race' to Springfield Mile I Round 4 on May 26 to Help Promote Newly-Announced Pro-Level Basic Twins Class

Round 6 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season at the Springfield Mile I saw a handful of the top riders in the series, past, present and future ready to roll out for one of the practice sessions on May 29 for the first of two mile events to be held on the schedule for the new season.

Bryan Smith on the #42 Fasthog.com-sponsored XR750, Matt Weidman on the #20 White's H-D-backed XR, Chris Carr on the #4 American Motorcyclist Association-backed XR and Jared Mees on the #9 Rogers Lake Racing-sponsored XR get ready to put their talents, wrists and machinery to work in the early part of the day's program at the Illinois State Fairgrounds-hosted event.

Carr, who was in his final season of 'full-time' racing, is one of several former greats in The Rolling Thunder Show that will be returning to Springfield on May 26 to entertain the fans and help promote newly-announced Basic Twins Class for  the up-and-coming Pro-level riders.  2000 AMA Grand National Champion Joe Kopp and 3-Time AMA Grand National Champion Jay Springsteen will join the 7-Time Champ along with a handful of other veterans and greats of the sport in putting on a special exhibition race to be held as part of the day's program during the Memorial Day Weekend thriller.

The IMDA and RIDE Academy (owned and operated by former and current AMA Grand National greats Mike Hacker, Johnny Lewis and Kenny Coolbeth, Jr.) are banding together to put on this very special event in the hopes of showcasing the past greats of the sport, while the Expert-ranked contenders and the Pro-level riders do their job to showcase the present and future stars of the greatest racing show on two wheels in the world while competing in the day's regular portion of the program.

This is one event of any on the schedule, but especially one that is held at Springfield, that you won't want to miss.  Everyone knows you must have a ticket to see this great race, but with the day's action planned at Springfield on May 26, the seat you buy it for probably won't get much use throughout the day's events.

Thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track for the press release below which will help fill you in on more of the details, and another round of thanks goes out to the IMDA, who twice a season tirelessly put on a super event at Springfield, and also to the great group of guys at RIDE Academy for going to such great lengths in order to further promote and better the great sport that is the AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship.  You guys rock!

IMDA and Ride Academy to Host Race of Legends when AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Returns to Springfield Mile on Memorial Day Weekend

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 12, 2013) - AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles will be bringing the series to Springfield, Ill. on May 26, 2013 for its first go-around of the Springfield Mile this year.  Along with the usual intense racing action, Ride Academy is set to host a "Race of Legends" during the event.

 

"The Springfield Mile is really shaping up to be another spectacular event and this is just one of the many projects that the IMDA has in the works," said Dan Johnsen, Director of AMA Pro Flat Track.  "The history of this sport is what makes it so great, and we know that our fans will appreciate this opportunity to see their favorite legends back on the track."

 

The race will include a select group of past Grand National Championship event winners who will be on hand to show their support for the Basic Twins class scheduled to return to the series.  Jay Springsteen, Joe Kopp, Rich King, Ronnie Jones, Steve Beattie, Steve Morehead, Mike Hacker and Chris Carr will all be in attendance and participating in the race.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The main event in the AMA Pro Singles Championship roars off the line during round 16 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season at the Springfield Mile II on September 4.  The great group of people that run the IMDA, the promoters of the Springfield Mile events, will be teaming up with RIDE Academy for the upcoming round 4 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season on May 26 to bring a host of former racing legends together in a special exhibition 'legends race' to help promote AMA Pro Flat Track's new plans for a Basic Twins Class in order to get the Pro-level riders more experience on a Twins Series-based bike.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.

 

 

Mounted on Honda dirt bikes courtesy of Ride Academy, the former stars of the sport will race on a short track specifically designed for this event, giving the fans a "bird's eye view" of all the action.  The race will be located on the front-stretch of the Springfield Mile and will measure at about a quarter-mile in length.  Each participant will be provided number plates and jerseys so that the fans will be able to identify very easily who's who on the track.  The race format will include two six--lap heat races and one 12-lap Main Event.

