Defending AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Champion Kenny Coolbeth (No. 1 Harley-Davidson Motor Co. / Screamin Eagles Harley-Davidson) came away the big winner of the Lucas Oil Indiana Mile as Round 7 of the Grand National Twins Championship came to the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Ind. The Harley-Davidson Motor Company / Screamin' Eagle backed Coolbeth led the 25-lap National wire to wire.
This weekend's victory was Coolbeth's second National win of the year, and coupled with the points from his Dash win, the three-time Champion was propelled to a four point lead over Jared Mees (No. 21 Blue Springs Screamin' Eagle / Rogers Lake's Harley-Davidson).
"Everybody was fast today," Coolbeth said. "The best way to handle that is to just get out front, put your head down and try to get away. I don't worry about the points when I'm racing. If I can keep winning, the points will take care of themselves."
While Coolbeth pulled to a comfortable lead, Mees was locked in a race-long battle with yet another Screamin' Eagle rider, No. 42 Bryan Smith and his Moroney's Harley-Davidson. Smith took second by the slimmest of margins, keeping his Championship hopes alive.
The race in the distance behind Coolbeth was divided into pairs. Besides the Mees / Smith duo, No. 14 Jake Johnson (SuperTrapp / F&S Harley-Davidson) and No. 43 Sammy Halbert (Halbert Family / Kings Kustoms) were having a great race until Halbert slid down on Lap 20.
Another three seconds back, No. 4 Chris Carr Racing's Chris Carr and No. 33 Memphis Shades / Parts Unlimited's JR Schnabel fought over fifth, with the edge going to Carr at the wire. The last dueling pair was No. 3 Joe Kopp (Latus Harley-Davidson / Screamin Eagle) and No. 17 Henry Wiles (KK Motorcycle Supply / Mike Adkins). Kopp was able to hold off a hard-charging Wiles by the end of the race.
Harley-Davidson of Wausau's No. 59 Willie McCoy was a lonely ninth over the Nation Cycle / Reiman's Harley-Davidson backed No. 26 Brandan Bergen.
The first attempt to start the 25-lap National was short lived, as four riders quickly tangled. No. 44 Brandon Robinson, No. 69 Jethro Halbert, No. 28 Shaun Russell and Wiles were involved in a Turn 1 incident. Only Wiles was able to make the restart, riding his backup Harley-Davidson.
Under the new points system, the Dash has taken on great importance, as the points garnered from the 5-4-3-2-1 bonus system can add up fast. Coolbeth was able to take the five points for the win tonight, with last year's race winner Carr finishing second. The short, four lap races are packed with action every week.
The Pro Singles Main event was another "barn burner" as Red Bull / Team 95 / American Honda's No. 95C JD Beach backed up last week's Peoria TT win with a solid performance tonight. Although Beach would lead all 12 laps, he was under constant attack from Vans Yamaha / Stevens Racing's No. 24P Jeff Carver.
As Beach and Carver dueled away, current Pro Singles points leader Mike Velasco / Brothers Powersports' No. 17M Brad Baker closed in and grabbed second on Lap 19, setting the podium. Grove City Mile winner No. 10J Stephen Vanderkuur brought his new Dallas / Fort Worth Honda home in fourth over Weirbach Racing / Barnett's James Rispoli, who in turn made a last lap pass on No. 80B Corey Crawford (Mom & Dad / Priestley Racing) for fifth.
RESULTS Indiana State Fairgrounds Indianaolis, IN August 29
AMA Pro Racing Pro Singles Championship: (18 riders / 12 laps) 1. JD Beach (Hon); 2. Brad baker (Hon); 3. Jeff Carver (Yam); 4. Stephen Vanderkuur (Hon); 5. James Rispoli (Hon); 6. Corey Crawford (Hon); 7. Michael Toon (Hon); 8. Michael LaBelle Yam); 9. Zach Palmer (Hon); 10. Colin Heggarty (Kaw); 11. Tony Davila (Hon); 12. Kayl Kolkman (Hon); 13. Brian Tapp (Hon) 14. Jake Shoemaker (Suz); 15. Shauyna Texter (Suz); 16. Wyatt Maguire (Yam).
Time 7:58. 929.
AMA Pro Racing Grand National Twins Championship: (19 riders / 25 laps) 1. Kenny Coolbeth (H-D); 2. Bryan Smith (H-D); 3. Jared Mees (H-D); 5. Jake Johnson (H-D); 6. JR Schnabel (H-D); 7. Joe Kopp (H-D); 8. Henry Wiles (H-D); 9. Willie McCoy (H-D); 10. Brandan Bergen (H-D); 11. Don Taylor (H-D); 12. Aaron King (Apr); 13. AJ Eslick (H-D); 14. Dan Gedeon (H-D); 15. Sammy Halbert (H-D); 16. Jethro Halbert (H-D); 17. Brandon Robinson (H-D); 18. Shaun Russell (H-D).
