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AMA: Parker out of retirement to race Lima, OH Half-mile

16 June 2000

     PICKERINGTON, Ohio --  The all-time winningest rider in the history of

the AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championships, the recently

retired Scott Parker, will trade his AARP card for a steel shoe during the

17th running of the Lima, Ohio half-mile, June 24.

     Parker, of Swartz Creek, Mich., has dominated Lima in past years,

winning seven of 17 events, and he still holds the lap record at 24.994

seconds-- a record which has stood since 1984.

     Nine-time Grand National Champion Parker, will field a factory-backed

Harley-Davidson XR750 as the temporary teammate of Rich King. King, who

replaced Parker as Harley's No. 1 rider, has yet to win the half-mile

battle at Lima and only managed a 13th-place finish during last season's

race.

     Adding drama to the appearance of the greatest flat-track racer of all

time is the head-to-head battle between Parker and defending champion Chris

Carr. Carr, of Fleetwood, Pa., has won Lima twice, most recently during the

1999 season's much debated 28-lap main event, where a red-flag on lap 23

necessitated a 5-lap sprint for the win. Carr ended up taking the victory

from Parker, who was leading when the event was flagged.

     Qualifying heats begin at 5:30 P.M. with opening ceremonies at 7 P.M.

For ticket information, call (419) 666-6450.

     While at the Lima half-mile be sure to stop by the Progressive

Insurance tent, near the grandstands, for rider autograph sessions, video

games, free magnetic schedules, posters and other giveaway items. Once

there you can support the sport by calling 1-800-FLAT-TRACK on the hotline

or by receiving an on-line quote on the Progressive computer. Don't forget,

for every quote made through 1-800-FLAT-TRACK either at the track or

through telephone calls from home, Progressive pays $1 towards the rider

point fund.