DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 1, 2009) - AMA Pro Racing and AMA Racing, the amateur racing department of the American Motorcyclist Association, have reached an agreement to include professionally licensed riders during selected days of competition at the AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships to be held from June 27th to July 5th at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds in Du Quoin, Ill.

Not only will the Pro class riders battle it out for purse money, but they'll earn advancement points in both the Pro Singles and Pro Twins classes during the weeklong program. The racing will consist of Short Track, TT, Half-Mile and Mile events.

"As we continue to build and expose our new Pro class, this is a great opportunity for AMA Pro Racing and AMA Racing to work together at the prestigious AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships," said Mike Kidd, Director of Flat Track for AMA Pro Racing. "This concept allows our Pro licensed riders valuable track time and exposure as youth and amateur riders from across the country compete all week in Du Quoin for National Championship Honors."

Pro Single and Pro Twins classes will be run according to AMA Racing rules with supplemental rules provided by AMA Pro, such as the allowance of production frames in the AMA Pro Singles class. In addition, the 2009 AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships will use a 99 dB/A maximum sound limit requirement per the 2009 AMA Racing Rulebook for all amateur classes, as well as both Pro Singles and Pro Twins classes. Enforcement procedures can be found in the AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships Supplemental Regulations.

"The Du Quoin Fairgrounds provides a beautiful setting and excellent race tracks for the Dirt Track Grand Championships." said Ken Saillant, track racing manager for AMA Racing. "This event showcases the absolute best youth and amateur dirt track racers in country. We feel adding the Pro class will allow these riders to witness the next step in their racing career."

Additional information along with continued updates can be found at http://www.AMARacing.com.

The AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships is the premier amateur dirt-track racing event in the country. The week of racing features competition in all four dirt-track disciplines -- short track, TT, the half-mile and the Mile -- and crowns national champions based on their accumulated points from each individual event. Racers from around the country will converge on Du Quoin, Ill., this summer to battle for national championship honors, as well as the AMA Racing Dirt Track Horizon Award, which honors the amateur racer poised to make a statement on the pro level.

AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships Schedule

June 27, 2009
Du Quoin State Fairgrounds, Du Quoin, Ill.
Mile
NO PRO CLASS

June 28, 2009
Du Quoin State Fairgrounds, Du Quoin Ill.
Mile
PRO SINGLES AND PRO TWINS ADDED

June 29, 2009
Du Quoin State Fairgrounds, Du Quoin, Ill.
Short Track
PRO SINGLES ADDED

June 30, 2009
Du Quion State Fairgrounds, Du Quoin, Ill.
TT
PRO SINGLES ADDED

July 1, 2009
Du Quoin State Fairgrounds, Du Quoin, IL
Half-mile
PRO SINGLES AND TWINS ADDED

July 2, 2009
Du Quoin State Fairgrounds, Du Quoin, Ill.
Short Track
PRO SINGLES ADDED

July 3, 2009
Du Quoin State Fairgrounds, Du Quoin, Ill.
TT
NO PRO CLASS

July 4 2009
Du Quoin State Fairgrounds, Du Quoin, Ill.
Half-mile
NO PRO CLASS

July 5 (Rain Date) 2009
Du Quoin State Fairgrounds, Du Quoin, Ill.
NO PRO CLASS