Chris Carr ran 25 laps uncontested to win his fourth National in 2004.
August 08, 2004
Dave Hoenig
The Farley Speedway in Farley, Iowa hosted round
nine of the AMA Progressive Insurance Flat Track Championship, Saturday August
7. This is the first time motorcycles have competed on the challenging half-mile
and most of the riders were puzzled by the odd shape and banking of the oval.
The race track developed two distinct grooves through
turns one and two, with the high groove giving the best results in the National.
Turns three and four had one high groove, that just skirted some heavy bumps.
Quality Checked Certified Pre Owned Ford’s Chris Carr was unfazed and ran away
with the 25-lap National. Carr started on the pole and led every lap.
Gerencer’s Harley-Davidson / Kersting’s Harley-Davidson’s
Kevin Atherton held down second early, but around lap 11 his shock started to
fade and he gave way to the Factory Harley-Davidson of “Hometown” rider Rich
King. Once Atherton lost his rhythm, KTM / Jones Powersports’ Kenny Coolbeth and
Lancaster Harley-Davidson / Saddlemen’s Jared Mees both blew by.
Atherton’s trouble were far from over as JR Schnabel
attempted to pass low going into turn three. Schnabel was unable to make his
Memphis Shades Harley stick to the groove and he and Atherton tangled with
Atherton getting the worst of it. Atherton would eventually fade to a ninth
place finish.
Coolbeth was not satisfied with third and worked his way
passed King on lap fifteen. All the time Jared Mees was looking for a mistake
that never came. Schnabel’s charge would eventually led to a fifth place finish
over Coziahr Harley-Davidson / National Cycle’s Johnny Murphree.
SJS Racing / Parker Stores’ Rob Pearson worked his way
from the third row to take seventh from Moroney’s Jake Johnson. Atherton held
off Doc’s Harley-Davidson / USC Racing’s Terry Poovey and KTM / Jones
Powersports’ Joe Kopp.
Kopp’s day started poorly as he crashed hard in his
qualifying heat and was forced onto his back up bike the rest of the night. Kopp
charged from the back row to lead his heat race, then lost the lead on the last
lap to Schnabel. Kopp was unable to improve on a mid pack start in the National
on his way to 11th.
Carr’s dominating performance coupled with Kopp’s problems
have pushed the defending Champion to a 29-point lead. Coolbeth is another 13
points back.
There is little time to regroup for the traveling show as
the next race is just three days away in Rapid City, South Dakota.
The Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance National was a
rock’em sock’em affair as it took three attempts to get the 12 lap race started.
Clayton Riggle was the first to bail off in turn three, then on the second start
Merle Scherb fell in turn two.
When the race did get underway, Lima Harley-Davidson /
Koneta Rubber Seal’s Cory McDermitt worked his way around defending class
Champion, Scott Scherb to take the lead on lap five. McDermitt then fended off
Lombardi Harley-Davidson / Schott Harley-Davidson’s Chris Hart for the win.
Gutterridge Harley-Davidson / Reiman’s Harley-Davidson’s Josh Toungett was a
very close third over Scott and Merle Scherb.
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