Smith Takes Second AMA Pro K&N Filters GNC Win for Kawasaki in Springfield Mile

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (August 6, 2010) - A large crowd filled the Illinois State Fairgrounds for round fourteen of the AMA Pro K&N Filters Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com The Springfield Mile didn't disappoint as the action was intense all day long.

When the checkered flag fell on the twenty five lap National Kawasaki / Monster Energy / Werner-Springsteen Racing's #42 Bryan Smith had repeated his Indianapolis results as he edged Lancaster Harley-Davidson / Dallas Fort Worth Honda's #4 Chris Carr by just 48 thousandths of a second.

Defending Grand National Twins Champion Rogers Lake Racing / Blue Springs Harley-Davidson's #1 Jared Mees was third as the top three finished just over a quarter of a second apart.

Harley-Davidson of Wausau's #59 Willie McCoy made a rare visit to the series pay off with a solid fourth place finish. Harley-Davidson Motor Company's #2 Kenny Coolbeth and Zanotti Racing's #5 Jake Johnson filled out the lead pack.

Johnson had been forced to a back-up bike and came from the fourth row to the back of the lead draft, but then was stuck right there.

"The track was a lot faster for the National," said Smith. "We were geared too low, it was my call, but I think if we had been geared a little taller I might have been able to get away. That was the idea going in."

Instead it was a twenty five lap war that did eventually fall to Smith. Carr proved himself to be the wily vet, despite losing his brakes mid-race. "I had to change the way I went into the turns to avoid hitting anyone," said Carr. "It took a while to figure it out, but I just couldn't draft the Kawasaki."

Smith was able to lead twenty one laps, including the all important twenty fifth. Carr held the point for three laps and McCoy led the tenth lap.

Current Series points leader Latus Harley-Davidson / ENI USA's #3 Joe Kopp had his potent Ducati in the mix early on, but lost contact with the lead draft and dropped into major conflict for seventh place. Kopp barely edged out title contender Kings Kustoms / KK Motorcycle Supply's #7 Sammy Halbert as they led the last nine riders still running. All nine riders were separated by just over one second.

The four lap Dash for Cash once again played a large part of the day. Chris Carr was able to come out on top of this as Jake Johnson and Jared Mees bumped in the last turn of the last lap. Johnson got the worst of it and was forced to his back-up bike for the National. Mees held on for second with Smith suffering his only defeat of the day in third.

The Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Grand National Championship main was another nail bitter. The top seven were under one second apart, but somehow Price Truck Line / Kennedy Tire's #22L Michael Toon came away with his second Springfield Mile win this year and third in a row at Springfield.

TLC Racing / Angie Beighle Designs' #81C Zakk Palmer was just a tick back in second with Defending Series Champion Rod Lake / Mike Velasco's #1 Brad Baker, Weirbach Racing / General Engineering's #20T Mike LaBelle, Series points leader Van's Yamaha / Woody Kyle Racing's Jeffery Carver, Lancaster Harley-Davidson's Shayna Texter and Priestly Racing's Corey Crawford were next as the top eleven riders were within seconds of the win.

Joe Kopp's lead in the AMA Pro K&N Filters Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com Overall points race is shrinking as it now stands at ten over Jake Johnson. Defending Twins Champion Jared Mees and Sammy Halbert are tied twenty four points back.

In the Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Grand National Championship, Jeffery Carver is cruising along maintaining a twenty point lead over Defending Series Champion Brad Baker with just three races remaining. Mack Daddy Racing's #33E Mike Avila is in third place, but ninety two point out.

