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Contact: Leslie Prevish (414) 343-7272 leslie.prevish@harley-davidson.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SCREAMIN' EAGLE AMA FLAT TRACKERS PUT CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE ON HOLD FOR WEATHER AMA Flat Track Season Finale Moved to Oct. 14 COLUMBUS (Sept. 23, 2006) – Kenny Coolbeth was already chomping at the bit to get to Scioto Downs. The track – used for horse racing most of the year – is the site of the AMA Flat Track championship season finale. The race was supposed to start Saturday evening, crowning the champion at the conclusion of the race.
That was before a storm decided to run through Ohio. AMA officials were forced to postpone the season finale until Oct. 14. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 5 p.m. followed by the first heat race at 5:30 p.m.
Coolbeth took over the points lead at the previous event held at the Springfield (Ill.) mile on Sept. 5. The Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson factory rider now leads fellow Wrecking Crew teammate Jared Mees and the Texter H-D team by nine points and Chris Carr and the Pre-Owned Ford Harley-Davidson team by 10 points.
Coolbeth is in search of his first AMA Flat Track Championship. It would also be the first for Harley-Davidson in nine years.
"I just want it over with because the waiting is so difficult," Coolbeth, a Warren, Conn., native said. "I wish we had raced two weeks ago so now that it's postponed even more makes it really tough to be patient. It's nerve-wracking to wait but all I can do is go through the time off the way I would any other race. I'm just training and preparing to go in there and win a race."
Screamin' Eagle Wrecking crew racer Bryan Smith and the Pat Moroney's Harley-Davidson team are in fourth place while Screamin' Eagle factory rider Rich King is in fifth place.
Harley-Davidson Racing Manager Anne Paluso said the team will have to work even more to be prepared for the finale.
"The previous race was on Sept. 5, so there is going to be more than a month between the final two races of the season," Paluso said. "We have great riders and crew members who have battled all season long. It's tough on them to have to wait another two weeks especially when we have riders in the championship chase. But if anyone can use the time wisely and double-check that we're prepared, it's the Screamin' Eagle team."
AMA Top 10 Point standings: Flat Track (Following nine of 10 events. Number of wins in parenthesis)
1. Kenny Coolbeth, Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson (2) 135 2. Jared Mees, Texter H-D/ Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson (1) 126 3. Chris Carr, Quality Pre-Owned Ford Harley-Davidson (2) 125 4. Bryan Smith, Pat Moroney's/Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson 119 5. Rich King, Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson 110 6. Joe Kopp, Latus Harley-Davidson (1) 97 7. Glen Schnabel, Harley-Davidson 89 8. Jake Johnson, Suzuki 77 9. Mike Hacker, Doc's Harley-Davidson (1) 68 10. Johnny Murphree, Coziahr Harley-Davidson 65
In addition to the direct team sponsorship, Harley-Davidson will also provide support through professional flat track contingency and the Rider Support Verification Program (RSVP). Under the Screamin’ Eagle banner the support will total more than $140,000 throughout the 2006 season. This includes a contingency program for qualified Harley-Davidson XR750 riders on the AMA Flat Track series.
Screamin’ Eagle Performance Parts are inspired by and built in the spirit of the raw adrenaline and power of motorcycle racing. Screamin’ Eagle Pro parts are specifically designed for race-use applications, while Screamin’ Eagle parts offer street-use performance options for the Harley-Davidson motorcycle owner. Visit www.harley-davidson.com for more information.
The Screamin' Eagle Flat Track team is sponsored by Matco Tools |
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