Photo By Jim Grant
Sunday… Race day and I was looking forward getting back to the series. I need to get some points and get the lead back that I am so comfortable with. It was a weird day to say the list. For starters, it was extremely HOT and the track was extremely rough and at some places a bit scary. In fact the 40 riders in the Twins class which was sad enough, more riders opted not to ride because of the condition on the surface.
Practice I felt good , 4th fastest and ready. Qualifying was a bit screwy. Started off finishing 10 with a 44.488 time and then moved only to 8th by second qualifying with a 44.438. I knew I needed to change things up a bit if I was going to make some noise and we all know, I LOVE making noise.
I had a direct transfer to the main getting a 3rd in my heat. For the main, I came out mid pack by the second lap I was in 9th with a lot of work to do. I could feel the heat of the sun and the pressure I placed upon myself to make sure I move ahead . I feel as if I was going slower than normal. A few mechanicals plagued the event but I was still working it for all I had. By lap five a moved a position and then 6 or so laps later I passed Mees and last lap got by Weidman ( finally) to finish 6th.
Things could have been a lot worse. It was an ok finish, but not up to my standards. Next race is Peoria TT on August 23.
Thanks.. Kenny
After a three week layoff, the stars of the AMA Pro Grand National Twins Championship were back in action on the Hagerstown Speedway half mile. Persistent rain showers had the event in jeopardy, but hard work by the track crew rounded the red clay oval into shape. The AMA Pro Racing staff then implemented a short program of two Pro Singles Heats with a 12-lap Main and three Expert Heats, one Dash and a 25-lap National.
Even once the racing was under way, light sprinkles could be felt off and on. The 19-rider, 25-lap National saw points leader Jared Mees lead the first lap on his No. 21 Blue Springs Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson / Rogers Lake Racing's XR-750 Harley-Davidson. Mees was quickly displaced by fast qualifier Sammy Halbert on his No. 43 Halbert Family / King Kustom's Harley along with the No. 14 SuperTrapp Harley of Jake Johnson.
Halbert and Johnson established a small lead over what quickly became a war over third between Mees, Kenny Coolbeth (No.1 Harley-Davidson Motor Company), Chris Carr (No. 4 Chris Carr Racing / Lancaster Harley-Davidson) Ricky Marshall (No. 41 Eric Snedeker Racing) and the No. 20 of Matt's Racing / Silkolene backed Harley of Matt Weidman.
Halbert looked ready to repeat his dominating heat race performance, but Johnson was soon reeling him in. Halbert's reoccurring brake problems gave Johnson all the advantage he needed and Johnson had the point on lap eleven.
As Johnson's lead grew, Halbert came under attack from Coolbeth. The defending Grand National Champion had pulled clear of a Mees / Weidman war and was giving Halbert fits. The two exchanged second several times, but Halbert prevailed every time at the line. On Lap 17, Coolbeth had the spot and it couldn't have come at a better time. The intermittent sprinkles picked up and Brandon Robinson's No. 44 Harley-Davidson had engine failure, leaving oil between Turns 1 and 2. Due to the confluence of events the decision was made to throw a red and checkered flag to indicate that the race was being stopped with no intention to restart.
The riders had completed 18 circuits at the end of the red flag lap and the race was not to be restarted following the red flag, satisfying the requirement that results be based on rule 6.18 (d) Should a race not be restarted after a red flag, riders final positions will be determined by their race positions (not track positions) in the lap preceding the red flagged lap. Official finishing positions are therefore determined by the order at the completion of the 17th lap.
Johnson was cruising alone and was declared the victor, but by the close of the Lap 17 the Coolbeth / Halbert battle and the Ragging race between Mees and Weidman would come to a premature end. Coolbeth improved his position to take second over Halbert at just the right time, but Weidman wasn't as fortunate and took home fifth to Mees' fourth. Carr, Marshall, Bryan Smith (No. 42 Screamin' Eagle / Moroney's Harley-Davidson), JR Schnabel (No. 33 Memphis Shades) and Mick Kirkness (No. 87 F&S Harley-Davidson / Yeager Cycles) rounded out the top ten.
