Adam Sinclair
Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway more than 30 years ago. He has had the privilege of traveling 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 spent several 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 sports talk program, Thursday Night Thunder, where he discusses the latest in motorsports news with drivers, crew members, and fans. The show takes place (almost) every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST on the Speedway Digest Radio Network.
Contact Adam: Email
Brayton and Pourcel Make it a Clean Sweep of the MotoSport.com Holeshot Awards for Yamaha at Washougal
The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, returned to the west coast this past weekend for its annual visit to the Pacific Northwest and the picturesque Washougal MX Park. The Motosport.com Washougal National served as the ninth stop of the season and featured a day of dominance for the Red Bull KTM squad, in which both Ryan Dungey and Marvin Musquin swept the days motos in the 450 Class and 250 Class, respectively, en route to victory. KTM also had success in qualifying, while Yamaha showcased its power out of the gate all afternoon long.
Ryan Dungey topped the charts all around in the 450 Class Photo: Matt Rice / Alli Sports
Through partnerships with series sponsors, the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will recognize the riders who achieve the series' specialty awards all summer long. Each week, MX Sports Pro Racing will recognize the riders who are able to lay claim to the Oakley Bomb Fastest Lap Program, the MotoSport.com Holeshot Award in each moto, and the Ricky Carmichael Hard Charger Award throughout the 2014 season.
The Oakley Bomb Fastest Lap Program is designed to present a unique challenge for the 2014 season, providing a different twist by recognizing the rider who sets the fastest lap of practice in both the 250 and 450 Classes. Each rider will receive special Oakley Bomb trophy, specially designed by the brand.As the season wears on, the total number of Oakley Bomb awards a rider receives will be tallied into a final season total. The competitor with the most awards at season's end will be presented with an Elite Oakley Time Bomb II Swiss Automatic Watch.
For just the second time in 2014, Dungey posted the fastest lap of practice in the premier class, beating out Team Honda Muscle Milk's Trey Canard by over half a second to earn the Oakley Bomb Award. In fact, Dungey's lap of 2:13.401 made him the only rider to break the 2:14.00 barrier. The last time the two-time series champion topped the charts was at the opening round from Glen Helen, and on that afternoon Dungey also walked away with the victory. At Washougal, he carried that impressive into the motos and was simply on another level from his competitors.
It was a good day at Washougal for Marvin Musquin, pictured with his first Oakley Bomb Award of the Season Photo: Matt Rice / Alli Sports
One week after Valli Motorsports Yamaha's Christophe Pourcel clinched the Oakley Bomb Fastest Lap Program title and the prized watch that comes with it, another Frenchman added his name to the list of Oakley Bomb Award recipients in 2014. Musquin made it clear early that he would be the rider to beat at Washougal after posting the fastest lap of any rider in either class at the conclusion of the first session. He maintained his spot on top in the final session, bettering his time to a 2:14.082 and finding a full second-and-a-half advantage over the rest of the field. After a pair of good starts in the motos, it looked easy for Musquin to make his way to the front and control the race.
The Motosport.com Holeshot Award is brand new to Lucas Oil Pro Motocross this season and it awards $500 to the rider who gets the holeshot of each moto - in both the 450 Class and 250 Class - at every round of the 2014 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. A total of $2,000 will be up for grabs at each event between the two classes, thanks to Motosport.com. Justin Brayton carried great momentum out of the gate in both motos of the day Photo: Simon Cudby / Racer X
In the 450 Class, the Toyota/Yamaha/JGRMX effort is known for its impressive speed off the start. After his teammate Josh Grant was forced to miss the action following a crash in practice, Justin Brayton rose to the occasion for his team in each moto. The veteran made a clean sweep of the Motosport.com Holeshot Awards in the premier class, pocketing $1,000 for his efforts and bringing some positive results to the JGRMX squad on an otherwise tough day. Brayton parlayed those starts into a solid top-10 effort, finishing ninth overall after 8-8 moto scores.
