AMA Grand National Series to Visit Black Hills and Quad Cities
5 August 1997
R97087 For Immediate Release WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- August 4-10 will be a busy week for competitors in the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Grand National Series. The series will visit Black Hills Speedway in Rapid City, S.D., on Wednesday night before heading to Quad City Downs in East Moline, Ill., on Saturday. This marks the only time that two Grand National Series races are scheduled for the same week. Both tracks are half-mile dirt ovals. Three former winners will line up for Wednesday night's race in Rapid City. Total Control Racing's Kevin Atherton is the defending champ at Black Hills Speedway. Atherton is third in the series standings coming into the Black Hills race with two wins under his belt. The other past winners at Black Hills are Scott Parker and Ricky Graham. Parker, a seven-time AMA Grand National Champion riding for the Harley-Davidson factory, is second to Will Davis in the point standings, but gained on Davis last week after finishing second at the Peoria TT. Graham, riding for USC Racing, is having a good season back in the saddle after missing much of the '96 series due to injuries. Graham, a three-time AMA champ, won the Rapid City race in 1993. Even though he's not on that list of previous winners, Total Control Racing's Will Davis could be the rider to beat at both Rapid City and Quad Cities. The North Carolinian is having his best season ever, having won five events this year to claim the Grand National points lead. Veteran Steve Morehead could be equally tough at Quad Cities. The "Findlay Flyer" will turn 42 later this month, but shows no signs of slowing down. Morehead is ranked in the top 10 in the series and was the fastest qualifier at Quad Cities last year before rain forced cancellation of the race. -30- Connie Fleming American Motorcyclist Association Public Relations Administrator http://www.ama-cycle.org 614-891-2425