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AMA: Parker Regains Lead Going Into Las Vegas

2 October 1998

WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- Harley-Davidson factory rider Scott Parker has regained the lead of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Grand National Dirt Track Series. Parker took back the lead with a win last Saturday at the Cal-Expo State Fairgrounds Mile in Sacramento, Calif.

Will Davis of Goldsboro, N.C., and Rich King of Dysart, Iowa were tied for the championship going into the Sacramento round, holding a slim 1-point margin over Parker. But Parker's win pushed him back to the top of the point standings.

With only two races left in the series, Parker, of Swartz Creek, Mich., remains in a heated battle for the 1998 Grand National title. Parker is challenged by Harley-Davidson of Sacramento rider Chris Carr, who trails Parker by just five points. Rich King and his Corbin Racing Honda are 3-points behind Carr, and TCR Harley-Davidson rider Will Davis is just one more point back.

The fight for the title will continue on Sat., Oct. 3 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Half-mile, where Davis holds the track record for qualifying, and is the favorite after winning last year's race by 1.730 seconds.

In addition to the Grand National Series, the Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance Series will resume following last weekend's rain-out at Sacramento. Miller Electrical Construction/Las Vegas Harley-Davidson rider Jess Roeder can wrap up the Sportster Performance title by finishing 10th or better in the series. Shaun Russell of San Jose, Calif. is 37-points behind Roeder, and is the only rider who can remain in contention for the championship.

Three more championships will be decided at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Half-mile. On Friday night, the AMA Hot Shoe Championship Series will take place. George Roeder II of Monroeville, Ohio, leads the 750cc Expert class, with a 16-point lead over Rich King. In the 600cc Expert class, only three points separate series leader Dan Stanley and 2nd place rider Kenny Coolbeth Jr., and in the 600cc Pro Sport, Brian Shirley leads Thomas McGrane Jr., by 17 points.

For tickets and additional information on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Half-mile races, call Agajanian Presents, Inc. (310) 547-9898 or the Las Vegas Motor Speedway at (800) 644-4444.