In the 250 Class, Pourcel shifted his affinity for posting a fast qualifying lap to impeccable launches out of the gate. Just one week after he swept the Motosport.com Holeshot Awards and Spring Creek, the Frenchman duplicated that effort at Washougal, giving him another $1,000 bonus and $2,000 in holeshot money the last two weeks. His current streak of four straight holeshots complements his streak of three-in-a-row earlier this season and brings his class-leading total to seven. There simply hasn't been a rider in the entire championship to collect as many specialty awards this season as the "Crafty Frenchman." Christophe Pourcel traded in his usual Oakley Bomb Fastest Lap for two holeshots at Washougal Photo: Simon Cudby / Racer X The RC Hard Charger Award is entering its sixth season in 2014. Named after Ricky Carmichael, the most winning motocross rider of all time, the award recognizes the one competitor at each of the 12 rounds of the championship who overtakes the highest number of his fellow racers in any of the four championship motos between the 250 and 450 Classes.The award is a testament to "The Greatest of All Time" or "The GOAT" and his never-give-up attitude over the span of a career that warranted 10 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross titles and 102 wins - two feats that will likely never be duplicated. All recipients of the RC Hard Charger Award are given a custom-designed trophy.
On an afternoon in which the top privateer was honored for his efforts in both the 450 Class and 250 Class, it was fitting that another privateer with Pacific Northwest roots ultimately earned the RC Hard Charger Award at Washougal with a resilient ride. Seattle-area native Tevin Tapia found himself in dead last to start the final 450 Class moto, crossing the line in 38th, but the Team 3BR Suzuki rider refused to let adversity get to him at his home race and put on a charge. After a grueling final moto on an extremely rough and challenging track, Tapia fought his way into a points-paying position in 20th, passing a total of 18 riders to salvage what could have been a forgettable outing.
2014 Specialty Award Winners
Oakley Fastest Lap Program
450 Class
Glen Helen - Ryan Dungey Hangtown - Ken Roczen Thunder Valley - Trey Canard High Point - Ken Roczen Muddy Creek - Eli Tomac Red Bud - Ken Roczen Budds Creek - James Stewart Spring Creek - Ken Roczen Washougal - Ryan Dungey
250 Class
Glen Helen - Christophe Pourcel Hangtown - Christophe Pourcel Thunder Valley - Christophe Pourcel High Point - Jeremy Martin Muddy Creek - Christophe Pourcel Red Bud - Christophe Pourcel Budds Creek - Christophe Pourcel Spring Creek - Christophe Pourcel Washougal - Marvin Musquin
Motosport.com Holeshot Award
450 Class
Glen Helen Moto 1 - Josh Grant Moto 2 - Ken Roczen
Hangtown Moto 1 - Ryan Dungey Moto 2 - Jake Weimer
Thunder Valley Moto 1 - Josh Grant Moto 2 - Trey Canard
High Point Moto 1 - Chad Reed Moto 2 - Chad Reed
Muddy Creek Moto 1 - Eli Tomac Moto 2 - Ryan Dungey
Red Bud Moto 1 - Ryan Dungey Moto 2 - Ken Roczen
Budds Creek Moto 1 - Justin Brayton Moto 2 - Ryan Dungey
Spring Creek Moto 1 - Ryan Dungey Moto 2 - Eli Tomac
Washougal Moto 1 - Justin Brayton Moto 2 - Justin Brayton
250 Class
Glen Helen Moto 1 - Jeremy Martin Moto 2 - Jeremy Martin
Hangtown Moto 1 - Zach Bell Moto 2 - Jeremy Martin
Thunder Valley Moto 1 - Jessy Nelson Moto 2 - Zach Bell
High Point Moto 1 - Christophe Pourcel Moto 2 - Christophe Pourcel
Muddy Creek Moto 1 - Christophe Pourcel Moto 2 - Justin Bogle
Red Bud Moto 1 - Matt Biscegila Moto 2 - Joey Savatgy
Budds Creek Moto 1 - Justin Bogle Moto 2 - Jeremy Martin
Spring Creek Moto 1 - Christophe Pourcel Moto 2 - Christophe Pourcel
Washougal Moto 1 - Christophe Pourcel Moto 2 - Christophe Pourcel
RC Hard Charger Award
Glen Helen - Josh Grant (+22) Hangtown - Andrew Short (+24) Thunder Valley - Fredrik Noren (+21) High Point - Shane Sewell & Zack Williams (+14) Muddy Creek - Josh Grant (+29) Red Bud - Fredrick Noren & Joey Savatgy (+21) Budds Creek - Dean Wilson (+21) Spring Creek - Jason Anderson (+25) Washougal - Tevin Tapia (+18)
Round 10 of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship heads to New Berlin, New York, for the Red Bull Unadilla National on Saturday, August 9. |
MX Sports Pro Racing MX Sports Pro Racing manages and produces the world's most prestigious professional motocross series - the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. The industry leader in off road power sport event production and management, its mission is to showcase the sport of professional motocross competition at events throughout the United States. Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports Pro Racing organizes events for thousands of action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of motorsports spectators. Visitwww.mxsportsproracing.com.