Earlier in the Dash saw pole sitter Sammy Halbert fall on the warm up lap. His crew could not get his back up bike out quick enough and his shot at the $1000 and five points was over. Jake Johnson gave a four lap preview of what was to come as he walked away from Kenny Copolbeth and Jared Mees.
Mees has retained the points lead, but Halbert and Coolbeth are closing.
The first Main event of the night saw Pro Singles points leader Brad Baker take his No. 17M JGPhotowerx / Celorie Brothers Trucking backed Honda to victory in the twelve lap Pro Singles Main event. James Rispoli held the early lead on his No. 71B Weirbach Racing / Barnett backed Honda, but once Baker worked his way into the lead he was not to be headed again.
Rispoli soon found himself under attack from young Canadian rider Mike LaBelle on his No. 20T Woody Kyle Racing / Jimmy Stevens Racing backed Yamaha. Rispoli was able to hold on despite LaBelle's relentless challenge.
Southland Racing's Kayl Kolkman was able to bring his No. 42E Honda home fourth over the No. 81C Western Hills Honda backed Zach Palmer and Montgomeryville Cycle's No. 55A Jake Shoemaker.
Baker's points lead now stands at six points over Rispoli with Jeff Carver holding his No. 24P Van's Yamaha in third after fifteenth place finish.
RESULTS
Hagerstown Speedway Hagerstown, Md. July 25
AMA Pro Racing Pro Singles Championship: (18 riders / 12 laps) 1. Brad Baker (Hon); 2. James Rispoli (Hon); 3. Mike LaBelle (Yam); 4. Kayl Kolkman (Hon); 5. Zach Palmer (Hon); 6. Jake Shoemaker (Suz); 7. Kurtis Lee (Hon); 8. Lucas Scherb (Hsq); 9. Brody Miller (Suz); 10. Nigel Heggarty (Kaw); 11. Shayna Texter (Suz); 12. Michael Bicker ton (Hon); 13. Brian Tapp (Hon); 14. Mike Poe (Kaw); 15. Jeff Carver (Yam); 16. Cory Strickler (Yam); 17. Joseph Ratz (Hon); 18. John Long (Suz). Time: 4 min, 56.645 sec.
AMA Pro Racing Grand National Twins Championship: (19 riders / 17 laps) 1. Jake Johnson (H-D); 2. Kenny Coolbeth (H-D); 3. Sammy Halbert (H-D); 4. Jared Mees (H-D); 5. Matt Weidman (H-D); 6. Chris Carr (H-D); 7. Ricky Marshall (H-D); 8. Bryan Smith (H-D); 9. JR Schnabel (H-D); 10. Mick Kirkness (Suz); 11. Joe Kopp (H-D); 12. Shaun Russell (H-D); 13. Brandan Bergen (H-D); 14. Jake Mataya (H-D); 15. Cory Texter (H-D); 16. Adam Carpinello (H-D); 17.Luke Gough (Suz); 18. Don Taylor (H-D); DQ. Brandon Robinson (H-D). Time: 7 min, 08.501 sec. (RED FLAG--race called complete)
MEES AND COOLBETH ON THE PODIUM AT VOLUNTEER SPEEDWAY
Coolbeth Takes AMA Grand National Twins Points Lead
BULLS GAP, Tenn. (June 20, 2009) – Harley-Davidson Wrecking Crew riders took two spots on the podium in the AMA Grand National Twins main event at Volunteer Speedway, as Blue Springs Harley-Davidson/Screamin' Eagle rider Jared Mees finished second and Harley-Davidson Screamin' Eagle factory rider Kenny Coolbeth was third. Mees finished 0.568 seconds behind the winner, Halbert Family/Kings Kustoms rider Sammy Halbert. All three riders were on Harley-Davidson XR750 motorcycles.
It was the first Grand National Twins event win for the 21-year-old Halbert, who also won his qualifying heat and earned five points for winning the Dash for Cash bonus sprint at Volunteer Speedway.
Halbert led from the start of the race, but was passed by Mees on lap five. One lap later the race was stopped when R&D Machine/Claremore Custom Cycles rider AJ Eslick spun out in turn two. Mees took the lead again on the restart, with Halbert and Coolbeth giving chase. Halbert passed Mees for the lead on lap 12. Mees and Halbert then battled for 10 more laps, with Mees closing in the corners but never able officially take the lead. With about three laps to go, Halbert was able to open a slight lead that Mees was not able to close. Coolbeth trailed the leaders by less than a second for most of the race. Moroney’s Harley-Davidson/Screamin' Eagle rider Bryan Smith finished fourth.
