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Written by:
Dave Hoenig
07/14/2008 - 10:21 AM
Grove City, OH
Moroney's Harley-Davidson / Screamin' Eagle's Bryan Smith (Photo: Dave Hoeing / Flat Trak Fotos) ยป More Photos
The AMA Flat Track Twins Championship made its first appearance at the Beulah Park mile track in Grove City, OH, and the already extended schedule was stretched even farther as Mother Nature frowned on the sandy oval.
It all started with qualifying at 6:00 pm Thursday and didn't end until Bryan Smith crossed the finish line just after 4:30 pm Sunday. Heavy rains through out the weekend pushed everything back but it didn't stop the Moroney's Harley-Davidson / Screamin' Eagle backed-Smith from spanking the field. “The track was really hard, you had be real careful and go slow to go fast,” said Smith. “I just had to be patient and work my way to the front.”
During the first two days the track was somewhat racy, but the glaring sun and wind on Sunday created a narrow, unforgiving groove that was a definite challenge.
The first lap of the 25-lap National saw fast heat winner, Chris Carr Racing / Drag Specialties’ Chris Carr, grabbing the holeshot with Latus Harley-Davidson / Screamin’ Eagle’s Joe Kopp, and KK Supply / Roeder Harley-Davidson’ Geo Roeder right behind.
Carr was working the middle of the track while Kopp was at the rail and Ohio’s favorite son, Roeder was at the bales. Carr was able to lead the first two laps, Kopp had the lead over Roeder on lap 3, and Smith was now in the hunt. By lap 5 Smith was
Kopp looked to be settled into second with Carr a safe third as Roeder's high line went away (he would eventually fade to an 11-place finish). As Roeder slipped back he was in the middle of a great race with American Suzuki / Parts Unlimited’s JR Schnabel, Team SuperTrapp’s / Silkolene’s Matthew Weidman and Blue Springs Harley-Davidson / Screamin’ Eagle’s Jared Mees battling away.
The top three riders, Smith. Kopp, and Carr, opened a large gap on Schnabel, Weidman, and Mees. Another good race was going on between Aprilia USA / Lloyd Brothers Motorsports’ Henry Wiles, Harley-Davidson Motor Company’s Kenny Coolbeth and Bartels’ Harley-Davidson / Rogers Lake Racing’s Shaun Russell.
By lap 16 Smith was already getting into lapped traffic but was working his way through nicely. Kopp was not as fortunate and on lap 20 Carr jumped on a mistake and grabbed his best finish of 2008. Kopp was a secure third over 13 seconds ahead of Schnabel, who had pulled out on Mees by over five seconds.
Coolbeth made the most of a bad day as he got by Weidman on the last lap for sixth. Weidman was seventh, well ahead of the last battle on the track between Wiles, Russell, and American Harley-Davidson / Dick Ford’s Rob Pearson, rounding out the top ten.
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