AMA Pro Flat Track Sacramento Mile Round Set for May 21; Can Bryan Smith Make it Six In-a-Row?

Bryan Smith has owned the Sacramento Mile round of the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series since his string of wins started during the 2011 season aboard his and his father Barry's Moroney's H-D XR750.

Since that time and with the help of his Howerton Motorsports Kawasaki and main team members Ricky Howerton, Jeff Gordon and Dink Glidden he has all but owned the Cal-Expo event in California and looks to add to his legend on the left coast in just four short weeks as the series heads to round 5 of the 2016 season on Saturday, May 21 just one week after the next round on the calendar and the series newest venue at the Law Tigers Arizona Mile.

Winning five series races in-a-row is a testament to itself for Flyin' Bryan and the team, but to be able to put together a sixth win at the Sacto Mile would be quite a feat!

In the shot above, Smith and team owner Howerton look over the #42 Crosley Brands/Howerton Motorsports/Villa-Esparza-sponsored Kawasaki rocket after taking the win in heat race #2 at the Springfield Mile II during round 11 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series on September 6. Smith went on to take the win on the day at the Illinois State Fairgrounds to win his second race of the year at Springfield and his fourth mile win of the season.

With the series getting ready to amp up it's schedule in just three short weeks, check out the press release below for all of the info you will need in order to attend what will definitely be a race to be at for the Sacramento Mile on Saturday, May 21. If you are in the area you don't want to miss what will be another great day of racing at the Sacto Mile!


Press release courtesy of SMI Promotions, the promoters of the Sacramento Mile

The Final Countdown: One Month to the 2016 Sacramento Mile

Cal Expo to Host AMA Pro Flat Track Event on May 21

SACRAMENTO, CA (April 21, 2016) – It’s right around the corner – the 51^st running of the historic Sacramento Mile on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at Cal Expo, is just one month away. With the race just four weeks away if you haven’t yet secured your tickets for the big event, it’s a good time to call the Toll Free Ticket Line 1-844-SAC-MILE (1-844-722-6453) or visit the event website www.sactomile.com 

The big storyline heading into this year’s Sacramento Mile is the efforts of Bryan Smith to extend his record winning streak at the race to six, while the rest of the talented field will be shooting to end Smith’s impressive string of victories.

Sammy Halbert leads the AMA Pro Flat Track Championship standings after the first three rounds of 2016. The series has been highly competitive so far, with three different winners in three nationals.

In the support GNC2 class, Salinas, California’s Andrew Luker scored victory in the most recent round in Austin, Texas.

The Sacramento Mile this year will also feature the Clash of the Titans III, a special exhibition race featuring Motorcycle Hall of Fame and Harley-Davidson racing legends Scott Parker and Jay Springsteen.

The AMA Pro Grand National Championship series is one of the longest running motorcycle racing championships in the world. On the long straights of the Sacramento Mile top speeds can reach 130 miles per hour. Flat track racing has produced many of America’s Motorcycle Grand Prix Champions such as Kenny Roberts, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Kenny Roberts, Jr. and Nicky Hayden. Visit www.sactomile.com to keep up with all the latest on the event.

 

For additional series info visit: www.amaproracing.com/ft
Via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SactoMile
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sactomile
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/sactomile

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*** 2016 Ticket Information: Ticket information is available for the May 21, 2016 Sacramento Mile at www.sactomile.com.

Fans can order tickets online at http://www.sactomile.com/tickets, or by calling 1-844 SAC MILE (1-844- 722-6453).

--

Media Contact:

Larry Lawrence
(317) 332-3899
lawrencemedia@hotmail.com

7-Time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr Announced as Member of Broadcast Team for 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Season

AMA Pro Racing announced early last week that 7-Time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr would be joining the FansChoice.tv broadcast team for the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season as a color commentator to round out their coverage of all of the races on this year's schedule.

Carr, who has served in an advisory role as a rider/coach for the Zanotti Racing team for the last couple of season's to National #80 Stevie Bonsey, has tasted the tv booth role in the past during the former Speed Network's coverage of the Daytona Short Track season openers, and has done a superb job of bringing his over 25 years of professional racing to the average viewer in best explaining what really happens on the track during an AMA Grand National Championship race. His color commentary should be most rewarding to those who are somewhat in the know, or even totally out of the loop in understanding the battle looming in the series and against riders banging bars on the tracks themselves.

In the shot above, The Prince of Peoria talks with one of the more innovative members of the AMA Pro Flat Track paddock during round 11 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship at the Indy Mile on August 8 just in front of the Zanotti Racing pit area. Rick Howerton, who designed and developed the original Howerton Products/Motorsports Kawasaki EX650 that saw Bryan Smith #42 take the professional flat track world by storm starting in the 2012 season. The original incarnation of the MotoGP-styled mount was also ridden by Australian Luke Gough during the 2011 season while on the former Eaken Racing team.