 

Ride Academy is a school that former flat track rider Mike Hacker created when he retired from racing.  The veteran uses his knowledge obtained from racing to help out current riders of today's era. In addition to the "Race of Legends" and AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Springfield Mile event, Ride Academy will also be holding motorcycle instructional classes before all the action even kicks off on Wednesday and Thursday, May 22-23, 2013.

 

AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles will head to the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill. for the Springfield Mile on May 26, 2013.  For tickets to the event and additional information on the Race of Legends, please visit the IMDA's website at http://www.illinoismda.com/.

 

About AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles:

 

AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles 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 2013 schedule consists of rounds on the country's finest flat track courses.  For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles, please visit http://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

Saturday Cinema Matinee from AMA Pro Flat Track Brings You the Final National Main from the 2012 Springfield TT

Round 3 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season saw the cast and crew of The Rolling Thunder Show head to the Illinois State Fairgrounds for what would be the final National event held at the Multipurpose Arena for the foreseeable future. 

With the still-varying economy and so many other events being held over the course of the Memorial Day Weekend, crowd turnout at the 'little track that could' just wouldn't hold-up or make a National event feasible for the IMDA to continue to operate without massive losses to their already slim budget.  Of note, the Saturday night races before both of the Springfield Mile I (May 26) and the Springfield Mile II (September 1) will still be running races this year, but now will be promoted by the fine group of folks out of Paducah, KY. also known as Steve Nace Racing Promotions.

The SNR folks will be visiting Springfield on both weekends with TT and Short Track rounds of the 2013 Steve Nace Racing All-Star AMA National Flat Track Series presented by Golden Tyre, and those events are all but guaranteed to be what I like to call 'mini Nationals,' or races that are attended by a majority of the Grand National regulars looking to supplement their weekends at top-tiered races hosted at or near where there is a scheduled National event close by. 

For your enjoyment on this fine spring weekend, and thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track's YouTube page, today we bring you last year's final National main event from the Springfield TT, as produced from the great folks at the Lucas Oil Motorsports Hour crew.  In it's entirety as seen on MavTV and NBC Sports Network, all 49+ minutes of viewing pleasure have been uploaded to the AMA Pro Vids page, and it's worth taking the time to kick back on a lazy spring afternoon with a cool beverage of your choice to check this one out and relive the excitement of one of the best venues in the business.

In the shot above from heat 3 of the 2012 Springfield TT from May 26, the stars of the greatest racing series on two wheels in the world take off for their 10-lap qualifying heat to determine the 18-rider grid in the 25-lap main event.

(L-R); Cory Texter on the #65 RLT Racing Honda CRF450R, Brad Baker on the #12 Kenny Tolbert Racing Kawasaki KX450F, Matt Weidman on the #20 DFW Honda Racing CRF450, Mick Kirkness on the #87 Yeagers Cycle Suzuki RMZ450, Briar Bauman on the #10Z USC Kawasaki, and eventual heat, Dash and National main winner Henry Wiles on the #17 Don's Kawasaki blast off the line in unison.

Also seen in this shot are Dustin Crow on the #61 Greg Crow Racing Honda (2nd row, between Kirkness and Bauman), Sammy Halbert on the #7 Fredericktown Yamaha YZ450F (just over Wiles' left shoulder on row 2), and Lucas Scherb on the #22 DFW Honda (just behind Wiles on row 2.)

So kick back and enjoy the action, and get ready for the rest of the season ahead in the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship!


AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship round 3 of the 2012 season, the Springfield TT

You can use this as a study guide to help you relive the action at the Springfield TT with the results from AMA Pro Flat Track.

AMA Pro Flat Track News & Updates Heading Into the Season-Opening Rounds at Daytona on March 14-15

Former 2008 AMA Pro Flat Track Rookie of the Year Matt Weidman spilled the beans on Facebook earlier this week that he would be campaigning the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track J&P Cycles Grand National Championship Twins Series events on the Scott Powersports Kawasaki again, after having campaigned the 650R-based mounts throughout the second half of the 2012 season.

