AMA: Parker Looking to Rebound at Eldora Speedway
22 July 1998
WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- After a disappointing 12th-place finish last weekend, defending American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Grand National Dirt Track Champion Scott Parker will be looking to rebound this weekend at the fourth annual F&S Harley-Davidson American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Grand National Half-mile, set for Saturday, July 25, at the Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.Parker, who is leading the series points battle, faced uncustomary struggles at last weekend's half-mile race in Oklahoma City, finishing out of the top three for the first time this season. In fact, he barely made the main event, earning the last transfer spot available.
Parker's 12th-place finish cut into his points lead and dulled the momentum he's been surfing coming off his best early season ever. It also shifted some drive to Rich King of Dysart, Iowa, who took the win at Oklahoma City to collect his career fifth Grand National victory and pull within 25 points of first place coming into Eldora.
Other challenges at Eldora will come from the likes of former Grand National Champion Chris Carr, of Fleetwood, Penn., who earned his fourth podium finish of the season last weekend, finishing second to King. Carr is third overall, 12 points out of second place.
And fans can't rule out last years Eldora Half-mile winner, Will Davis of Goldsboro, N.C. Last year's second-ranked rider has one Grand National win to his credit this year and is currently fourth in the standings, 8 points behind Carr.
Rounding out the top five is veteran racer and three-time Grand National Champion Jay Springsteen, of Lapeer, Mich. If Springsteen continues on this course, he can better his '97 year-end ranking of 8th place. Gates open at the Eldora Speedway at 3 p.m. General admission seats are $18 for ages 16 and up; $10 for 13-15 years; children 12 and under are free. Add $2 per person for reserved seating. For additional track information, call (937) 338-3815.
Practice begins at 5:15 p.m.; qualifying heats at 6 p.m.; and opening
ceremonies at 7:30 p.m.
Following is a list of past winners and track records:
ELDORA SPEEDWAY Half-mile, Rossburg, Ohio YEAR WINNER, HOMETOWN MACHINE 1997 Will Davis, Goldsboro, NC Harley-Davidson 1996 Kevin Atherton, White Pigeon, MI Harley-Davidson 1995 Scott Parker, Swartz Creek, MI Harley-Davidson Track Records: 4 laps: Kevin Varnes, Pottstown, PA, September 14, 1996, 1:22.878 25 laps: Kevin Atherton, White Pigeon, MI, September 14, 1996, 8:28,0311998 AMA GRAND NATIONAL DIRT TRACK SERIES POINT STANDINGS Pos. Pts. No. Rider Name, hometown (wins) 1 135 1 Scott Parker, Swartz Creek, MI (4) 2 110 80 Rich King, Dysart, IA (1) 3 98 4 Chris Carr, Fleetwood, PA 4 90 21 Will Davis, Goldsboro, NC (1) 5 79 9 Jay Springsteen, Lapeer, MI 6 67 66 George Roeder II, Monroeville, OH (1) 7 66 42 Steve Morehead, Findlay, OH 8 57 89 Kevin Varnes, New Holland, PA 9 55 43 Joe Kopp, Mica, WA 10 54 11 Bryan Bigelow, Au Gres, MI 11 53 67 Mike Hacker, Price George, VA 12 44 10 Dan Stanley, Bellingham, WA 13 43 27 David Camlin, Rock Island, IL 14 36 18 Terry Poovey, Euless, TX 15 35 41 Brett Landes, Los Gatos, CA 16 27 69C Nicky Hayden, Owensboro, KY 17 27 26 Stephen Beattie, Canada, ON 18 26 22 Daniel Butler, Waterford, MI 19 25 15 Chris Evans, Ontario, CAN 20 22 33 Glen J.R. Schnabel, West Bend, WI 21 22 83 Paul Morgan III, Centralia, IL