Howerton finally saw his dream of winning in front of his hometown crowd during the 2013 event at the Indy Mile when Flyin' Bryan Smith outpaced the field on Howerton's mount to take the win in front of a rousing crowd at the Indiana State Fairgrounds-hosted event. Several hours after this shot was taken, Smith brought the Villa-Esparza/Howerton Products-backed Kawasaki rocket home in 2nd-place behind winner Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. on the #2 Zanotti Racing XR750.

Carr's work behind the scenes since his retirement at the end of the 2011 season has seen him not only providing commentary for some of the races, advising as a rider/coach, but also returning at times to the track to do battle in the sport he loves and has been a part of for the better part of his almost-lifelong career. His work this season should again prove unparalleled to the hardcore fans and the general public while watching the races online that they cannot be in attendance to see in person, and his level headedness in all situations should play out to all those checking in on what surely will be another rousing season of bar banging in The Rolling Thunder Show. Personally speaking, we can't wait to hear more of his expertise come to fruition behind the camera and the microphone.

You can check out AMA Pro's official press release below as we say a big 'congrats' and tip of the helmet to the folks out of Daytona Beach and to former 7-Time Double C for their pairing for the season ahead. This is great news and will help make the frosting on the proverbial racing cake even better this year!

AMA Pro Racing announces on-air team for 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track live streaming broadcasts on FansChoice.tv

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.  (Feb. 16, 2015) - AMA Pro Racing is adding a racing legend to its AMA Pro Flat Track team. Seven-time Grand National Champion Chris Carr will be the color commentator for the 2015 season, joining veteran play-by-play man and former GNC rider Scottie Deubler on the FansChoice.tv broadcasts. Motorsports reporter Dani Medin will also join the team as pit reporter for every round of the AMA Pro Flat Track schedule.   Between 1986 and 2008, Carr won 78 Grand National Championship races and the Pennsylvanian ranks second all-time behind only Scott Parker in terms of total victories. His seven GNC1 titles include a run of five straight from 2001 to 2005. Few riders throughout the storied history of dirt track racing have garnered the same respect throughout the paddock as Carr.   "There's no one better to help us convey the message of what it takes to compete in AMA Pro Flat Track than one of the most successful riders of all time," said Michael Gentry, Chief Operating Officer of AMA Pro Racing. "Chris Carr is a legend in the sport, and adding someone of his caliber to lend insight and knowledge to our FansChoice.tv broadcasts is beyond exciting for our fans. We really have a world-class team with Chris, Scottie and Dani, and we're confident our FansChoice.tv product will take a huge leap forward in 2015."   Carr's experience extends well beyond on-track action, including providing color commentary for AMA Pro Flat Track's broadcasts on SPEED in recent years. Most recently, he provided commentary during the December Superprestigio exhibition race in Barcelona, Spain, drawing rave reviews.   "After doing color commentary for some of the television programs AMA Pro has done in the past, I look forward to being at every round, giving my view of what I'm seeing in the flat track world," said Carr.   Medin has experience as a television reporter and host for outlets such as FOX Sports, SPEED, MAVTV, CBS Sports and others. The Californian has reported on all forms of motorsports and is a former professional snowmobile racer.   "I've been involved in almost every type of motorsports: off-road racing, snow cross, road racing, you name it," said Medin. "AMA Pro Flat Track is new territory but still pretty similar to other series I've been involved in. I am a die-hard motorcyclist and I've had my license for almost ten years. Since I've grown up around motorcycles, I'm really looking forward to this new challenge."   The two fresh faces will join Deubler, who has been the respected voice of AMA Pro Flat Track since 2009, making for a supremely knowledgeable, diverse and exciting group of on-air talent.   "I'm super excited about the upcoming season," said Deubler. "There is a ton of talent in both GNC1 and GNC2 and I think it's really going to be a fun year. I look forward to working with seven-time Grand National Champion Chris Carr. I think he's going to bring some incredible insight to the sport as he'll be able to give his thoughts and commentary."   The season begins with a doubleheader at DAYTONA Flat Track March 12 and 13. Every round of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track season will be available live, in high definition and free of charge for fans to watch online at www.FansChoice.tv.   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.

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.

Bryan Smith Hopes to Set New Winning Record at AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Round 8 at the Sacramento Mile

With less than four days to go until round 8 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship at the Sacramento Mile on Saturday, July 26 the big build-up to the huge west coast event is unraveling even faster as the time approaches. In what will be one of the premier events of the season, and surely the premier event on the left coast, fans, riders, teams and sponsors alike are ready to hit the ground running for what will be the halfway point in the season.

One of those riders and teams ready to get going for this weekend's big run at the Sacto Mile is Bryan Smith and the #42 Villa-Esparza/Crosley Radio/Howerton Products Kawasaki effort, spearheaded this season by Bryan's Dad, Barry, and by Indy locals and long-time flat track heads Jeff Gordon and Dink Glidden.