Weidman, who took over the seat on the Scott Powersports team midway through the 2012 year after initial rider Johnny Lewis left the team after round 6 of the season at the Hagerstown Speedway, is listed as an early entry for rounds 1-2 at the Daytona Short Track next week on his DFW Honda/SNIP-sponsored Honda, and is expected to resume his spot in the Scott Powersports saddle at round 3 that is still a TBA on the schedule on May 4 (although I have heard this round may not happen.  Should that be the case, Mighty Matt's first time riding the Scott Kawi this year should happen on May 11 at the Stockton Mile.)

In the shot above from round 13 of the 2012 season at the Springfield Mile II, Matt stands in line during rider intros, along with the help of his Mom, Rachel and Dad, Guy, who were on-hand to help him out at the Illiniois State Fairgrounds rain-delayed event.  Team owner and stalwart, Mike Scott, was not able to be at the track due to scheduling problems, so Matt's parents gladly came out of 'retirement' to help the New York resident out on the day with set-up on the #20 Scott Powersports/Saddlemen/Fiorio Investments/SNIP-sponsored Kawi.  It was great seeing them back at the track helping him out as they always bring a big lending hand and another pair of big smiles to Matt's efforts.  Matt also did a nice job of rocking former National #20's leathers, Johnny 'Show Time' Murphree, but is slated to wear a nice new set for the upcoming year.  Check it out below.

You can check out a picture of Matt in his new Scott Powersports leathers here from Matt's Facebook page, and we wish the hard charger and Daytona 2012 round 2-winner the best of luck, again, for the upcoming season!

Briar Bauman, the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Saddlemen Rookie of the Year, will be making a big change to his 2013 campaign in the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season as he will be riding for one of the long-time tuners and supporters of the series this year.

After riding for the USC Racing/Hart Racing and Rod Lake Racing teams in his rookie campaign in the 2012 season, Bauman has been slated to ride for the Memphis Shades Yamaha team, helmed by none other then former factory Yamaha and Harley-Davidson tuner and wrench to the stars, Babe DeMay, with factory backing from the Yamaha Motor Company.  Bauman will be tasked with riding the new Yamaha Tenere, which will make it's debut this season in the Twins Series events.

The California resident will also be switching numbers for his 2013 season, and bolting on the #14 plate to his machines, following in the footsteps of Jake Johnson (who wore the #14 up until the 2010 season when he switched to the #5) and Hank Scott, who in this old timer's eyes made that number pretty darn famous from the '74 season until his retirement at the end of the '88 season.

In this shot from round 12 of the 2012 season, Bauman puts the #10Z Rod Lake Racing/Browns Cycle/Arai/Gene & Gail Cummings-backed Honda CRF450R through it's paces during the final practice session of the final Springfield Short Track on September 15.

Thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track for this link to the official press release about Double-B #14 hooking up with one of the long-time supporters and campaigners of the series, the legendary Babe DeMay.

A pair of Bonneville Peformance Triumph/Wiseco/Safety Kleen/Eddie Atkins-sponsored Triumphs sit at the ready for 2011 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Champion Mikey Martin #91 at round 4 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track season on May 27. 

Martin and the team, in their first year together, finished in the 20th-place spot in the overall standings of the 2012 season, and showed some real promise throughout the second-half of the year after making their first National main event together at the Sacramento Mile in late July, and making four more mains (Indy, Knoxville, Santa Rosa, Tucson) to round out the year.

The California Kid with the big afro haircut and the Bonneville Performance Triumph team announced the other day that they would be pairing-up with the just-announced team of Latus Motors Triumph (with rider Johnny Lewis and former Grand National Champion Joe Kopp heading up the team) for the upcoming Twins Series events for the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season.  And they will be bringing new sponsorship on-board in the form of the U.S. Marines.

You can read more about this great news for the Bonneville Performance team and rider Mikey Martin here, again thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track.

After riding for the the Werner-Springsteen Racing/Monster Energy/Cometic/Barnett-sponsored Kawasaki team in the 2012 season, Brandon Robinson #44 has hooked up with the T.J. Burnett Farms/USC Racing/James Hart Racing/Arai-sponsored Kawasaki team for the upcoming season, as was announced in November.

