AMA Pro Flat Track & McElroy Packaging Announce New Sponsorship Partnership and 'Lucky 13' Award

A new sponsor and partnership with AMA Pro Flat Track was announced this week when Ohio-based McElroy Packaging jumped on board to sponsor a new 'Lucky 13' Award for the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series. The new award will be pay a $1K bonus to the leader of the 13th lap in each of the season's 15 events this year.

McElroy has been associated with The Rolling Thunder Show for several years now, having served as associate sponsors to the brother and sister team of Cory and Shayna Texter, so they are no 'newbe' to the greatest racing series on two wheels in the world.

In the shot above, Shayna Texter and the #52 Richie Morris Racing/McElroy Packaging/Sportbike Track Time-sponsored Kawasaki team await their turn during the rider intros part of the program during round 11 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series at the Springfield Mile II on September 6. (Note the presence of McElroy Packaging as one of Shayna's main sponsors on the side of the gas tank on her immaculately prepared Kawasaki.)

This is great news to hear of another sponsorship partnership coming on board with the season now less then two weeks off as the Daytona Short Track doubleheader kicks off on Thursday, March 10!

Check out the full press release below that fully outlines the particulars of McElroy's inclusion in the new season ahead below thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track.

AMA Pro Racing and McElroy Packaging announce AMA Pro Flat Track partnership and introduction of "Lucky 13" award

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 24, 2016) - As the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track season grows closer, the stakes grow larger. Stepping up from a contingency sponsor to an official series partner, McElroy Packaging has teamed up with AMA Pro Racing to create a new bonus award for the sport. As part of the McElroy Packaging "Lucky 13" award, the rider leading at the completion of the 13th lap in each of the season's Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines main events will receive a $1,000 bonus. "McElroy Packaging has been a long-time supporter of the sport and we appreciate their expanded partnership," said Michael Lock, CEO of AMA Pro Racing. "The 'Lucky 13' award is a creative way to give back to the riders, and will add yet another element to the excitement on the racetrack." The winner of each McElroy Packaging "Lucky 13" award will be announced at the event and on the live streaming broadcasts, exposing the company to the brand-loyal AMA Pro Flat Track fans in the grandstands and watching online via FansChoice.tv. "We're eager to enhance our partnership by upgrading from a contingency sponsor last year to an Official Partner this year, and adding the 'Lucky 13' award," said Steve McElroy, Vice President of McElroy Packaging. "It's great knowing that our award puts an extra grand in someone's pocket each race and that it really is up for grabs to any GNC1 competitor. We also believe that by being involved with AMA Pro Flat Track, and the sport as a whole, it will benefit our company and all of the athletes in the long-run." For more information about McElroy Packaging, please visit their website at http://www.mcelroypackaging.com/. Next Up: The 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track season will once again kick off with a doubleheader at the DAYTONA Flat Track during Daytona's Bike Week festivities. The twin short track races will take place at the "World Center of Racing" on Thursday and Friday, March 10 & 11. For additional information and to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/Events/2016/DAYTONA-Flat-Track/DAYTONA-Flat-Track.aspx. 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

Danny Eslick, Buell, and Richie Morris Racing Follow Up

While over the w/e Danny Eslick romped the field in

both of the Fontana AMA Daytona Sportbike races, the

talk around the internet--and I am sure at the races as

well--has been the 'extra displacement' that the Buell

has been allowed compared to the 600cc inline-fours. As

a result of all this consternation, one--or two--things have been

overlooked.

One of those is the talents of Danny Eslick. While all the

nay-sayers seem to focus on the 1125cc +/- that the Buell

is allowed, the fact still remains even a sled has to have a great

rider. Not taking away anything from any of the other great

riders that have been running the class this year.

And the second, for sure, is the motorcycle. And I am here to present you

with some shots of the Bruce Rossmeyer/Richie Morris Racing-Geico sponsored

Buell. Now of course as these shots were taken in September 2008 at the

Indy MotoGP race, the make-up of the bike is most certainly different per the

difference in class rules from last to this year. And the paint job is definitely

a lot brighter and more eye-appealing overall. Just my opinion mind you.

But nonetheless, you get the idea of what the machine is like and looks like

that is setting the world-or at least the AMA Pro Racing Daytona

Sportbike-class world, on fire. And those like myself, and many of you,

who still follow it in spite of the way that the DMG group

has managed to put it on it's head.

There is also a link that I wanted to add to these shots as well, that the good people

over at http://www.roadracerx.com/ ran a story on the team today. And it is a VERY good

article with the outlook of the genius behind the bike on what his and their perceptions

are to all of the bruhaha---did I spell that right??---that has transformed this wonderful

world of U.S. or AMA Road Racing into a very intense discussion no matter the side you

chose to stand on. Mr. Morris also talks about their other rider, Michael Barnes, who has

been racing motorcycles on at least this continent for at least as long as I can remember it.

The guy has an intense enthusiasm about racing and can also ride just about darned anything,

and has, on two wheels. I posted the shot of Mr. Barnes on #34 M4 Suzuki GSXR-600 that

I took of him last year at Road America. This was during the rain practice on Friday that

w/e and back in turn 10. Also the same corner I shot the pic of Danny Eslick from the w/e

post. Here is the link to that story:

http://www.roadracerx.com/features/between-the-races/between-the-races-richie-morris/

....and another.....

http://www.roadracerx.com/features/tuesday-conversation/tuesday-conversation-michael-barnes/

So no matter which side you choose on the size of the displacement versus the amount of

cylinders you are allowed or the make of the motorcycle that you will be allowed to run in

any given class as designed, you at least have to take the time to enjoy and respect those

that can and will find the way to win. Be it the immense talents of Mr.'s Eslick, Barnes, and

Morris at this moment in time, or be it the lines between the rule book, the fact still remains

it all has to fit together perfectly before it becomes a true and complete puzzle.

Danny Eslick Wins Fontana Race 1 AMA Sportbike

For those of you still following the DMG-operated AMA
Superbike....errrr........Pro Racing Series this year will be
hearing a lot of this name this year. Danny Eslick, aboard
the Richie Morris Racing Harley-based Buell 1125 just
minutes ago won race one at Fontana, CA., in the Daytona
Sportbike class. This is called such since the NasCrash heads
of the DMG-Daytona Motorsports Group-took over running
of our beloved AMA Superbike Series. But that is another story
for another time.

Danny Eslick is the reason for this little post. The above shot of him
was taken at Road America in June '08. He was aboard a Matsushima
Suzuki GSXR-600 at the time, and this was the old existing FX-formula
extreme-class under the old AMA-operated Superbike Series. The class was
for the most part mini-supersports-almost mini-superbikes on steroids.
But Mr. Eslick, who comes from a dirt track background, managed to win
the first Fontana round by over 2.5 seconds. On a Buell no less. Heck, he was
running right up at the front if not leading for the better part of the Daytona 200
until the insides of the Buell trying to run at 160+ on the banks at Daytona rattled
the radiator and fairing brackets loose. But that's another story altogether now as well....

Congrats to Danny Eslick, and to Buell, for being able to put together an impressive run
against some formidable talent. With the shorter races now for the remainder of
the schedule, we probably won't be seeing any other mechanicals because of vibration.
Which is good. This kid has talent and I think with this class structure being what it is
(please see AMA rules at http://www.amaproracing.com/ ) for that list to be better to understand it.
But that being said, keep an eye and ear out for more Danny Eslick sightings.
I'm sure they will be there!