Flyin' Bryan has won the last three straight events at the Cal-Expo Fairgrounds. In the 2011 season taking his Moroney's H-D-sponsored XR750 to the win, and in 2012-13 as a member of the Howerton Motorsports troupe. It was at Sacto in 2012 that the team won their first Grand National main event together, in only their second outing (during the '12 season, the new team only ran the five mile events and the season-finale at the Pomona Half-Mile.)

This year has seen a few changes. Original team owner Rick Howerton has for the most part stepped aside in order to spend more time with his family (although he still admits to offering 'technical and moral support' to them) while Gordon, Glidden and Dad, Barry are the main men behind what is still a powerhouse team, albeit with a C&J chassis this year as opposed to Howerton's far advanced and personally designed futuristic unit from the previous two seasons. And this year, for the first time since the '87 season, the mile events are being contested sans fuel restrictors, which has so far in the first event of the season made the racing closer and tighter on the mile oval at Springfield. The question everyone is asking, with the longer straights at Sacramento, will that also hold true or will the Kawasaki mile rocket take off like a NASA rocket and leave the others sitting in the settling smoke or dust?

In the shot above, Bryan Smith has his race face on and is ready to show Rick Howerton's hometown crowd at the Indy Mile what the noise has been all about for the Howerton rocket during round 8 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship on August 17. Smith went on to take the #42 Howerton Motorsports/Crosley Radio/Dreyer Motorsports-sponsored Kawi to the win in front of the crowd on-hand during the 6th Annual Red Bull Indianapolis MotoGP weekend.

Also seen in the shot are the #95 TJ  Burnett Farms/Red Bull Kawasaki team of JD Beach, and eventual 2013 AMA Grand National Champion Brad Baker on the #12 Dodge Brothers Racing/Speciality Fabrications-backed XR750. In the background, Jared Mees and his #1 Rogers Racing/Blue Springs H-D-sponsored XR750 team roll out to the starting line.

While you are waiting for Saturday's action to kick in, you can also read about the first restrictor race at the Sacramento Mile that was also eventual 7-Time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr's first-ever mile win from 1987. A big thanks to Cycle News' Archives penman, Larry Lawrence, for this fine piece of AMA Grand National Championship history.

And read on to see what else the #42 Villa-Esparza/Crosley Radio/Howerton Products-backed Kawasaki team of Bryan Smith has to say about this weekend's super return to the west coast!


Press release courtesy of SMI, promoters of the Sacramento Mile.

Bryan Smith Seeking Sacramento Mile Record

A fourth-straight would mark the most consecutive wins at historic venue

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (July 22, 2014) – Bryan Smith has the opportunity to accomplish what no other rider in the long history of the Sacramento Mile has managed to do. Smith could become the first rider ever to win four-straight AMA Pro Grand Nationals on the famous mile at Cal Expo this coming Saturday, July 26, 2014.

Smith, 31, of Flushing, Michigan, is riding a three-year winning streak coming into this year’s Sacramento Mile, having won all three races since the return of the event to the AMA Pro Grand National Championship calendar in 2011.

As it stands now Smith is tied with Sacramento Mile legends Scott Parker and Chris Carr, who each won the race three times consecutively. Carr was the first to accomplish the feat with his three straight wins in the early 1990s. Parker matched his Harley-Davidson rival in the late 1990s. Smith tied Carr and Parker last season and now stands on the precipice of claiming one of the most impressive records in the storied history of the race.

 

 

 

Bryan Smith has the opportunity Saturday to set a new record of consecutive wins at the Sacramento Mile at the Cal Expo. Photo courtesy of the Sacramento Mile, by Larry Lawrence.

 

 

 

“It’s pretty cool to even have a shot at breaking that kind of record at Sacramento,” Smith said. “Anytime you talk about breaking a record where riders like (Scott) Parker, (Chris) Carr and (Bubba) Shobert raced for so long would be a real honor. I looked up to those guys as my heroes, so it would be really special to win four straight and own at least one record at that track.”

Last year Smith won his third straight in a spectacular finish that saw four riders come out of the final turn, just inches apart with Smith somehow managing to hold off Jared Mees, Brandon Robinson and Brad Baker at the checkered flag. The four riders were separated by a scant 0.145 seconds.

“It was going good all day, we were really dominant,” said Smith, after last year’s riveting Sacramento Mile victory. “I really wanted to try to get away from those guys and win this thing by a long ways. I had it going my way for a minute. I think I got my tire a little hot, started to fade back. Then Brad came running up the inside of me and ran me off the groove. I had my work cut out for me getting around the Harleys. They were hauling in the corners. Luckily my trusty Crosley Kawasaki was real fast on the straightaways so I got back by them.”

This year Smith will again be on a Kawasaki at Sacramento, this time around with the Villa Esparza/Crosley Radio Team. The new team will utilize Jeff Gordon-tuned, Kawasaki 750cc engines and many other components from the 2012 and 2013 Howerton Motorsports machine, in a highly modified C&J chassis by Robert Terando. The Villa Esparza/Crosley Radio Team is eager to build on the two consecutive GNC Twins Championships, with four wins, 13 podium finishes, and second place overall in the 2013 Grand National Championship earned with Smith riding the Howerton machines.

