 The
big bikes roll
July 1 – Tuesday
was the day for the big bikes to shine at the AMA Progressive Insurance
Dirt Track Grand Championships, and the fight began for the event's top
honor with one contender winning two National titles on the half-mile.
 Ricky
Marshall, 15, of Salon, Ohio, became the second rider of these Grand
Championships to win two titles in a single day. Marshall took top honors
in two of the most hard-fought classes there are: 505 Mod Premier and 600
Mod.
As an amateur in his last year before turning 16, Marshall is sure to
be considered in the running for the AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award, the
event's top honor that is conferred on the rider most likely to have a pro
career on the horizon. And by winning two of the toughest classes on his
first day of racing, Marshall has shown he's up for the challenge.
In the Wiseco Pistons 600 Mod class, Marshall grabbed the holeshot and
put a gap on William Stephens of Bay City, Mich., and Adam Carpinello of
East Greenbush, N.Y. A hard charge by Stephens and Carpinello brought them
back into contention, but Marshall was able to hold them off for the win.
In the VP Racing Fuels 505 Mod Premier class, Marshall had to work
twice as hard due to a red-flag restart that came after he had grabbed the
holeshot. Keeping his cool, Marshall remained in front on the restart and
was able to stay ahead of second-place Chase Sconyers of Metter, Ga., and
third-place Jesse Janisch of Hartford, Wis.
Other great races on the day included a Pro Sport race won by the
second of two riders who jointly won the AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award last
year, and two amateur class races that went down to the wire.
In Pro Sport 505, it was a matchup reminiscent of last year's battle
for the Horizon Award, with Cummings lining up against Logan Myers of
Wheeler, Mich. Myers, who won yesterdays Pro Sport event, grabbed the
holeshot three times after red flags forced restarts. Working his way up
from fourth place early, Cummings kept the pressure on during the final
restart, and he was there to take advantage when Myers ran wide on the
second lap of the final restarted race. Though Myers remained in
contention, Cummings kept the lead to the flag.
"It sure was nice to come back and win my first race here,''
Cummings said afterward.
In the amateur classes, both the Arai Helmets 250 Mod Premier class and
the Super Senior 50-plus Open class offered top-shelf racing
In 250 Mod, John Lewis of Brandamore, Pa., just refused to let up,
coming up from about a fifth-place start to slowly work his way up during
the final. He passed into fourth on the second lap, then into third, while
up front, leader Ricky Marshall came under pressure from Travis Myers, who
passed into the lead. By the second to the last lap, though, Lewis was
ready to take over, diving under Myers to take the lead. Behind him, Blake
Young came around Myers for second, and Myers arrived home in third.
In the Super Senior 50-plus Open class, an epic dual developed between
John Debats of Kawkawlin, Mich., and Dan Crawford, of Marlette, Mich.
Debats took the early lead, and by mid-race, Crawfod took over. The two
distanced themselves from the pack, but a last corner pass by Debats gave
him the lead, with Crawford in second and Lloyd Widener of Charleston,
S.C. in third.
Tomorrow, the show heads over to the short-track arena at the Illinois
State Fairgrounds for more competition.
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Cummings
returns to Grand Championships, wins
Yesterday it was Logan Myers, today it was Nicky
Cummings.
The two friends shared last year's AMA Dirt Track
Horizon Award, and they both returned this year to help hand out the 2003
Horizon Award. When Myers showed up yesterday, he won the Pro Sport 505
half-mile race. Today, Nicky won the same class.
It was a hard-fought race involving a few red
flags, but Cummings was there late to take advantage when Myers ran wide
in turn three in the closing laps.
Nicky Cummings returned to the Grand Championships
after winning the Horizon Award and scored a win in a race reminiscent of
the battles he and co-winner Logan Myers fought last year.
"He just went in there too deep,'' Cummings
said. "I don't know how far out he went because I was right up on
him.''
Since winning the Horizon Award last year,
Cummings has focused on dirt-track, racing Pro Sport events like Tuesday's
to earn enough points to become an expert next year, and on road-racing,
where his campaigning a 600cc Supersport machine on the amateur level.
"Roadracing sure is different,'' he says.
"The bike's got a lot more power, and it takes a lot more work to do
it well. As for dirt-track, we're hoping to get the points to turn expert.
That's the plan, and also do some road racing."
The Horizon Award, he says, has been a major
plus.
"It's given us a little bounce, definitely,
and it really turns some heads a the road-races,'' he says. "It's a
plus for sure."
Who will win this year's Horizon Award? Stay
tuned.
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The Rest of the Races:
250 DTX: Jesse Janisch got two holeshots--the
second on a red-flag restart, to stay out front for the entire race. Chase
Sconyers of Metter, Ga., as second, with Christopher Miller of Bergen,
N.Y. in third.
18-plus Open Twins: Jason Hensley of Swarz
Creek, Mich., looked like another Swatz Creek Native, sporting a set of
Grand National Legend Scott Parker's leathers. He did them proud, winning
the race going away, with Larry Van Valkenburg of Adrian, Mich. in second
and Johnny Cooper of Grand Blanc, Mich., in third.
400 Mod: Nichole Cheza of Clio, Mich., worked up
from a second place start to take over the lead by mid-race, then put a
gap on the field while Alan Stay of East Worcester, N.Y., and Aaron King
fought for second, with Stay keeping the position through the finish.
Senior 40-plus Open: The energizer bunny of the
Dirt Track Grand Championships, Royal Adderson did it again in this class.
Lighting up the field with the holeshot, Adderson just kept the pressure
on, widening his lead and winning by several seconds. Vince Hold of
Issaquah, Wash., was second, with Daniel McKim of Flint, Mich., in third.
Vet 30-Plus Singles: A restart after a first-lap
red-flag saw Johnny Cooper take the lead and hold it all the way to the
end. Kevin Snyer of Taylorville, Ill., was second, with Daniel McKim of
Flint, Mich., third.
American Supercamp 450 Mod Premier: Carter
Myers, the brother of 2002 Dirt Track Horizon Award Winner Logan Myers,
proved he has what it takes to challenge for the award this year, taking
the lead on a red-flag restart and staying in front in one of the toughest
classes gong. William Sele of Hanahan, S.C. was second, with John Lewis of
Brandamore, Penn., third.
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