INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (July 11, 2015) – Brad Baker scored his first career Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines victory on a Mile course on Saturday night, winning the coveted Indy Mile at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in thrilling fashion.

Baker, the 2013 Grand National Champion, used a last-lap pass to beat out two of the other brightest stars in AMA Pro Flat Track, Bryan Smith and Jared Mees. The pilot of the No. 6 Factory Harley-Davidson, has caught fire of late, winning two of the last three AMA Pro Flat Track main events, and his recent success has propelled him to fourth in the Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines point standings after seven rounds.

“All I can say is, what an amazing race,” said Baker. “Great job to Jared (Mees) for coming up from the back of the pack. I had a little bit of the high-low line going on during the entire race and I really used it to my advantage on the last couple laps. It was an excellent run and I knew I had that move down with three or four laps to go. We were playing mind games out there to get position to come off of turn four and I fought hard for it and got the win. I had an amazing motorcycle underneath me tonight.”

Baker was challenged by rivals Smith and Mees throughout the entire main event. The three finished .066 of a second within each other as they crossed the finish line.

Mees took the inside line as the three dove into turns three and four on the 25th and final lap, and appeared to have a great chance at winning as the trio exited the final turn. However, Baker’s strategy to use the high line on each of the turns paid off in a massive way as he dove into the center of the track on the final trip down the front stretch and his motorcycle provided just enough power to earn him the win.

The victory was the fifth of Baker’s career, but the previous four all came on Half-Miles.

Smith, riding the No. 42 Crosley Radio Kawasaki, crossed the finish line .02 of a second behind Baker for a second place finish, bringing his streak of three-consecutive Mile victories to a halt. Smith did claim the Dash for Cash victory, though.

After a motorcycle malfunction forced him from his heat race, Mees chose to use his provisional start card to enter the main event. Starting from 19th on the grid, Mees carved through traffic aboard his backup No. 1 Las Vegas Harley-Davidson machine and led a total of 13 laps in the race.

Though it’s not the result he wanted, Mees’ third place finish keeps him sitting comfortably in the lead of the Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines points standings after seven rounds. Mees leads second place Smith by seven points (113-106).

Competing aboard the No. 91 Weirbach Racing Kawasaki, Mikey Martin put together his best performance of his career in Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines competition on Saturday night with an impressive fourth place finish.
Johnny Lewis came home in fifth at Indy on his No. 10 Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Ducati, putting three different manufacturers inside the top five.

GNC2

Nick Armstrong put his No. 44E Goeken Racing Suzuki on top of the podium at the Indy Mile for his second GNC2 win of 2015. Armstrong’s decision to ride the Suzuki came less than 24 hours before he took to the track in Indianapolis, as he originally intended on riding a Kawasaki.

“It feels awesome to get this win,” said Armstrong. “We worked all week trying to get the Kawasaki together but we had issues with it on the dyno last night, so we pulled out the old Suzuki, and thankfully she did me good tonight.”

Armstrong’s other victory this year came at the Sacramento Mile.

The victory by Armstrong win was enough to shake up the GNC2 point standings on its own, but the leader coming into Indianapolis, Davis Fisher, suffered a mechanical issue with his No. 67 Parkinson Brother Racing Kawasaki in the main event. The mishap forced Fisher to finish 15th the stronghold he had on the lead in the standings has suddenly shrunk to just six points over Armstrong (95-89).

Piloting the No. 54A Bill Werner Racing Kawasaki, Dan Bromley finished second in the GNC2 main event, and he has now recorded two-straight top-five finishes. Though he never officially led a lap during the race, Bromley gave Armstrong fits all night.

Bronson Bauman, riding the No. 30Z Lombardi’s Harley-Davidson machine, closed out the podium in third place.
No. 94B M&J Racing Kawasaki competitor Ryan Wells, and No. 27U Roy Built Kawasaki pilot Jamison Minor, finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Next Up
The stars of AMA Pro Flat Track will visit Rapid City, South Dakota for the Black Hills Half-Mile on Aug. 4. For tickets and more information regarding the event, please visit https://www.sturgisharleydavidson.com/.

Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines Indy Mile top five results
1. Brad Baker (Harley-Davidson)
2. Bryan Smith (Kawasaki)
3. Jared Mees (Harley-Davidson)
4. Mikey Martin (Kawasaki)
5. Johnny Lewis (Ducati)

Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines top five in points after Round 7
1. Jared Mees (113)
2. Bryan Smith (106
3. Sammy Halbert (100)
4. Brad Baker (99)
5. Kenny Coolbeth Jr. (90)

GNC2 Indy Mile top five results
1. Nick Armstrong (Suzuki)
2. Dan Bromley (Kawasaki)
3. Bronson Bauman (Harley-Davidson)
4. Ryan Wells (Kawasaki)
5. Jamison Minor (Kawasaki)

GNC2 top five in points after Round 7
1. Davis Fisher (95)
2. Nick Armstrong (89)
3. Jamison Minor (87)
4. Dan Bromley (84)
5. J.R. Addison (78)