Villa Esparza is a food distribution company, owned by Joe Esparza, based in Austin, Texas. Joe is a long-time friend, and supporter, of Bryan Smith and American Flat Track racing. Esparza proudly steps into the team owner position after Rick Howerton announced he would reduce his time commitment to the AMA Pro Flat Track series at the end of the 2013 season. Howerton, Gordon and Ron “Dink” Glidden will continue to provide technical support for the team, with Bryan and his father, Barry Smith, maintaining the race bikes out of their shop in Michigan.

Founding sponsor, Crosley Radio, looks forward to adding a third successful race season, elevating the professionalism and competitiveness of the Grand National Championship on and off the track, and in the paddock. Visit www.Crosley-Radio.com or stop by the Villa Esparza/Crosley Radio Team pits to see Crosley Radio’s vintage inspired electronics.

Practice for the Sacramento Mile begins at on Saturday, July 26 at 2:15 p.m. and opening ceremonies for the evening program kicks off at 6:15 p.m.

Visit us at: http://www.sactomile.com/

Via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SactoMile

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sactomile

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/sactomile

*** 2014 Ticket Information: Ticket information is available for the July 26, 2014 Sacramento Mile at www.sactomile.com.

Fans can order tickets online  at https://secure.interactiveticketing.com/a/c84136, by calling 1-844 SAC MILE (1-844- 722-6453) or by visiting the Cal Expo Ticket Box Office in the Administration Building at 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95815 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (PT) Monday through Friday. Tickets can also be purchased at any ticket window during the 2014 California State Fair.

Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are available. Contact the Cal Expo Group Sales Department at boxoffice@calexpo.com for more information.

Contact:

 

Larry Lawrence
o. (317) 852-2896
c. (317) 332-3899
www.SactoMile.com

lawrencemedia@hotmail.com

AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Round 3 of the 2014 Season Set to Roll Off Tomorrow, Sunday May 25 and FansChoice.TV to Bring You All the Action

In just over 12 hours, the first event in the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Twins Series will take to the track for the first round of practice at the Springfield Mile I in round 3 of the season, and the buzz has never been bigger for the fans and throngs of followers the world over with all of the team changes and the first race in decades to see the restrictors removed from all of the bikes.

Just taking into consideration the restrictor removal from The Rolling Thunder Show's big twins, no rider in current competition has ever ridden without the limitations of horsepower output, and massaging the beasts at over 135mph on the Illinois State Fairgrounds will take a slight of hand and will also see the very best in tire and suspension tuning come out from the men who turn the wrenches for each and every rider and their mounts. And the riders will need to learn to finesse the throttles in order to make their tires last through a grueling, bar-to-bar battle in the 25-lap National main. Sheer horsepower alone will not be atop the podium once the final checkers fall tomorrow afternoon.

Hopefully, you will be able to make the race, but if not, FansChoice.TV will bring you all of the action straight to your home with a full complement of video coverage that will commence from the first green flag of the first practice session tomorrow morning at 11:15 AM EDT/8:15 AM PDT and lasting right until the last word is spoken during the winner's ceremonies straight from the podium.

In the shot above, JD Beach on the #95 TJ Burnett Farms/Red Bull Kawasaki leads the pack out of turn 4 during heat race #2 on lap one at the Springfield Mile I during round 10 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship on Saturday, August 31.

Keeping it real behind the eventual 3rd-place finisher in both of last year's events at the Illinois State Fairgrounds are Mikey Martin on the #91 Bonneville Performance/Factory Triumph and eventual heat #2 winner and double Springfield Mile winner Willie McCoy on his #59 H-D of Wausau/Independence H-D XR-750.

Battling for the final direct transfer to the National main are Stevie Bonsey on the #80 Zanotti Racing/RGR XR, Dapper Dan Ingram on the #31 Brush-Eaken Racing/Dick Ford Kawasaki and Canada's own Doug Lawrence on the #73 R&J Racing/CVC Communication Agency XR-750. All of these riders eventually made their way to the big show that day and put on another stellar version of some high-speed bar banging and drafting that left the crowd on hand roaring their approval.

One of the biggest surprises of the off-season saw double AMA Grand National Twins Champion Bryan Smith left without a team, as tuner/builder/engineer/team owner extraordinaire Ricky Howerton decided to mothball the team in order to spend more time with his family and growing (quickly) sons.

But in a great turn of events, former stooge and second-man wrench and Howerton co-hort Jeff Gordon will be taking Flyin' Bryan and the #42 team forward beginning with tomorrow's first of six mile events this season. Gordon will spearhead the effort along with the other original members of the Howerton Motorsports team (you can read more about it here in Larry Lawrence's Cycle News interview with Smith on page 60) in what will be the original bike Smith raced the last two season for the team, but with a C&J chassis instead of the Howerton frame built by the IndyCar/NHRA/USAC and AMA Pro Flat Track fabricator.

