AMA Grand National Series: Parker Looking for First Daytona Win
24 February 1998
R98017 February 23, 1998 For Immediate Release PARKER STILL LOOKING FOR FIRST DAYTONA WIN IN AMA GRAND NATIONAL SERIES OPENER WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- Scott Parker has won the American Motorcyclist Association Grand National Series title eight times. He is the all-time Grand National Series wins leader, with an incredible 84 career victories. He has been named AMA/Speedvision Pro Athlete of the Year three times. But, believe it or not, the Harley factory rider still has goals. The 36-year-old rider from Swartz Creek, Michigan, has yet to win his first Daytona Short Track race. The traditional series opener at Municipal Stadium, set for March 7, is one of very few races that Parker yet to master. Parker has been jinxed at the season opener since it moved to Daytona's Municipal Stadium in 1989. His best finish race was fifth in 1990, and he even missed qualifying for the main event four times in the nine previous races there. Parker is so serious about winning at Daytona this year that he came down and tested tires at the track during the winter. Parker hopes the knowledge gained during those tests will translate into a win at Daytona. As a result of his poor showings at Daytona, Parker normally spends the first half of the season trying to make up for the points lost in round one. Most of the time, Parker rallies and is able to win the series title, but it has cost him at least once. In 1992 Parker lost the championship to then-teammate Chris Carr by a scant two points. Carr won the opener at Daytona that year, while Parker finished seventh. Daytona's short track event has produced a slew of surprise winners over the years, none more surprising than last year's winner, Terry Poovey. A 22-year veteran of Grand National competition, Poovey had not won a National in 12 years. But on that cool night last March, everything fel into place for the Texan. Steve Aseltine and Brett Landes broke through at Daytona with similar surprise victories, Aseltine in the inaugural race in 1989 and Landes in 1995. This year, Landes (who was runner-up to Poovey last year) will be one of the favorites to win, along with 1996 winner Will Davis. The level of excitement will be especially high at Daytona this year with the return of 1994 Daytona short track winner Chris Carr. The Fleetwood, Pa., rider is well known for his skills on short tracks, and he will be eager to show he still has what it takes to win on the dirt after two seasons racing Superbikes for Harley-Davidson. Another rider to watch at Daytona will be rookie Nick Hayden. Hayden won the prestigious AMA Horizon Award last year as the nation's top amateur dirt-track racer. Hayden, like Carr, will be turning double duty at Daytona, road-racing at the Daytona International Speedway for team Hypercycle and dirt track racing at the stadium during the week. -30-