The team got off to a fantastic start to the season yesterday at round 1 of the 2013 Steve Nace Racing AMA All-Star event at Oglethorpe Speedway outside Savannah, GA. with BRob44 taking home the wins in both the Expert Singles and Expert Twins events over other AMA Pro Flat Track headliners Jake Johnson, Rob Pearson, JD Beach, Henry Wiles, Kenny Coolbeth and a big handful of others.

The former Expert Twins Champion tears it up in the shot above aboard the #44 Werner-Springsteen Kawasaki at round 5 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track season at the Allen County Fairgrounds-hosted Lima Half-Mile on June 30, during one of the final practice and qualifying sessions of the day.

Great job guys, what a way to start the first big race of the season, congrats!

You can see the full event results here thanks to Chew & Mia, The Fans in the Stands from FlatTrack.com.


The Steve Nace Racing 2013 AMA All Star National Flat Track Series by Golden Tyre heads to Volusia Speedway Park tomorrow in Barberville, FL. before rounds 1-2 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season kick-off on Thursday, March 14-15 at the Daytona International Speedway-hosted short track.

AMA Pro Flat Track Reviews Round 12 of the 2012 Season at the Final Springfield Short Track Grand National

In what was a bittersweet ending to a great little venue on the series' schedule, 48 riders showed up to show their form at round 12 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the final Grand National to be held for the foreseeable future at the Springfield Short Track on September 15. 

Having been an annual doubleheader round paired up with the Labor Day Weekend running of the Springfield Mile II, the Multipurpose Arena-hosted event has been on the calendar going on over a dozen years now and has a long list of big-name winners including JR Schnabel, Jr., Chris Carr and the most current record-holder at Springfield, Henry Wiles.

Five of those riders are lined up and ready to go out for the first practice session above, and will end up a variety of results when the evening's racing is complete.  Of course, Henry Wiles will win his 6th event in-a-row on the #17 Don's Kawasaki/DPC Racing/Nick Nazzisi/Schiller's Tree Svc-backed KX450F to cement his name in the legends column of all-time short track winners, tying now-retired and 7-Time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr for the most wins on a short track (9 each) in AMA Grand National racing.

Hammerin' Hank had to work a little more for this one, taking 20 laps to finally get around early leader Brad Baker on his #12 Brothers Powersports/D&D Exhaust/Schenk Racing Enterprise/Boughner Racing Suspension-sponsored Honda CRF450R to take that win, but The Bullet was that one that showed a resurgence in his short track abilities to let everyone know he hasn't forgotten how to run up at the front of a Grand National main event.  A very fine effort from last year's AMA Pro Flat Track Saddlemen Rookie of the Year.

Jake Johnson came into the final Singles Series event of the season hoping to nab the win at Springfield to go along with his double-win on the mile and his Springfield TT win of May '11 to be the only man to win all three events held on the Illinois State Fairgrounds.  By the end of the evening he had taken the #1 Zanotti Racing/Schaeffer's H-D/Southland Pro Suspension/Arai-backed Honda to a 5th-place spot after running in the top-3 earlier in the final race of the night but had stayed with sight of current point leader Jared Mees who left with the 2012 Singles Championship and a 3rd-place finish.

Matt Weidman was back on his #20 DFW Honda/SNIP/Fiorio Investments/Shoei-backed CRF450R and also hoping to end the day with another win to go along with his first-ever Grand National win at the Daytona Short Track II earlier in the season.  He ended the night with a solid 10th-place finish after battling throughout the night with Rob Pearson #27 (8th) and Brandon Robinson #44 (9th).

Probably the hardest hit in terms of points lost in the championship battle for the evening was taken by Sammy Halbert on his #7 The South Ass/Fredericktown Yamaha/GYTR/Van's Yamaha-sponsored YZ450F, who was forced to race one of the semis and losing out on a direct qualifying spot to the main.  Forced to take a provisional fourth-row start in the 19th spot on the grid, Slammin' Sammy worked his way back for a 14th-place finish to close out the evening's event.

Thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track for the official review of the Springfield Short Track in the press release below!

AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com and Lucas Oil Race Recap: Springfield Short Track

Wiles Wins With Jared Mees Picking up 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Expert Singles Championship

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 25, 2012) - Hurricane Isaac delayed Springfield Short Track, Round 12 of the AMA Pro Racing Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com and Lucas Oil, for two weeks, but the delay proved to be worth the wait. The Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association had the little "bull ring" at the Illinois State Fairgrounds race ready and in typical short track fashion there was pushing, shoving, bar banging and passes galore. The 48 Expert qualifiers were separated by eight tenths of a second from first to forty eighth.   For 20 laps it appeared that Brad Baker (Brothers Powersports) would hold on and win his first Grand National main event, but Grand Nationals are 25 lap affairs and when the dust settled it was Don's Kawasaki's Henry Wiles once again on top of the box.  "I didn't think I was going to be able to pull it off. It took me a long time to get going. I think it all worked out just right for me," said Wiles. "I've said that I was always in the right spot at the right time and tonight it seemed like I was in the wrong spot at the wrong time and it was keeping me for making some passes. It had to be a great race to watch from the stands. I'm just glad that I could come out on top."   Wiles' win, his ninth Short Track National victory proved to have some historical significance also. "It ties me for the all-time short track wins record with Chris Carr. I think he had nine short track wins and that's pretty neat," added Wiles. "It's a little feather in the cap. Probably doesn't really matter much, but I look up to Chris Carr a lot. I knew when he was racing with us I felt fortunate just to be able to race with him. I have a lot of respect for a guy like that who has won so many races."   Young mister Baker is still looking for that elusive first win, but looked well positioned early on as he withstood the challenges of Jake Johnson (Zanotti Racing) then Briar Bauman (Rod Lake Racing / Brown's Cycles) before Johnson again. Wiles bided his time in fourth until mid-race, when he started to come to the front.   "I was doing some shuffling around there. I was back into fourth for about half the race," said Wiles. It was such tight racing. It was almost hard to make a move on somebody, if you did, somebody was going to be making a move on you. I got up into third behind Jake and I passed him down in three and four. When I got to Brad I knew my pace was going to be faster. I kind of rode behind him waiting for him to make a mistake. I just started trying to go around him on the outside. I was making it work, I don't know how. It didn't seem like that was a good move to make all night. If you made it then you were going to get passed on the low side. The low side was so hooked up. He saw that I was going high and thought the high line was faster. That was all it took for me because my bike was working real good down low. That was, for sure, my favorite Springfield Short Track. I really earned it, but I missed out on a few laps there for lap money."                             It took 20 laps for Henry Wiles to make his move but he got around early leader Brad Baker to score his 6th win at the final Grand National at the Springfield Short Track on the #17 Don's Kawasaki.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.     "I led about 20 laps of it. In the beginning I could hear them a little bit, but I could feel when I knocked off a good lap," said Baker. "I kind of gained my distance, but there on lap 20, I definitely felt the heat. I knew the bottom was starting to go away and I wasn't getting as good of lap times. Henry gave me a wheel on the outside. I thought I better swap up my lines and chase the moisture a little bit. The first time I did that going into one, I hooked a hole. It sent me almost straight off the race track.  That's when Henry and Jake got by me. Luckily I got right back by Jake, but Henry already had his rhythm going. It's a shame that I had twenty and didn't do the last five. I've had two second place finishes and four thirds, a couple fourths and fifths. I've been doing good, I just need to get that number 1 spot, it's the last one left."   Almost unnoticed, current AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Flat Track Championship points leader Jared Mees (Montgomeryville Cycle / Rogers Racing) clawed his way into the final podium position on lap 22. The strong finish was plenty for Mees to win the 2012 AMA Pro Grand National Singles Championship over Sammy Halbert (Fredericktown Yamaha), 121 to 103.    "I didn't get the greatest start. As the track slickened off, my motorcycle was just better and better. We just kept picking them off. I think if I got just a little more aggressive at the end, I probably could have peeled out a second. I played it a little on the safe side," said Mees. "The singles title was really rewarding to me. I do a lot of my own preparation work. I prepare the bikes during the week. In the off season I build the motors, degree the cams and everything. My buddy Craig Pickett here taught me how to build them. It's pretty rewarding to both of us to win a number 1 plate, right out of my own two car garage. My friend Brent (Armbruster) works endless hours on the twins and helps me on the day of the race with the singles. We have to keep pushing towards the overall now."  While Mees' night got better and better his main challenger, Sammy Halbert's went from bad to worse. In Halbert's heat race he went from competing for a spot in the dash to a trip to the semis with one little mistake. His night went even further sour when he jumped the start in his semi and could not work his way from row four into the main. Halbert did use his provisional to start the National, but could only salvage a 14th place finish.   Defending Grand National Champion Jake Johnson appeared to be the rider to beat all night after posting fast qualifying time and winning heat one. A close third in the Dash for Cash behind the young lions, Bauman and Baker and a quick start in the National looked to have Johnson positioned for his first win of 2012.  "The race was exciting, that's for sure. There was a lot going on. I thought we had a pretty good shot, but so did six other guys," said Johnson. "I was up front early, in second and third, then Henry made a move on Brad. He took the lead and I got up into second. Going into three on the next lap Brad came back underneath me and I kind of ran wide. That was kind of the beginning of the end for me, it opened the door up. I think Jared ended up getting back by too. He was stuck to the bottom pretty good. I got a little impatient and was trying to make it work on the outside and that let Briar through. It was just kind of chaos on the last few laps for me. I guess it could have been worse. On a short track, I guess I could have ended up on the ground or something. It wasn't what we wanted, but we will take it. For the most part it was a pretty clean race. There were some mistakes and some forced mistakes. There was definitely some bumping and banging, but you had to."   Saddlemen Rookie of the Year leader Briar Bauman was all over Baker early on, but a few trips off the fast line pushed him back to fifth before passing Johnson on lap 24 to regain fourth. "I think I had something for Henry, but I just made some mistakes that I shouldn't have. In that class (Expert) you can't make mistakes," said Bauman. "Being up there and getting a chance to run with those guys and getting to actually race with them was getting to me a little bit. I made mistakes, I got a little too western.  It was my best GNC finish and winning the dash was cool," added Bauman. "We tried something new on the bike for the dash. We did that and came out of turn two in the lead. I didn't even know what to do, I was excited. Brad beat me in the heat race and in the dash he came in second to me. I was basically racing with Brad the whole night. It's kind of cool. We kind of grew up together riding. Now here we are racing at this level."  JD Beach (USC Kawasaki), Jeffrey Carver (Carver's BBQ / Twigg Cycles), Rob Pearson (RPR / Peoria Motorcycle Club), Brandon Robinson (Action Motorsports) and Matt Weidman (DFW Honda) rounded out the top ten.   Bonneville Performance's Mikey Martin claimed the night's MotoBatt "Hard Charger" Award by advancing five positions to finish in 13th place.   GNC Race Results Current GNC Combined Points Standings   1 Henry Wiles 26 Laps 1 Jared Mees 243 2 Brad Baker 0.94 2 Jake Johnson 231 3 Jared Mees 1.18 3 Sammy Halbert 220 4 Briar Bauman 1.315 4 Bryan Smith 172 5 Jake Johnson 1.712 5 Brad Baker 144 6 JD Beach 1.842 6 Henry Wiles 140 7 Jeffrey Carver Jr. 2.147 7 Jeffrey Carver Jr. 126 8 Robert Pearson 3.85 8 Matt Weidman 114 9 Brandon Robinson 4.08 9 Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. 113 10 Matt Weidman 4.218 10 Brandon Robinson 98 11 Kayl Kolkman 6.363 12 Bryan Smith 7.257 13 Michael Martin 10.435 14 Sammy Halbert 11.162 15 Chad Cose 11.204 16 Jake Mataya 11.408 17 Jethro Halbert 11.868 18 Cory Texter 12.406 19 Ion Stear 24 Laps   Sunoco "Go the Distance" Award Update   Jeffrey Carver Jr. - 381.08 Jared Mees - 371.3 Jake Johnson - 363.14 Bryan Smith 356.39   Saddlemen "Rookie of the Year" Update   Briar Bauman - 94 Mikey Martin - 26 Mikey Avila - 20

