AMA Grand National Dirt Track Series Preview: Hagerstown
20 August 1997
R97091 August 20, 1997 For Immediate Release DAVIS HOPES TO COOL RED HOT PARKER AT HAGERSTOWN WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- Dirt-track racer Will Davis is in traveling in unexplored territory. Never before has the veteran rider from North Carolina led the American Motorcyclist Association's Grand National Series this late in the season. And this Saturday at Hagerstown Speedway in Maryland, Davis will try to hold off surging seven-time champion Scott Parker, who won last week in Indianapolis. With eight races remaining in the Grand National Series, Total Conrol Racing's Davis is clinging to a 10-point lead over Parker. While Davis' five wins make him the winningest rider this season, he has never won at Hagerstown. Last year he finished third at the half-mile dirt oval behind Kevin Atherton and Joe Kopp. Parker can claim a Hagerstown win, but that victory came back in 1989. Last year at Hagerstown Parker finished a disappointing 14th. One rider with great results at Hagerstown over the years is the "Findlay Flyer," Steve Morehead. Morehead has three wins at Hagerstown. A fourth would be a nice birthday present for Morehead -- he turns 42 the day of the race. Kevin Atherton, Kevin Varnes and Ricky Graham are also all former winners at Hagerstown. Atherton set the record for the fastest race at the track last year. He ran the 25-lap main in nine minutes, 43.64 seconds. Still hanging close to Davis and Parker in the point standings, Atherton could turn the series into a three-way race for the 1997 championship with a Hagerstown win. PAST WINNERS HAGERSTOWN SPEEDWAY Half-mile Dirt Track, Hagerstown, Maryland YEAR WINNER, HOMETOWN MACHINE 1996 Kevin Atherton, White Pigeon, MI Harley-Davidson 1995 Kevin Varnes, Pottstown, PA Honda 1994 Ricky Graham, Salinas, CA Honda 1993 Ricky Graham, Salinas, CA Honda 1992 Rusty Rogers, Richmond, VA Harley-Davidson 1991 Larry Pegram, Baltimore, OH Honda 1990 Steve Morehead, Findlay, OH Harley-Davidson 1989 Scott Parker, Swartz Creek, MI Harley-Davidson 1988 Steve Morehead, Findlay, OH Harley-Davidson 1987 Steve Morehead, Findlay, OH Harley-Davidson 1984 Randy Goss, Hartland, MI Harley-Davidson 1983 Randy Goss, Hartland, MI Harley-Davidson 1965 Bart Markel, Flint, MI Harley-Davidson 1964 Bart Markel, Flint, MI Harley-Davidson Track Records: 1 lap: Rusty Rogers, Richmond, VA, August 19, 1990, 24.092 4 laps: Kevin Atherton, White Pigeon, MI, August 24, 1996, 1:35.808 25 laps: Kevin Atherton, White Pigeon, MI, August 24, 1996, 9:43.64 -30- Connie Fleming American Motorcyclist Association Public Relations Administrator http://www.ama-cycle.org