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KOPP WINS 2008 GRAND NATIONAL TWINS FINAL AT
HEARTLAND PARK
Smith is Second, Coolbeth Third as Harley-Davidson Wrecking Crew Fills
the Podium
TOPEKA, KANSAS (October 4, 2008) - Latus
Harley-Davidson/Screamin' Eagle rider Joe Kopp won the final event of the
2008 AMA Grand National Twins flat track series, leading every lap on the
tight Heartland Park half-mile to take his fourth victory of the season.
Two restarts stretched the race to 27 laps, and in the final five-lap
segment Kopp out-dueled Moroney's Harley-Davidson/Screamin' Eagle rider
Bryan Smith, who finished second. Harley-Davidson Screamin' Eagle factory
rider Kenny Coolbeth, who clinched the 2008 AMA Grand National Twins
championship on Sept. 7 in Monticello, N.Y., was third. All three were
aboard Harley-Davidson XR-750 motorcycles.
"How long was that race, 30 laps?" said
Kopp, who led the series early in the season. "I really needed this,
it's a great way to end the year."
Kopp was the fastest qualifier for the event, and
opened a lead on the pack at the start of the scheduled 25-lap main. The
first red flag dropped on lap 13 for a crash by R&D Machine rider A.J.
Eslick. On the restart, Kopp again moved out to a comfortable lead while
the rest of the field engaged in furious pack racing behind him. Blue
Springs Screamin' Eagle rider Jared Mees went down on lap 23, bringing out
the second red flag and setting up a restart for a five-lap sprint to the
finish, per AMA rules. This time, Smith got off the line with Kopp and the
Harley-Davidson Wrecking Crew riders battled for the distance. Smith was
able to get past Kopp on the backstretch, but never officially led a lap.
Coolbeth was engaged in a wheel-to-wheel race for third with Zanotti
Racing rider Jethro Halbert. Coolbeth got past Halbert on the last lap and
held on to take the last podium position by just 0.006 seconds. Chris Carr
was fifth, followed by Suzuki rider Jake Johnson. Mees could not finish
the race following his crash.
The final standings show Coolbeth with 249 points
and six wins in a season that earned him a third consecutive AMA Grand
National Twins championship. Smith prevailed over Carr in a fight for
second place in the Grand National Twins final standings. Smith led Carr
by just one point before the Topeka event and finished the season with 197
points. Carr finished third with 191, followed by Kopp with 181. Mees
finished the season with 120 points and ninth in the standings.
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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