The first three rounds of AMSOIL Arenacross have produced four different overall winners through five nights of competition and as a result the Arenacross Class battle for the championship is intensifying heading into this weekend’s fourth round in Nashville, Tennessee, and its inaugural visit to Bridgestone Arena. The action commences this Saturday, January 31, beginning at 5 p.m. PT / 7 p.m. CT / 8 p.m. ET.
Two nights of action last Friday and Saturday inside the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado, featured some of the best racing of the 2015 season. On Friday night Team Babbitt’s Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jacob Hayes became the first two-time winner this season, and Husqvarna TiLUBE TUF Racing’s Kyle Regal followed that up with his first win of the year on Saturday. Adding to the drama surrounding the outcome of each night of action was the fact that both nights needed tiebreakers to determine which rider would walk away victorious. Heading into this weekend’s visit to Nashville just 12 points separate points leader Matt Goerke from Hayes, his Team Babbitt’s teammate.
Hayes’ triumph on Friday night in Colorado Springs was thanks in large part to his impressive consistency. Last year’s championship runner-up posted 2-1 finishes and by virtue of his win in the night’s second Main Event, he was able to edge out Husqvarna TiLUBE TUF Racing’s Gavin Faith, who tied him in points earned for the evening, for the top spot via tiebreaker. Goerke followed the pair in third to complete the overall podium.
It was a similar course of action on Saturday night for Regal. Like Hayes on Friday night, the Husqvarna rider was very consistent and his 3-1 results put him in position to earn the win. However, ThermoTec FMC Racing Yamaha’s Bobby Kiniry was on top of his game as well and ended up in a tie for points scored at the end of the night. In the end Regal’s win in the second Main Event earned him the tiebreaker and helped him jump from sixth to third in the championship standings. Hayes rounded out the overall podium in third, with Goerke fourth.
Hayes’ strong efforts on both nights in Colorado Springs helped him earn four points on Goerke and now only a 12-point difference separates the two heading into this weekend’s action. A pair of Main Events lies ahead of the Arenacross Class field on Saturday night, providing an opportunity for a potential shakeup in the championship. Nearly every title contender has been forced to endure misfortune at some point this season, finishing outside the top 10 in at least one Main Event. Goerke however has managed to avoid that distinction and while he hasn’t been void of adversity, he’s found a way to battle through it and finish no worse seventh in a Main Event this season. That consistency and resiliency has put him in the position to lead the championship in his first full season of AMSOIL Arenacross competition and he’ll carry the red number plate as the points leader for the fourth night this season.
The Eastern Regional Arenacross Lites Class gave way to its Western Regional counterparts last weekend, but will be back in action on Saturday night. Current Eastern Regional points leader Daniel Herrlein was in action in Colorado Springs and enjoyed a tremendous weekend, taking a dominant win on Friday night and overcoming a late incident with a lapper on Saturday night to soldier home to a runner-up finish despite a broken shift lever and being forced to race in fourth gear. The A&Y Racing Honda rider carries a slim three-point lead over Spinechillers Racing KTM’s Dave Ginolfi in the Eastern Regional Championship and both riders are more than ready to resume their battle on Saturday night in Nashville.
The fourth round of AMSOIL Arenacross kicks off in Nashville this Saturday, January 24th, inside Bridgestone Arena. Racing begins at 5 p.m. PT / 7 p.m. CT / 8 p.m. ET.
Tickets for each round of AMSOIL Arenacross are on sale now!
The entire AMSOIL Arenacross season will air on FOX Sports 1, including re-airs on Fox Sports 2.
Live timing and scoring from each round of the AMSOIL Arenacross season returns for the 2014 season! To follow the intense racing action live, log onto www.Arenacross.com.
About Me: Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway almost 30 years ago. He has had the privilege of travelling to races all across the state of Florida (as well as one race in Ohio), watching nearly everything with a motor compete for fame and glory, as well as participating in various racing schools to get the feel of what racecar drivers go through every week. Adam has spent the last three years covering motorsports for Examiner.com., where he had the opportunity to see the racing world from behind the scenes as well as the grandstands. He invites everyone to follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus, and looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for all things racing with the readers of SpeedwayDigest.com.Be sure to tune in for his weekly sports talk program, Thursday Night Thunder, where he discusses the latest in motorsports news with drivers, crew members, and fans. The show takes place every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST on the Speedway Digest Radio Network.
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