Alli Sports Alli Sports is a media, event and branded content company that specializes in action, adventure, and adrenaline based sports. Alli Properties include the Dew Tour, Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, the Red Bull Signature Series and World of Adventure Sports presented by Go Pro. Alli Sports is a division of the NBC Sports Group. More information can be found at www.Allisports.com.
AMA Pro Racing AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.
Lucas Oil Products Based in Corona, Calif., Lucas Oil Products, Inc is the world leader of High Performance Lubricants and Problem Solving Additives and produces and markets 272 unique formulations in thirty four countries around the globe and is growing country by country, market by market every year. Through innovative product research and development, along with progressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top-selling additive line in the American truck-stop industry. Lucas Oil is involved in an array of motorsports sponsorships, including the "Official Motor Oil of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship." Visit: www.lucasoil.com.
MAVTV MAVTV is a television network with its roots deep in the automotive world. With an unparalleled line-up of motorsports events and exclusive automotive reality shows, MAVTV is the answer for motor-heads from all walks of life. But MAVTV is much more than a motorsports destination, with original action/adventure programming, live MMA and an unbelievable library of blockbuster movies - MAVTV is a network the whole family can enjoy. A network by the people and for the people, made in America and American Real. Visit: www.mavtv.com. |
(Lucas Oil Pro Motocross PR)
Hampshire, Harrison and Marchbanks Dominate Opening Day of 2014 Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National
The 2014 Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship presented by AMSOIL kicked off its racing schedule on Tuesday from the historic Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee for the 33rd running of the world's largest and most prestigious amateur motocross championship. Seventeen different riders emerged victorious through the first 20 gate drops and while there's still plenty of racing left to go, several of this year's key players were established in the opening set of motos.
RJ Hampshire is the man to beat in the A classes after the first set of motos
Photo: Ken Hill / MX Sports
Some of the most highly anticipated competition of the week comes from the Open Pro Sport and 250 A divisions who are usually packed full of riders that will soon makea jump into the professional ranks. So far, in his final bid as an amateur racer this week, AMSOIL Factory Connection Honda's RJ Hampshire has laid the foundation as the rider to beat in the premier class. Hampshire began the day with a big win in the Open Pro Sport class, fending off Yamalube/Star Racing/Yamaha's Aaron Plessinger in the opening moto.
Garrett Marchbanks established himself early in the minicycle ranks
Photo: Ken Hill / MX Sports
The Hampshire/Plessinger battle carried over into the opening moto of the 250 A division as the duo hooked up just behind KTM-mounted Daniel Baker, who captured the $100 Bell Helmet Holeshot Award and the early lead. Hampshire and Plessinger eventually moved into the lead and it was a head-to-head battle for the win. That is, until Plessinger abruptly went down in what would ultimately result in a DNF for the rising motocross star, who also plans to move into the pro ranks this season. Despite the chaos, Hampshire remained solid to capture his second moto win of the day in Pro Sport, where he now heads into the second set of motos with first gate pick and a slight advantage on his competition. Monster Energy Team Green Kawasaki's Chris Alldredge capitalized on the opportunity to take second, while Club MX's Marshal Weltin took third.
