Points battles shape up for amateurs

July 4 – It was a long night on the TT track at the AMA Progressive Insurance Dirt Track Grand Championships Friday, but three racers managed to maintain a perfect score in one class each, while two racers scored two individual wins apiece.

When the final flag flew after 1 a.m. at the Illinois State Fairgrounds TT course, Ricky Marshall, Jesse Janisch (left) and Royal Adderson rode away with more wins to add to their resumes, making them three for three in a class. And both Aaron King and Janisch made the most of the evening, notching two wins each.

Marshall of Salon, Ohio, proved he is in a class all his own in 600 Modified sponsored by Wiseco Pistons, re-defining the term "monster holeshot" and opening up a lead as long as about a third of the front straight on the first lap. By the end, Marshall had more than the entire straight. The victory kept him undefeated in the class and gives him the points lead over Robert Jones, 22 points back, and William Stevens, another 2 points back.

Janisch of Hartford, Wis., took two wins on the evening. in 250 DTX, he fought his way around early leader Gary Conklin to emerge at the front and hold off a last-lap challenge by Clayton Riggle to make it three for three in the class. He leads second-place Christopher Miller by 21 points, with Riggle another 4 points back.

In 250 Modified, Janish grabbed the hole shot, and held the lead flat-to-flag, proving his could turn right with the best of them, easily drifting the rear all the way through the turn with his foot up. The win bolstered his position in the points to second, tied with Sam Halbert, 8 points behind leader John Lewis, who finished fourth in the TT

Last of the perfect scores went to the unflappable Royal Adderson in Senior 40-plus Open, who grabbed the hole shot, was passed by and then repassed Mike Caves late in the race for the win. He leads the class with a perfect 69 points, with Gary Moore and Vince Holt tied for second 23 points back, all but assuring Adderson the class.

Then there was Aaron King, who continues to show amazing promise. The son of Grand National Dirt-Tracker Rich King led both 400 Modified and 450 Modified from holeshot to checkered flag. He leads the points in 400 Modified, 12 points ahead of second place Nichole Cheza, who is 2 points ahead of Travis Sprong. In 450 Modified Premier sponsored by American Supercamp, King is second, 2 points behind leader Sam Halbert and a single point ahead of Carter Myers.

The fifth 505 Pro Sport race of the Grand Championships saw a brilliant TT ride by Dustin Crow of Peoria Ill, who led from the line all the way to the end. Still, 2002 AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award winner Logan Myers continues to lead the points in that class with 103, 32 points ahead of Horizon Award co-winner Nicholas Cummings, who is 4 points ahead of Justin Filice. With that lead, Myers is untouchable atop the standings, no matter what happens in Saturday's Mile.

In 505 Modified Premier sponsored by VP Racing Fuels, Sam Halbert of Graham, Washington put on a clinic, passing early holeshotter William Seyle and winning despite a late challenge by John Lewis on the final laps. Halbert sits in ninth place in points, while Lewis leads, 4 points ahead of Ricky Marshall, who is 11 points in front of Jesse Janisch.

For a complete list of points and the finishing order for all classes, click here.

Racing finishes up Saturday on the Springfield Mile.

© 2003, American Motorcyclist Association