Photos from Springfield Short Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Expert Singles Main Event Henry Wiles on Springfield Short Track Springfield Short Track Heat Races, Semi Races and LCQ Santa Rosa Mile September 30, 2012 Event Info

Bromley Scores First Career AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Win in Action Packed Main Event

AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles   With 55 riders on hand, the ultra competitive AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles class was going to be sending 23 riders home after the mid-afternoon timed practice. It turned out there would be less than half a second separating fast time, Wyatt Maguire (Kirkland Racing) and first non-qualifier Haden Avery (O'Neal MX).   Two heats and a Last Chance Qualifier whittled the field down to 18 for the 16-lap main. Dan Bromley (Bromley Brothers / KTM Racing) surprised even himself when he got the hole shot and claimed the lead over Jason Isennock (Highs Dairy Stores).  When I got here, I just wanted to qualify for the main event," said Bromley. "When I qualified, I just wanted to run a solid heat race. I didn't have the best starting spot in the main but I had faith in my KTM. I could feel the riders around me on the final laps and I knew I had to be perfect. Thankfully I crossed the line first and I'm so happy to get this win."                             Dan Bromley on the #54L Bromley Brothers KTM took his first-ever win in the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship at the final Grand National at the Springfield Short Track on September 15.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.     The former Horizon Award winner's first ever AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Main Event win didn't come without its trials. Just past the half way point Ryan Wells (5 Star Steel & Fabrication), who was running mid-pack, fell hard in turn one. The red flag came out and a single file restart was in order with just seven laps remaining.  Wells, who had been second in the points coming in, took a ride back to the pits and did not restart. Ironically one lap earlier points leader Stephen Vanderkuur had left the race.  Bromley was up to the task, holding the point into turn one, but he had a new challenger as Wyatt Maguire made a big move past Isennock, when Isennock clipped Bromley's rear wheel. Will Cato (Bob Weirbach Racing) also moved up and despite all Maguire's efforts the top three positions were set.   Isennock held on to fourth over Jake Shoemaker (Montgomeryville Cycle Center / Bob Weirbach Racing). By way of his fifth place finish Shoemaker takes over the points lead going into the Springfield Mile on Sunday.   Pro Singles Race Results Current Pro Singles Point Standings   1 Dan Bromley 16 Laps 1 Stephen Vanderkuur 151 2 Wyatt Maguire 0.183 2 Jason Isennock 150 3 William Cato 0.613 3 Jake Shoemaker 149 4 Jason Isennock 1.162 4 Ryan Wells 132 5 Jake Shoemaker 1.573 5 Dominic Colindres 118 6 Dustin Cassidy 1.742 6 Gerit Callies 107 7 Justin Reed 2.194 7 Shayna Texter 105 8 Cole Anderson 2.59 8 Wyatt Maguire 99 9 Dominic Colindres 2.926 9 Jake Cunningham 95 10 Kinji Eto 3.218 10 Zakk Palmer 78 11 Jake Cunningham 3.516 12 Zack Cassidy 3.811 13 Nick Mataya 3.874 14 Rodney Spencer Jr. 4.04 15 Jay Maloney 5.206 16 Joseph Bromley 6.974 17 Ryan Wells 9 Laps 18 Stephen Vanderkuur 8 Laps Sunoco "Go the Distance" Award Update   Jason Isennock - 252.14 Jake Shoemaker - 249.97 Wyatt Maguire - 241.06 Stephen Vanderkuur - 230.58

Photos from Springfield Short Track Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Main Event Santa Rosa Mile September 30, 2012 Event Info | Tickets

Next Up   The stars of AMA Pro Flat Track head to the West Coast for the Santa Rosa Mile September 30th, 2012. For tickets and information, please visit http://santarosamile.com/.

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