ILLINOIS STATE FAIRGROUNDS
SPRINGFIELD, IL
RESULTS: September 5, 2010

AMA PRO MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM PRO SINGLES MAIN (12 laps; 18 riders): 1. Michael Toon (Hon); 2. Zakk Palmer (Hon); 3. Brad Baker (Hon); 4. Michael Toon (Hon); 5. Jeffery Carver (Yam); 6. Shayna Texter (Hon); 7. Corey Crawford (Hon); 8. Jeremy Hamilton (Hon); 9. William Cato (Hon); 10. Jake Shoemaker (Suz); 11. Justin Minnaert (Kaw); 12. Chaz Springsteen (Kaw); 13. Mike Martin (Hon); 14. Cody Johncox (Yam); 15. Wyatt Maguire (Yam); 16. Michael Bickerton (Hon); 17. Brian Tapp (Hon); 18. Mike Avila (Hon).
Time: 7:25.594

AMA PRO MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM PRO SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS (After 14 of 17 rounds): 1. Jeffery Carver (255 pts / 4 wins); 2. Brad Baker (235 / 4 wins); 3. Mike Avila (163); 4. James Rispoli (160); 5. JD Beach (118 / 4 wins); 6. Mike Martin (117); 7. Mike LaBelle (116); 8. Chaz Springsteen (101); 9. Jake Shoemaker (90); 10. Michael Toon (80 / 2 wins); 11. William Cato (69); 12. Zakk Palmer (66); 13. Jeremy Hamilton (59); 14. Shayna Texter (57); 15. Gerit Callies (55); 16. (TIE) Tyler O'Hara / Wyatt Maguire (47); 18. Corey Crawford (43); 19. Brandon Laursen (35); 20. Ryan Foster (33).

GNT DASH FOR CASH (4 laps; 6 riders): 1. Chris Carr (H-D); 2. Jared Mees (H-D); 3. Bryan Smith (Kaw); 4. Kenny Coolbeth (H-D); 5. Willie McCoy (H-D); 6. Jake Johnson (H-D).
Time: 1:53.979.

AMA PRO K&N GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED by MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM MAIN (25 laps; 18 riders): 1. Bryan Smith (Kaw); 2. Chris Carr (H-D); 3. Jared Mees (H-D); 4. Willie McCoy (H-D); 5. Kenny Coolbeth (H-D); 6. Jake Johnson (H-D); 7. Joe Kopp (Duc); 8. Sammy Halbert (H-D); 9. Johnny Lewis (Kaw); 10. Stevie Bonsey (H-D); 11. Henry Wiles (H-D); 12. JD Beach (H-D); 13. Shaun Russell (H-D); 14. Jethro Halbert (H-D); 15. Rob Pearson (H-D); 16. Logan Myers (H-D); 17. JR Schnabel (H-D); 18. Brandon Robinson (H-D).
Time: 14:32.205.

AMA PRO K&N GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED by MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM POINT STANDINGS (After 14 of 17rounds): 1. Joe Kopp (252 pts / 3 wins); 2. Jake Johnson (242 / 2 wins); 3. (TIE) Sammy Halbert (1 win) / Jared Mees (228); 5. Henry Wiles (224 / 5 wins); 6. Kenny Coolbeth (207); 7. Chris Carr (173); 8. Bryan Smith (164 / 2 wins); 9. Johnny Lewis (92); 10. Matt Weidman (91); 11. Rob Pearson (88); 12. Mick Kirkness (74); 13. Stevie Bonsey (69 / 1 win); 14. Jethro Halbert (68); 15. Brandon Robinson (42); 16. JR Schnabel (41); 17. Shaun Russell (39); 18. Luke Gough (38); 19. Willie McCoy (35); 20. PJ Jacobsen (31).

AMA PRO K&N GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED by MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM TWINS POINT STANDINGS (After 8 of 11 rounds): 1. Sammy Halbert (147 pts); 2. Jake Johnson (144 / 1 win); 3. Joe Kopp (141 / 3 wins); 4. Kenny Coolbeth (129); 5. Jared Mees (128); 6. Chris Carr (123); 7. Bryan Smith (112 / 2 wins); 8. Henry Wiles (83 / 1 win); 9. Matt Weidman (56); 10. (TIE) Stevie Bonsey (1 win) / Rob Pearson (55); 12. Mick Kirkness (34); 13. Willie McCoy (33); 14. (TIE) Luke Gough / PJ Jacobsen (31); 16. (TIE) Johnny Lewis / Brandon Robinson (24); 18. JR Schnabel (22); 19. Jethro Halbert (20); 20. Larry Pegram (17).

SERIESPARTNERS