July 31, 2007

Coolbeth Takes Hagerstown Win And Points Lead

Screamin' Eagle Rider Takes Back Points Lead

Coolbeth earned the win at Hagerstown Speedway Saturday, earning his fourth victory of the season and his 13th overall. It was his first win at Hagerstown and it was a complete team effort, Coolbeth said.

We didn't do that well at first and we had to do our homework before the main event. I started in the second row but got a good start and just worked my way up from there. Bryan (Smith, Wrecking Crew teammate) was really out in front so I just kept my head down and focused on getting caught up with him. I just kept thinking that I didn't want to settle for second place.
- Coolbeth

While Coolbeth took the top position on the podium, he had his Screamin' Eagle Wrecking Crew teammates right behind him. Smith finished in second place on his Pat Moroney's Harley-Davidson for the second time this season and Jared Mees – winner of three events this year – finished in third place on his Blue Springs Harley-Davidson.

The fourth member of the Wrecking Crew, Joe Kopp, finished in sixth place on his Team Latus Harley-Davidson and moved from eighth to fifth in the Twins point standings.

It's the sixth time the Wrecking Crew has swept the podium since Harley-Davidson brought the team concept back to Flat Track racing prior to the 2006 season.

Seven-time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr is suffering through one of the toughest seasons in his pro career so far in 2007. The all-time winningest active rider in the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship has yet to score a victory seven races into the AMA Grand National Twins Championship. Carr, rider and owner of the Quality Checked Certified Pre-Owned Ford racing team was a second back from Joe Kopp and brought his D&D rcer in 7th.

The Hagerstown race track is one of the most technical half-miles we race on. It requires precise throttle control instead of just sheer bravery and running wide open up near the hay bales like some of the tracks.
- Chris Carr

Carr Has Bad Luck in His Heat Race
The second heat was just as dramatic. Quality Checked Certified Pre-Owned Ford’s Chris Carr roared to a small lead over Screamin’ Eagle / Latus Harley-Davidson’s Joe Kopp, but as Carr lost his brake as he started the fifth lap and spun into the hay bales off turn two. Although Carr was up quickly, as per the new AMA safety standards, the red lights flashed on. Kenny Tolbert was able to make the needed repairs and Carr restarted from the last position.

Kopp picked up where he left off and took the win over American Harley-Davidson / Dick Ford / R&J Racing’s Rob Pearson. Carr clawed his way into fifth, the last transfer and a fourth row starting position for the National.

Back to the Final
When Coolbeth took over the top spot in the point standings, he bumped Mees down into second place. Mees held the points lead following five races so far this season.

I thought the rain delay worked to our advantage because it made the track even better. But I didn't get off to a great start and Coolbeth got by me. Kenny and Bryan were just faster than me all day. I'm a little disappointed in the race, but I have not finished off the podium all season so I can't complain about anything. My team continues to give me an ultra competitive motorcycle and we're in the championship chase because of it. We can let Kenny have the points lead for a little bit.
- Mees

Smith said the second place finish was a welcome change from last year's seventh place especially since he's in fourth place of the point standings and looking to move up.

Smith said the he always struggles in Hagerstown and it was great to jump out into the lead this time. We don't know what happened but the bike just started to slow down. I saw Kenny coming and he just kept getting closer and I was staying the same. We needed that podium finish but we're looking for a win.

Kopp said he was pleased with the finish considering it helped him move up the point standings.

It was a tough event on a few racers and I tried to work my way up to the front but just ran out of laps. The good news is that I moved up the standings and now I have my eyes set on getting in the middle of the Jake Johnson (third place) and Bryan Smith (fourth place) points battle. -
- Jumpin Joe Kopp

The next AMA Flat Track Twins event is Saturday at West Liberty Raceway in West Liberty, Iowa.

AMA Twins Top 10 Point Standings

(Following 7 of 13 events. Number of wins in parenthesis) 1. Kenny Coolbeth, Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson (4) 141

2. Jared Mees, Blue Springs H-D/ Screamin' Eagle H-D (3) 139

3. Jake Johnson, Suzuki 102

4. Bryan Smith, Pat Moroney's/Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson 101

5. Joe Kopp, Team Latus/Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson 75

6. Chris Carr, Quality Pre-Owned Ford Harley-Davidson 74

7. Shaun Russell, Bartels' Harley-Davidson 73

8. Glen Schnabel, American Suzuki 70

9. Johnny Murphree, Coziahr Harley-Davidson 50

10. Kevin Varnes, Gutterridge Harley-Davidson 36

July 31, 2007 01:08 PM | send page