AMA Grand National Series Preview: Syracuse Mile
3 September 1997
R97102 September 2, 1997 For Immediate Release PARKER IN FAMILIAR SPOT COMING INTO SYRACUSE MILE WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- After trailing in the American Motorcyclist Association Grand National Series point standings all season, seven-time AMA champion Scott Parker is back in familiar territory -- atop the championship standings. The Harley-riding Parker will headline a host of the country's top motorcycle racers at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse mile oval this Sunday. For most of the season, North Carolina's Will Davis held the lead in the AMA series. Davis, who rides for TCR Racing, has earned a career-high six wins so far this season and let the series until last weekend. That's when Scott Parker came through with an outstanding weekend in Springfield, Ill. Parker won one race and finished second in the other in the back-to-back Nationals to take over the series lead for the first time this year with a twelve point margin. Parker's strong surge coming to Syracuse;s mile track is bad news for the other Grand National competitors. With five races remaining, Parker will be tough to catch. The 35-year-old racer from Schwartz Creek, Mich., won the Syracuse Mile in 1992. Parker is one of four past Syracuse winners competing Sunday. Jay Springsteen, Ricky Graham and Steve Morehead are the other three who have tasted victory at this popular series stop, which has been part of AMA racing since the 1930s. While Parker should be favored this weekend, Graham seems to be on the verge of winning his first National of the season. The three-time Syracuse winner returned to competition this year after sitting out most of the last two seasons. Graham finished on the podium in two of the last three races and calls Syracuse one of his favorite venues. While Parker and Graham know the feeling of winning in Syracuse, Davis will try everything he can to add his name to the celebrated list of winners. Despite having bad luck in Springfield last week (a shock broke on his bike), Davis is still very much in the hunt for the championship. Kevin Atherton, who won Monday in Springfield, is another rider fighting to catch Parker. The winner of three Nationals so far this year, Atherton is also looking for his first Syracuse win. Syracuse fans will get a double dose of national racing Sunday. The AMA Harley-Davidson 883cc Sportster Dirt Track Series will also race on the mile. Rock Island, Ill., rider, Dave Camlin leads that series by scant six points over Jess Roeder, of Monroeville, Ohio. RECENT WINNERS NEW YORK STATE FAIRGROUNDS Mile Dirt Track, Syracuse, New York YEAR WINNER, HOMETOWN MACHINE 1993 Ricky Graham, Salinas Valley, CA Honda 1993 Ricky Graham, Salinas Valley, CA Honda 1992 Ricky Graham, Salinas Valley, CA Honda 1992 Scott Parker, Swartz Creek, MI Harley-Davidson 1988 Dan Ingram, Clermont, IN Honda 1986 Bubba Shobert, Carmel Valley, CA Honda 1985 Jay Springsteen, Lapeer, MI Harley-Davidson 1984 Bubba Shobert, Carmel Valley, CA Honda 1983 Bubba Shobert, Lubbock, TX Harley-Davidson 1983 Jim Filice, Ceres, CA Harley-Davidson 1982 Bubba Shobert, Lubbock, TN Harley-Davidson 1981 Jay Springsteen, Lapeer, MI Harley-Davidson 1980 Gary Scott, Springfield, OH Harley-Davidson 1979 Steve Morehead, Findlay, OH Harley-Davidson 1978 Jay Springsteen, Lapeer, MI Harley-Davidson 1977 Gary Scott, Hixson, TN Harley-Davidson 1976 Jay Springsteen, Flint, MI Harley-Davidson 1975 Corky Keener, Burton, MI Harley-Davidson 1974 Hank Scott, Hixson, TN Harley-Davidson Track Records: 1 lap: Bubba Shobert, Carmel Valley, CA, Sept. 7, 1986, 35.988 25 laps: Bubba Shobert, Carmel Valley, CA, Sept. 7, 1986, 14:52.653 -30- Connie Fleming American Motorcyclist Association Public Relations Administrator http://www.ama-cycle.org 614-891-2425