July 21, 2007

Coolbeth Takes Virginia Win in Saluda

Kenny Coolbeth kept the Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson Wrecking Crew winning streak alive Sunday, winning the Joe Whetherly Memorial AMA Flat Track event at Virginia Motor Speedway.

Coolbeth earned his second win of the season and 11th of his career Saturday. The factory-sponsored Harley-Davidson rider has won two of the five 2007 events so far. Wrecking Crew teammate and current points leader Jared Mees has earned the other three wins on his Blue Springs Harley-Davidson and finished in second place at Saluda.

Kenny and Jared are riding so well and they are keeping the points chase real close. It seems like all of the teams are stepping up their game and the Wrecking Crew riders are right there every race, trying to compete for every spot on the podium.
- Harley-Davidson Racing Manager Anne Paluso

The D&D riding Chris Carr had an off night and slotted in 11 seconds back from race winner Coolbeth and came in 11th place. Carr is sponsored by D&D / Quality Checked Certified Pre-Owned Ford / Drag Spec / Lancaster H-D / KTM Sportmotorcycles / Phoenix Rac / Arai / Wiseco / Red Line / Cometic / A&A / Pro Plates / Motion Pro / RM Webdesigns / Brain Lths. He is now 5th in the standings and 47 points out of first.

The Wrecking Crew swept the podium for the second time this season (Lima, Ohio) as Joe Kopp and the Team Latus Harley-Davidson team earned third place - his first podium of the season. Wrecking Crew rider Bryan Smith and the Pat Moroney's Harley-Davidson team finished seventh.

Coolbeth - the defending AMA Flat Track champion - is currently second in the point standings, nine points behind Mees.

Coolbeth said the race was more exciting because he and Mees traded first and second positions throughout the night.

It seemed like we passed each other back and forth all race long. I really wanted to work on my starts and get a better jump at the starting line. That happened and I just kept my head down all night long after that.
- Coolbeth

Mees has not finished off the podium so far this season.

I'm happy with the second place finish especially considering where we qualified (seventh). We tried a few different things and we finally got caught up and put together a competitive setup for the main event. My team did a great job giving me a bike that could put in great laps and let me catch up. It would have been nice to make it four (wins) in a row because Kenny is so competitive and we want to earn as many points as possible. But we finished right next to him and that helps us keep this points battle going.
- Mees

Kopp, the 2000 AMA Grand National champion, was pleased to be back in contention for a race victory just a week following his first DNQ of the season.

It was so important to get back to a race and finish in the top five. I was really feeling down in the dumps last week. I felt like I had let everyone down by not qualifying. But all of my sponsors and teammates were supportive and told me they backed me 110 percent. That really helped me work toward a good showing in Saluda.
- Kopp

Kopp said that he had a great bike from the start and he didn't have to change much beyond fuel and tires. That let him focus on riding and finishing well. He also said that it was great to be back on the podium."

The next AMA Flat Track Twins race will be held at the Darke County Fairgrounds in Greenville, Ohio on July 21.

July 21, 2007 11:17 AM | send page