“It was some really aggressive racing but a lot of fun. Halbert found some good lines and ran a great race,” said Mees. “The Blue Springs crew put me on a great-running Harley-Davidson, and Halbert and I were really dicing it out in the corners before I started to slip a little bit and he opened a lead. And I had Coolbeth right on my tail the whole race. I think this is going to be a very competitive season.”
It was the second podium of the season for Coolbeth, the defending Grand National Twins champion, who finished second on the track at the season opener at the Springfield Mile on Memorial Day weekend. Coolbeth was later declared the winner of that race after Smith’s fuel failed a post-race test and subsequent appeals, and he was disqualified.
“It was a great race, and I was kind of hanging back there in third thinking the leaders might mess each other up, and they came close a few times,” said Coolbeth. “You are really going to have to be on your game this season, because right now everyone is really equal in terms of performance. And they have added the Dash for Cash, which counts for points, and you need to be in that race and do well. We had a good night and leave here with the points lead.”
After two of nine 2009 AMA Grand National Twins Championship events, Coolbeth leads the series in points with 43, followed by Mees with 38, Chris Carr with 32 and Halbert with 30.
The 2009 AMA Grand National Twins Championship will next race on June 27 on the Allen county Fairgrounds half-mile, in Lima, Ohio
Screamin' Eagle Performance Parts are inspired by and built in the spirit of the raw adrenaline and power of motorcycle racing. Screamin' Eagle Pro parts are specifically designed for race-use applications, while Screamin' Eagle parts offer street-use performance options for the Harley-Davidson motorcycle owner. Visit www.harley-davidson.com for more information.
The Screamin' Eagle Flat Track team is sponsored by Matco Tools.
"Mr. Kenny,
I have many memories of Springfield, was taken to my first in 1948, I am 70, seen many great races....
That ride Sunday etched you in the benchmark as one of the greatest. Rarely does one have this opportunity let alone the magic to pull off what you did... Your riding was/is what makes The Magic come to life on the Magic of the Mile... Your success Sunday with that ride compares to any former racer accomplishments...I have ever seen at Springfield... You gentlemen are the greatest, giving fans the greatest racing show one could ever hope to see... The best of all and blessing in all you wish to leave behind when you hang it up... Bennie Stremming/East Alton, Illinois"
I boogied out of Springfield to get home before the next few races I will be attending next week. I must say I surprised even myself at the Mile. Finishing 2nd to what appeared to be a struggle all day. I just wasnt hooking up the way I had imagined the day would have went. From practice to the heats I was frustrated... I was thinking.. not Springfield to struggle, as it is a track that is most favorable for me. Our times werent were I was used to, we suffered through some rain and finished 4th in the heat which just wasn't Cool!! So instead of making matters worse, I tried once again when it counted in the main to get to the front but wasnt really moving from 14th to 16th for most of the race. Lucky for me a red flag came and I got a great drive off the line, with total focus and determination I ran that XR 750 as hard as I could and was really gaining on Smith, If I only had a lap more I would have got him for sure. But 2nd I will take seeing as how that was much better than where I was sitting before.
The TT wasn't all bad, we had some good laps and bad laps, but the TT is always tricky for me. Finished twelveth was about par for me. the Bettencourt's Boughner Racing Honda proved to be fast and I just need to work more on those TT's. Maybe I will put a jump on my practice track.. LOL Thanks for all your support. My schedule is as follows:Quincy Hot Shoe on Friday, the following weekend in Wisconsin for two Hot Shoe.. then to Bulls Gap or that National.
I want to personally thank the caption contest winners.. Congrats and your shirts are on the way.
See ya.. Kenny Coolbeth #1
Photo by: Jim Grant
Daytona was interesting. It always is.. Preparing up until Daytona sliding around on the ice gave me an edge of course sliding around the sand at the track. I did ride Sunday after the rain out at Savannah, kind of got the feel of the track which was good.
For the Nationals.. My practice and qualifying times the first day were decent but just as I thought I had things figured out the laps were over and this played a role in how I ended up. Kopp passed me on lap twenty four and I ended up just shy of the podium in 4th.
The second day played much differently.. thank goodness. I qualified 7th with a best time of 19.884 with the fastest time being a 19.663. So I was definately in the mix of things. My heat was loaded with Smith, Mees, Cummings, and Lewis who was the fastest qualifier that evening. The main was alot of fun. I seem to have my mojo working and ended up on the podium with a second place and held off Henry Wiles.
The Bettencourt's Honda was dialed in and Jason had things figured out right out of the gate. we were fast and ready. That indeed will carry us through the season. Springfield is up next two events singles and twins and we will be ready. Thanks for your support.