In the shot above, Howerton and Gordon, along with team member Dink Glidden, flank the #42 Howerton Motorsports/Crosley Radio rocket Kawasaki at the Indy Mile on August 17 of last season. Crosley Radio will also be back on board with the team again this season and will try to help them all win another Twins Championship, and with a little luck and prayer, possibly the big crown as well.

 

 

Brandon Robinson will hit the track tomorrow with the same tuner and same set-up as what he took to the double win at last year's Springfield Mile Labor Day weekend doubleheader, but with a team makeover that happened late last year.   Robinson and his tuner, James Hart, split from the TJ Burnett Farms team and will soldier on this season with the USC sponsorship and be known as the USC Kawasaki/Hart Racing team. With little changing in terms of chassis and motors, BRob44 could be the the first man to win back-to-back races at Springfield since Willie McCoy accomplished that feat over the Labor Day weekend of 2011 and again over the Memorial Day weekend of 2012. Robinson could very well improve on his 3rd-place finish in the championship from last year as well as his three wins on the season for 2013. Remember, Robinson had one of if not THE ride of the double season-opener after crashing on the initial start at Daytona in March and literally tore through the field to take a 5th-place finish after restarting from the penalty line. This kid is fearless and has tasted victory and wants more, and after his devastating crash at the Indy Mile in 2009 nearly saw him lose it all, knows and appreciates what he has now and is ready to take on all comers.   In the shot above, Robinson signs for the fans at round 8 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship at the Indy Mile on August 17, as one of the #44 TJ Burnett Farms/USC Racing missile Kawasakis sets in the background as it gets some final touches done by team member Billy Gruwell.   There are many, many more things that could come into fruition with tomorrow's big bike kick off, but we will all just have to wait to see which way the cards fall. You can check out the full preview below of the race thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track, and also don't forget to tune into FansChoice.TV if you can't be at the race, and if you can, you will be wisely rewarded with what is without a doubt the best two wheel racing in the world as the stars, teams and sponsors of The Rolling Thunder Show will aim to please and thrill you at the Springfield Mile I. And may the best man, or woman, win!                 Professionally produced coverage of Springfield Mile to be streamed LIVE on FansChoice.tv   DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 24, 2014) - Professionally produced coverage of every session from this weekend's Springfield Mile will be live streamed on FansChoice.tv. Practice and qualifying will begin Sunday at 11:15 a.m. EST (8:15 a.m. PST) with opening ceremonies scheduled for 2 p.m. EST (11 a.m. PST). Tune in for the 12-lap Pro Twins main event at 4:30 p.m. EST (1:30 p.m. PST) and stick around for the grand finale, the 25-lap GNC Twins main event at 5 p.m. EST (2 p.m. PST).   Visit http://www.fanschoice.tv to catch all the action.     JD Beach #95 leads the field out of turn 4 on the first lap of the 25-lap National main at the Springfield Mile I in round 10 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship on August 31. Beach parlayed a pair of 3rd-place finishes in the weekend's outing during his part time job as a team mate to double winner Brandon Robinson on the TJ Burnett Farms Kawasaki team. Bryan Smith #42 scored the double with two, 2nd-place finishes for the weekend. AMA Pro Flat Track will have every lap of tomorrow's season-opener for the Twins Series' big bikes streamed all over the world, with a pro entourage manning the cameras in order to bring the action right to your home should you not be able to make the event in person. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.       FansChoice.tv made its debut at the season opening double header at DAYTONA Flat Track last March and produced unprecedented ratings, surpassing tens of thousands of viewers and generating an extraordinary amount of positive feedback from fans across the globe. FansChoice.tv is not only viewable to race fans here in the states, but the live streaming platform enables followers overseas and anywhere with an internet connection to watch all AMA Pro Flat Track and AMA Pro Road Racing events in live time. All FansChoice.tv is available on mobile and tablet platforms as well.     After rolling out FansChoice.tv, many fans had one common concern about the newly established streaming system - how can I watch the race on my flat screen television? Well, the answer is easy. All fans need to do is purchase an HDMI cable (if they don't already have one) to hook their laptop/computer to their television and the problem is solved. Fans can also watch using a live streaming device such as Apple TV, Chromecast or Roku. Now, fans have the ability to watch any race of their choosing in the comfort of their living room or wherever their television is located.   For tickets and more information regarding the Springfield Mile, located at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill. on May 25, 2014, please visit http://www.illinoismda.com/ or call 217-753-8866 or 888-468-1622. About AMA Pro Flat Track AMA Pro Flat Track is a national motorcycle racing series in North America and is considered one of the oldest forms of motorcycle racing. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, the Series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track racing in the world. The 2014 schedule consists of 16 rounds on the country's finest flat track courses. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft.

AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Riders Gearing Up For Springfield Mile This Weekend

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 21, 2014) - One of the biggest indicators that summer is quickly approaching each year is when the stars of AMA Pro Flat Track roll their two-cylinder motorcycles off the trucks at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill. for the first go-around of the year at the legendary Springfield Mile.   Defending Grand National Champion Brad Baker will look to rebound in a big way this weekend after failing to break the top 10 in either of the two main events at Daytona to begin the season. Baker's current 16th position in the points is unfamiliar territory for the typical front-runner. At Springfield, Baker is entered to compete aboard the Factory Harley-Davidson XR750 for the first time this season since signing with the heavily sought-after race team last offseason. Look for the No. 1-plated Baker to get back to his usual high spot in the running order this weekend when the flags go green at Springfield.       Brandon Robinson #44 leads the heat race #1 pack into turn 3 at the Springfield Mile I on August 31, going on to take the heat win as well as a romp in the Dash and a  huge victory, the first of two for the weekend, over the Labor Day weekend marathon last season. Robinson is a huge favorite to repeat in tomorrow's SF Mile I event at the Illinois State Fairgrounds mile oval, the official kick-off to the Twins Series for the 2014 season. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.       Bryan Smith is widely considered the favorite to earn the coveted Springfield Mile victory this weekend. Smith has been notorious for dominating mile-long tracks over the years, mainly by using the front and back stretches as catapults to pull away from the rest of the field. Like Baker, Smith has a lot of ground to make up after struggling at Daytona. The Flint, Mich. product will ride the No. 42 Villa Esparza/Crosley Radio Team Kawasaki EX650 this weekend as he tries to improve on his 14th place position in the overall point standings.   Kenny Coolbeth will look to keep his momentum rolling this weekend as he comes off his first career DAYTONA Flat Track victory following Round 2. Coolbeth and Zanotti Racing joined forces this offseason to make up a frightening tandem eager to make noise in their first season together. Coolbeth currently sits third in the points and will ride a Harley-Davidson XR750 on Sunday.   Graham, Wash. native and current overall points leader Sammy Halbert appears to be on top of his game in 2014. After an injury-plagued 2013 campaign, Halbert proved he's healthy enough to wreak havoc on the competition at Daytona, earning second and fourth place finishes to come away with the points lead. Halbert will look to build off his nine-point lead aboard a South East Harley-Davidson XR750.   Jake Johnson looked like the Jake Johnson of old during the first two rounds of competition this season. Whatever steps the 2010 and 2011 Grand National Champion appeared to have lost over the past couple years, he seemingly got back at Daytona. Most fans and riders alike know that a revamped Johnson can mean a lot of problems for the rest of the field as he's proven to be one of the best in the business when he and his team are clicking on all cylinders. Johnson will sport a Ramspur Winery Ducati at Springfield.   There probably isn't a rider on the circuit more eager suit to up at Springfield than Brandon Robinson. The Oxford, Pa. native is not only legitimately gunning for his first ever championship, but he was the winner of both Springfield Mile main events a year ago. Robinson just plain loves the track and thrives under pressure so fans can expect the USC Kawasaki EX650 rider to bring it again this weekend.   There are several other notable riders that have a chance to make noise when the series heads to the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill. for the Springfield Mile on May 25, 2014. Shayna Texter, Briar Bauman, Stevie Bonsey, Henry Wiles, Jared Mees and company will all be looking to stamp their name in the record books this weekend. For tickets and more information regarding the event, please visit http://www.illinoismda.com/ or call 217-753-8866 or 888-468-1622. How to Watch    FansChoice.tv will be the official home for live streaming coverage of AMA Pro Flat Track and AMA Pro Road Racing events in 2014. The site will also provide coverage of IMSA's development and single-make series, and NASCAR's touring and weekly series.    Produced coverage of every session from this weekend's Springfield Mile will be live streamed on FansChoice.tv. Practice and qualifying will begin Sunday morning at 11:15 a.m. EST (8:15 a.m. PST) with opening ceremonies scheduled for 2:00 p.m. EST (11:00 a.m. PST). Tune in for the 12-lap Pro Twins main event at 4:30 p.m. EST (1:30 p.m. PST) and stick around for the grand finale, the 25-lap GNC Twins main event at 5:00 p.m. EST (2:00 p.m. PST). Visit http://www.fanschoice.tv to catch all the action.   About AMA Pro Flat Track AMA Pro Flat Track is a national motorcycle racing series in North America and is considered one of the oldest forms of motorcycle racing. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, the Series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track racing in the world. The 2014 schedule consists of 16 rounds on the country's finest flat track courses. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft.

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

Family Events Releases Event Poster for Round 10 of the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship at the Legendary Indy Mile on Friday, August 8

Round 10 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship at the Indy Mile on Friday, August 8 is now just three months off, and Family Events, the promoters of the annual stop at the Indiana State Fairgrounds-hosted event has released the event poster for this year's stop alongside the Indiana State Fair and the weekend of the 7th Annual Red Bull Indianapolis MotoGP at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Ticket sales for this year's event were announced last month by the great people at Family Events.

