Throwing in a few curves

TT under the lights at the AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships

July 3 – You can never predict a TT. That right turn and the jump transform a regular short-track into a challenging obstacle course that requires finesse and more than just a little luck. And that was never more true than at Tuesday night's TT program at the AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships.

After a night of heat races, semis and 10 main events, a single rider, Dan Shaw of Decker, Michigan, was the only racer to emerge with a double win on the sinuous TT course at the new Illinois State Fairgrounds short-track. In Open 45-plus, Shaw took over the lead held by Jack Warren of Millington, Michigan, in the opening laps and led to the finish, feeling confident enough to honk a wheelie down the front straight on the white flag lap. In Open-40-plus, Shaw led flag to flag.

The night also offered up a few surprises, as only a TT race can. Chief among them was the battle royale in the hotly contested 505 Modified class. Kevin Snyder of Taylorville, Illinois, led much of the race, before bobbling coming out of the infield turns, giving the lead to to second-place rider Logan Myers, of Breckenridge, Michigan. Nick Cummings, of Mt. Morris, Michigan, who was following and hoping to find a way around, fell on the second-to-last lap in the right-hander, stopping his chances for a possible win. With no competition through the final two corners, Myers cruised to victory. Jessie Janisch of Hartford, Wisconsin, was second, and Snyder, who remounted quickly after his crash, was third.

A veteran's perspective

July 3 - When it comes to spectators at the AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships, you won't find one more recognized than Chris Carr, the defending Grand National Dirt Track Champion.

As the 2002 honoree of the Amateur Championships, Carr is here for the week, offering advice to racers, watching the competition, giving a seminar for up-and-coming dirt-trackers and otherwise hanging out and enjoying himself. We caught up with him as he watched Tuesday's TT competition. more

Tuesday's Complete TT Results

Highlights of the second group's racing:

250 DTX: Talk about bad luck. After grabbing the holeshot in this up-and-coming class, Gary Conklin of Harpursville, New York, crashed on the final infield corner and handed the win to Jesse Janisch of Hartford, Wisconsin, who tailed him all night and seemed ready to pass. Clayton Riggle of Chillicothe, Missouri finished second, with Clayton Riggle of Esconaba, Michigan, in third.

250 Modified Premier: Nick Cummings was on a roll. In 250 Mod Premier, he charged hard after holeshotter Alex Wood of Fall Brook, California, showing a wheel early and then passing coming onto the main track at the halfway point. Then he just checked out for the win. Logan Myers, in third, put the pressure on Wood, who finished second, but couldn't make the pass and took third.

400 Modified: 12-year-old Aaron King, obviously benefiting from the training of his father, Grand National star Rich King, was flying in 400 Modified. After getting his second holeshot of the class on the restart, he cruised to victory despite a charge by second place Joseph Bromley of Warrington, Pennsylvania. William Stevens of Bay City, Michigan, took third.

600 Modified Premier: Under fire from Nick Cummings, who clearly seemed on a mission, Sam Halbert of Graham, Washington, didn't flinch. Taking a big holeshot, Halbert had his hands full with the talented youngster, who showed a wheel a few times throughout the race. The two raced handlebar to handlebar for the entire race, but Halbert held off his competition, with Johnny Cooper of Grand Blanc, Michigan, in third. The two front-runners obviously had a great dice, exchanging thumbs up as they slid sideways into turn one.

30-plus Singles Premier: It all came down to the last lap. Kevin Snyder of Taylorville, Illinois, grabbed a textbook holeshot, and diced with Johnny Cooper for the entire race. Cooper managed to get around briefly on a pass after the infield jump, but couldn't stay in front. Snyder earned his win, leaving him a very happy guy on the cooldown lap. Scott Shinn of Abingdon, Illinois, finished third.

18-plus Open Twins: Bob Owens, of Burton, Michigan, made it happen. Pressuring holeshotter and early leader Gary Hite, of Post Falls, Idaho, Owens put together a great last two corners on the last lap to come around Hite for the win. Rod Hartzel of Granite City, Illinois, took third.

Pro Sport 505: Henry Wiles sure looked like he had right turns figured out. The Blanchard, Michigan rider was sliding beautifully into the infield right every time, carrying a good bit of speed each time. He was untouchable by the field throughout the entire race and took the win, with Rob Pearson of Chillicothe, Illinois, in second and Danny Eslick of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, in third.

The view from the stands. The Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association did a superlative job on the track. Hats off.	Is it a tent or a grandstand. Nice architecture work for a dirt-track, huh?	Sure it's a dirt-bike and therefore easy (for Kevin Snyder in the 30-plus Singles class) to jump. Could you do that?
Two for two. Dan Shaw laid down a perfect score for the evening, winning both classes he entered.	Turns don't get much tighter than the first turn of the TT course. Chris Hathaway of Syracuse, Indiana, took the holeshot in the first race, which was restarted.	Unflappable Bob Owens worked hard for his 18-plus Open Twins win.
This kid is going places. In the air. At speed. Logan Myers is fast.	It's a lot of work running just about every class you can. In the process, Nick Cummings picked up a win in 250 Modified Tuesday night.	He looked good in the air, but Henry Wiles looked even better in the right turn in the Pro Sport 505 class.
Now that's how you do a victory lap. Jesse Janisch shows the dexterity of his left hand on the victory lap of the 250 DTX class.