AMA: Nicky Hayden wins top of the line Chevy Silverado
20 July 2000
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- American Honda racer Nicky Hayden, of Owensboro, Ky.,
picked up the keys to a brand-new Chevy Silverado pickup truck after winning the
Like A Rock Challenge in the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Chevy
Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship.
Hayden's third-place finish in Sunday's Chevy Trucks Superbike final at
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course was good enough to earn him the Chevy Trucks Like a
Rock Challenge grand prize, a loaded Z-71 Silverado valued at $32,000. Since its
introduction, the Chevy Silverado has won 25 major automotive awards, including
the J.D. Power Appeal Award, confirming its status as the benchmark in pickup
trucks.
Hayden had a big smile on his face as he accepted the keys from
Chevy's John Farris during Sunday's live Speedvision broadcast. Hayden was later
asked if he was going to hand down his old pickup to younger brother and fellow
road racer Roger Lee.
"Heck no, I might hand down my old tennis shoes or socks to him, but my old
truck is going to end up on my dad's car lot." Hayden added, "Anybody wants to
buy a Ford, I've got one for sale. You can drive it home."
Chevy Trucks created the Like A Rock Challenge to reward the series'
longest lasting, and most dependable rider, throughout the three doubleheader
race weekends of the 2000 AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship. To be
eligible for the Chevy Trucks Like A Rock Challenge, a rider competing in the
AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship had to win at least one of the six
races comprising the three doubleheader rounds.
Hayden's final tally in the Challenge was 76 points to 68 for Yoshimura
Suzuki's Mat Mladin, and 50 for Mladin's teammate Aaron Yates. The first 2000
season AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship doubleheader race was held
June 2-4 at Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Ga.; the second was held June 9-11 at
Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., and the final doubleheader was held July
14-16 at Mid-Ohio, in Lexington.
Yoshimura Suzuki rider Mat Mladin -- the 1999 AMA Chevy Trucks U.S.
Superbike Champ -- took an early lead in the Chevy Trucks Like a Rock Challenge,
winning both of the races at Road Atlanta. Hayden took back the Like A Rock lead
by winning both Road America races. Mladin struggled at Road America, and Hayden
gained a six point advantage in the race for the Silverado.
Yates came on strong at Mid-Ohio, winning both races and earning his
eligibility for the Like A Rock Challenge. Mladin finished 4-2 at Mid-Ohio, and
Hayden's 2-3 finishes there kept him on top of the Like A Rock points and
secured the Silverado.
Format:
The Chevy Trucks Like A Rock Challenge takes place at 2000 AMA Chevy Trucks U.S.
Superbike Championship doubleheader rounds, held June 2-4 at Road Atlanta, in
Braselton, Ga.; June 9-11 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis.; and July 14-16
at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
To be eligible for the Chevy Trucks Like A Rock Challenge, a rider competing in
the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship must win at least one of the
six races comprising the three doubleheader rounds. Points are paid down 10
places. The Like A Rock Challenge points are separate from AMA championship
points, and do not affect regular championship standings in any way.
The rider who accumulates the most Like A Rock Challenge points, and has won at
least one of the six doubleheader races, will be awarded a new Chevy Silverado
pickup truck valued at $32,000. Since its introduction, the Chevy Silverado has
won 25 major automotive awards, including the J.D. Power Appeal Award,
confirming its status as the benchmark in pickup trucks.
In the event of a tie, the tie will be broken based on the number of wins in the
Like A Rock Challenge. If that does not break the tie, the number of
second-place finishes in the Like A Rock Challenge will be compared, then
thirds, fourths, etc., until the tie is broken. If a tie remains, the best
finish of the last race will determine the winner.
Place / Points Place / Points
1st-place, 15 6th-place, 5
2nd-place,12 7th-place, 4
3rd-place,10 8th-place, 3
4th-place, 8 9th-place, 2
5th-place, 6 10th-place,1