This year's poster again features another fine shot by Brent Pierce of BTP Photography, one of the mainstay shooters of the Midwest stops on The Rolling Thunder Show. Pierce's work has been featured in many of the sport's promotional shots as well as several trade and industry publications. Many of you may remember Brent's shot of Jake Johnson on the #1 Zanotti Racing XR-750 from the 2012 season being used on last year's Family Events' promo posters as well.

In the shot above, riders get ready to roll out for the first round of practice at round 8 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship at the Indy Mile on August 17.

(L-R) Brad Baker makes some last minute helmet adjustments while rider/coach and former AMA Grand National #23 Kevin Atherton makes some final adjustments and checks to the #12 Dodge Brothers Racing/Sefnco Communications-sponsored Harley-Davidson XR-750. Howerton Motorsports head man in charge, Rick Howerton, readies the #42 Crosley Radio/Howerton Motorsports-backed Kawasaki EX650-based mount of rider and eventual event winner Bryan Smith, while team member Dink Glidden looks over the rocket-fast mount that stole last year's spotlight from the rest of the competition.

Jake Johnson, in his debut on the #5 Lloyd Brothers Motorsports/Ramspur Winery-backed Ducati, can be seen looking over his left shoulder while team crew chief and master wrench spinner Brent Armbruster sends some last minute texts to advise the team's friends and family to hurry and get to the track for the great racing coming up in the evening ahead. Team mate Henry Wiles appears calm and relaxed with the overall atmosphere while ready for battle on the #17 Lloyd Brothers Motorsports/Ramspur Winery-backed and owned H-D XR-750.

Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. readies himself on the #2 Harley-Davidson Motor Company/Screamin' Eagle-sponsored factory XR-750 while his Dad, KC, Senior, stands by alongside. And on the back row, Jeffrey Carver, Jr. can be seen on the #23 Kiesow Racing/Eddie Adkins-sponsored XR-750, just over Howerton Motorsports' Glidden's right shoulder.

Check out the great event poster below for the Indy Mile in August, as we all gear up for the next round of racing coming up in just 15 days from round 3 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season at the Springfield Mile I on May 25. We're just about set to go racing for the bulk of the great schedule in this year's greatest racing series on two wheels in the world!


Event poster courtesy of Leah Burdette and Family Events, the promoters of the legendary Indy Mile on Friday, August 8, 2014

 
 
 













Family Events released the event poster for the legendary Indy Mile yesterday. The shot used, again taken by the talented Brent Pierce of BTP Photography, shows eventual 2013 winner Bryan Smith #42 leading Willie McCoy #59, Henry Wiles #17, JD Beach #95, Jake Johnson #5 and the rest of the field.

 

AMA Flat Track: Crosley Radio/Howerton Motorsports Team Announces They Will Run Pomona Half-Mile Season-Finale on October 13

Rider Bryan Smith, lead mechanic Jeff Gordon & team owner Rick Howerton get ready to roll out the #42 Crosley Radio/Howerton Motorsports/Eaken Racing Kawasaki prior to the Springfield Mile II event on September 16, 2012. Bryan and the team won their second Grand National main event together at the two-week rain delayed event. Photo by Mike 'Stu' Stuhler/Stu's Shots.

 

 

AMA Pro Flat Track Crosley Radio/Howerton Motorsports Team Announces They Will Enter Their Kawasaki for Bryan Smith #42 at Pomona Half-Mile Season-Finale

 

Indianapolis, IN., October 3, 2012 – The Crosley Radio/Howerton Motorsports powered by Eaken Racing Team would like to announce that we are expanding our 2012 schedule in the AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season by one event as entering our pair of Kawasakis for team rider Bryan Smith to campaign at the 2012 Pomona Half-Mile season-finale round on October 13.

In it's first year of existence the Twins Series team has climbed heights and obtained goals that only the very best in The Rolling Thunder Show could aspire for in just five short events. Starting off out of the gate at the Springfield Mile I round over the Memorial Day Weekend, Smith and the team won their first points paying event of the day in the Dash for Cash event after having qualified in the first spot for the National main at the Illinois State Fairgrounds mile oval. By the end of the day we had stood on the podium at a Grand National event when Bryan took home a hard-fought 3rd-place finish.

Since that time the team has been blessed to have won two National main events (Sacramento Mile and Springfield Mile II) and have won three of the five Dash events (Lucas Oil Indy Mile and the Springfield Mile II rounds).

As far as the added race, "The team decided to run this one extra event to end the season," stated team owner and builder Rick Howerton. “Bryan's been asking me since mid-summer to run some of the other events, and although we originally were just going to run the five mile events this year, we decided to go ahead and help support Bryan in his effort in the Twins Series Championship (where he currently lies tied for the 2^nd place spot with Sammy Halbert, behind Zanotti Racing's Jake Johnson) and see what we could do on a half mile track, “ continued Howerton.“We have been really happy this year with the results, but know next year will only be harder" stated the long-time IndyCar, NASCAR and NHRA engineer and fabricator, "by running Pomona it will give Bryan more information for his half mile program next year."

