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AMA: Carr on Top As AMA Grand National Championship Comes to a Close

7 October 1998

WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- Chris Carr of Fleetwood, Penn., holds the inside line as the 1998 American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Grand National Dirt Track Series enters its final lap this weekend.

On the strength of his second-place finish in the Oct. 3 Las Vegas Half-mile, Carr has taken a narrow 2-point lead over eight-time series Champion Scott Parker of Swartz Creek, Mich. But with 23 points on the line at the final race of the season, this year's title chase easily could go down to the last lap at the Del Mar Mile in Del Mar, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 11. And two other racers--Rich King of Dysart, Ia., and Will Davis of Goldsboro, N.C.--still have a mathematical shot at the championship.

Steve Morehead of Findlay, Oh., was the winner in Las Vegas, capturing his 23rd career AMA Grand National victory and his first since August 1996. But at the Del Mar Fairgrounds this weekend, the F&S Harley-Davidson/KK Motorcycle Supply-sponsored rider, currently ranked fifth in the series standings, can do no more than play the spoiler's role while the four riders ahead of him battle for the title.

The points standings tell the story, as Carr comes into the final race with 275 points, while Parker has 273, King has 268 and Davis has 259.

Look for Parker to have the edge on the Del Mar track, however, since he has three wins and a second-place finish at the facility in four previous races. Carr's best finish on the track came in 1995 when he placed second to Parker. Meanwhile, King's best Del Mar finish was a second and Davis' best was a third, both recorded last year.

In addition to Grand National competition, the Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance Series will wrap up its season at Del Mar. Jess Roeder of Monroeville, Oh., who claimed the 1998 title in Las Vegas, will try for one more victory over Shaun Russell of San Jose, who is currently ranked second, and third-place rider Gary Rogers, also of San Jose.

For tickets and additional information on the K&N Filters/ Southern California Harley-Davidson Dealers Association Del Mar Mile, call TicketMaster at (619) 220-8497 or Agajanian Presents Inc., at (310) 547-9898.

For immediate post-race results, rider information, AMA Pro Racing notes and news, check the Pro Racing pages of AMADirectlink, at http://www.ama-cycle.org