 

 

One of the low points of the season was the loss of Skip Eaken, the teams engine builder and motorcycle mentor. “It was a rough time with Skip passing away last week, so we went into the Santa Rosa round wanting to win that one for him. I believe he was the second all time winningest mechanic in the sport, and we wanted to add one more for him. He could appear to most as being cold and grumpy, but once you got to know him he was just the opposite, “ stated Rick a few days after Eaken had passed away due to a heart condition. Howerton still thinks of the conversation him and Skip had after Springfield 1. He called a few days after that race and said "seriously Rick, I watched you guys all day and you guys really made me proud." That meant the world to me as Skip didn't give many compliments. "I will never forget that conversation."

“It has been real fun all year, as all of us on the team get along fantastic. Jeff and Dink are super mechanics, and even better friends. Having a rider with Bryan's capabilities on a mile and a bike like this the rest comes together well, and we're really proud of what we've been able to do in just one season, “ elaborated Howerton.

The team also added another 3rd-place finish to their season total at The Santa Rosa Mile on Sunday, September 30, to make their finishes in five events as two 3rd-place finishes to go along with their two wins and the 14th-place effort at Indy.

 

 

Crosley Radio is a company based out of Louisville, Ky. that specializes in modern retro-look sound and entertainment devices, and they are a first-time sponsor in the world of AMA Pro Flat Track's Rolling Thunder Show, bringing a new, bright and great sponsor to the series and to the new team. Having been friends with Rick, it was a great fit having the folks from Crosley on-board to sponsor them according to Crosley Radio president, Bo LeMastus.

The Crosley Radio/Howerton Motorsports team checks out the action on-track during round 13 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Springfield Mile II, where they were able to take the win thanks to their potent Eaken Racing Kawasaki powerplant and the stellar riding ability of mile specialist Bryan Smith. During the fan-walk at all AMA Pro Flat Track events the team encourages the fans to come by and chat it up with the team, check out the bikes and listen to some of the great music playing in their pit area compliments of Crosley Radio's jukeboxes on-hand. Photo by Mike 'Stu' Stuhler/Stu's Shots.

“We are just thrilled with the job that Bryan, Ricky, Jeff and the rest of the team have done this first season, “ stated Crosley's Bo LeMastus, himself a long-time fan of flat track just like Rick, Jeff Gordon and the rest of the crew on the Howerton team. “It just felt right to go ahead and extend this season into a sixth event to not only help Bryan out with his Twins Series goal but to see what we could work for and towards in the upcoming 2013 season. We hope this will springboard us to be able to announce something in the near future about maybe running some more events for next season together.

 

 

“These guys work awfully hard but yet have such a great time together doing it, we're proud and happy to be a part of it and to showcase our products to the legions of Howerton Motorsports, Bryan Smith and AMA Pro Flat Track fans that pay their hard-earned money to come to these events and see the greatest racing in the world, and we open them to come by and visit at each of the events to check out the bikes and listen to some of the music playing from some of our Crosley Radio products,“ continued LeMastus.

 

 

The Crosley Radio/Howerton Motorsports powered by Eaken Racing Kawasaki team family celebrates their second win of the season at the Springfield Mile II round on September 16, 2012. Back row, from left include Joey Manns (transportation specialist), Bo LeMastus and Jeff Gordon. Middle row, from left Dink Glidden, rider Bryan Smith, team owner Rick Howerton and his wife Colleen, and Donnie Jones. Rick and Colleen's boys, Dillon and Jared grace the front of the Kawasaki 650R-based parallel twin AMA Pro Flat Track Twins Series' winning machine. Photo by Mike 'Stu' Stuhler/Stu's Shots.

With two rounds left in the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Tucson Half-Mile on October 6 and the season-finale round at the Pomona Half-Mile, the time is now for you to get in on the great racing in The Rolling Thunder Show, and the Crosley Radio/Howerton Motorsports powered by Eaken Racing Kawasaki team hopes that you will all come out to enjoy the great show at round 16 of the season at the Pomona Fairplex and take the time to come visit us in the pits as we debut our efforts on a half-mile oval and look and listen to the future not far down the road.

Howerton Motorsports would also like to thank these sponsors for their help, support & efforts during our 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track season campaign:

Dreyer Motorsports, Tucker Rocky, Midwest Performance Hardware, Guts Wear, Carbonix USA and Freelance Graphics.

 

 

 

 

Team contacts:

Ricky Howerton

Howerton Motorsports/Howerton Racing Products

360 Gasoline Alley

Indianapolis, IN. 46222

(317) 696-2664

rick@howertonproducts.com

Bo LeMastus

Crosley Radio “Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow”

1220 East Oak Street

Louisville, KY. 40204

(502)387-5930

www.crosleyradio.com

bo@crosleyradio.com

 

 

 

 

 

Press release prepared by:

Mike 'Stu' Stuhler

Stu's Shots

Indianapolis, IN.

317-373-0522

http://stusshots.blogspot.com

stuman714@yahoo.com