At the intermediate level, it was Monster Energy Kawasaki's Mitchell Harrison who emerged with a pair of wins through the first set of motos, one in Schoolboy 2 (13-16) B/C and another in 250 B. Although he swept both motos of the day, Harrison was challenged from all angles by riders such as Tristan Charboneau and Lorenzo Locurcio in 250 B, and Jon Ames and Mark Worth in the Schoolboy class. KTM Orange Brigade's Alexander Frye proved to be a big contender early on in 250 B until a big crash set him back quite a few positions near the end.
Mitchell Harrison heads into moto two with a nice gate pick
Photo: Ken Hill / MX Sports
The Monster Energy Team Green Kawasaki squad carried its dominance into the Youth divisions as Garrett Marchbanks swept both of the Mini Sr classes for the day. While Marchbanks experienced plenty of competition from riders like Yamaha bLUcRU's Chase Sexton, who finished a close second in moto one, the Utah native held strong to put forth the only 1-1 performance in the minicycle divisions thus far.
Ricky Renner captured the Junior 25+ win
Photo: Ken Hill / MX Sports
The age classes typically bring about some of the most intense battles of the week and Tuesday's racing was no different as many of the sport's most accomplished racers made their return to the Amateur National Championship. The Junior 25+ class showcased a host of talent once again with familiar names such as Robbie Reynard, James Povolny and Andrew Matusek, but this year it was all about Ricky Renner, who took the moto one win in a dominant fashion over a tough set of competition.
Mackenzie Tricker began her title defense in a favorable way
Photo: Ken Hill / MX Sports
Yamaha bLU cRU/Rock River supported Mackenzie Tricker returned this year to defend her Women (14+) National Championship and so far so good for the Australian native as she captured the win in moto one. It wasn't an easy feat for Tricker, though, as her Rock River Yamaha-backed teammate Kaitlyn Morrow laid on the pressure near the end to finish less than one second behind the defending champ for the number two spot in moto one.
Hannah Hodges captured two podium finishes in the first set of motos
Photo: Ken Hill / MX Sports
Hannah Hodges jumped into the Women (14+) ranks this season, finishing an impressive third place in moto one. Hodges continued her streak in the Girls (12-16) class with a dominant performance to capture the moto one win, while North Carolina's Jordan Jarvis took the Girls (9-13) class win.
Tuesday showcased 20 different gate drops to complete half of the first moto order
Photo: Ken Hill / MX Sports
Day two of racing will resume on Wednesday, July 30 with the remaining number of opening motos, as well as the beginning of the second set of motos. Live streaming coverage begins Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. CT / 11:30 a.m. ET on RacerTV.com. For more information on the viewing times for the rest of the week, please click HERE.
Complete results from the 2014 National Championship can be found HERE and Live Timing & Scoring can be accessed HERE.
The 2014 Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship presented by AMSOIL will take place July 27 - Aug. 2 at Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. For more information, visit the series website atwww.mxsports.com.
About the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship
The Rocky Mountain ATV/MCAMA Amateur National Motocross Championship is the world's largest and most prestigious amateur motocross racing program. The national qualifying program consists of 52 Area Qualifiers (February through May) and 12 Regional Championships (June), hosted at select motocross facilities across the country. The qualifying system culminates in the National Final (first week of August) hosted annually since 1982 at the home of country music star Loretta Lynn in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. Nearly 20,000 racers attempt to qualify in 36 classes for the 1,446 available positions at the National. Christened "The World's Greatest Motocross Vacation", the National event serves as a launch pad for some of the biggest names in professional motocross and supercross, including Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto, and Ryan Dungey. The national program is produced by MX Sports, Inc., a West Virginia-based race production.
( Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship presented by AMSOIL PR)
GALLERY OF SPEED, THE NEW AMERICAN CAR CULTURE EXPERIENCE OPENS AT THE WALLY PARKS NHRA MOTORSPORTS MUSEUM
The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum presented by Automobile Club of Southern California announced today the opening of its new interactive exhibit hall Gallery of Speed, which vividly recreates historical moments in American motorsports and car culture.
The Gallery of Speed brings to life the humble beginnings of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and how motorsports have impacted the world through innovation, engineering and design.
“The new Gallery of Speed is not just an exhibit but an entirely new learning experience with a unique look into the fascinating world of hot rodding and motorsports,” the NHRA Museum’s Executive Director Larry Fisher said. “Here we will begin to tell the stories of the great American hot rod and, those who built and raced them, in a new light. We will not only celebrate the cars but the people, the engineering, the science, and the sheer audacity of those who pushed the limits in their pursuit of speed.”
The Gallery of Speed features five new focal areas: the origins of hot rodding, land speed racing, the early days of the NHRA and the influence of custom car design. The eye-opening exhibit offers a unique collection of historical vehicles, artifacts, interactive touchscreens, images, oral histories, life-sized sculptures designed by Weldon Exhibits and other memorabilia.
The Gallery of Speed will spark the visitor’s quest for knowledge. The exhibit is designed to be a fun learning experience sprinkled with hands-on activities and touchscreens focused on S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, arts and math). Visitors can customize their own hot rod, learn the ‘language of hot rodding,’ and listen to candid stories from NHRA Founder Wally Parks and other motorsports legends.
“We wanted to develop a new approach to learning about the history of hot rodding, motorsports and the individuals who influenced American car culture,” said Greg Sharp, curator of the NHRA Motorsports Museum. “I believe that the new Gallery of Speed will capture the visitor’s imagination and inspire all ages for years to come. It’s an exhibit our Founder Wally Parks would be very proud of.”
Visitors will also want to browse an assortment of gifts and keepsakes in the museum’s newly renovated and expanded retail store. Take home a distinctive reminder of your visit to NHRA Motorsports Museum. Also, learn about upcoming events and sign up to become an exclusive museum member. Many museum gifts are available to purchase online at www.nhramuseum.org.
Plan your visit with us! The NHRA Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Become a member and enjoy free NHRA Museum admission year round.
General admission tickets are $10 adults, $8 seniors (60 and up), $8 youth (6-15) and free for children ages 5 and under. AAA discount is available. For more information, call (909) 622-2133 or visit www.NHRAmuseum.org. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to NHRA Museum on YouTube.
The NHRA Motorsports Museum is located at 1101 W. McKinley Ave. in Pomona, Calif. on the Fairplex grounds. From the 10 West, exit Fairplex Drive.
The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum presented by Automobile Club of Southern California is an independent California non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to celebrating the impact of motorsports on American culture. Neighboring the historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the Museum collects, preserves, exhibits and interprets the vehicles, stories and artifacts that represent America’s affection for, and the influence of, automotive speed and style in all its forms. For more information, visit our website: www.nhramuseum.org.
(NHRA Communications Department)
If you've been listening to the radio chatter lately, you may have picked up on some interesting information provided by our very own Danny Walker. Last week on Barry Boone's "Talking Motorcycle with Barry Boone" internet radio show, Danny let slip something we've been working on for quite a while but have been keeping under wraps until all the pieces were in place.
Well, the last few pieces fell into place last week and we are very excited to announce that The RoadRace Factory will be invading the MCE Insurance - British Superbike Series. That's right!! We're going to be bringing the party to the British Superbike Series and provide our riders with a little international exposure. It's going to take a lot to make our venture overseas a success and we're thrilled that our sponsors support this effort to bring attention to the talent of American riders in the AMA.
Following the final round of AMA Pro Road Racing competition at New Jersey Motorsports Park, Sept 12th-14th, the team will be packing up their kit and heading over to England. There, they will be utilizing temporary quarters to set-up their race efforts. The team will compete in the final two rounds of the series, Round 11 from Silverstone and Round 12 from Brands Hatch.
Danny Walker stated, "This is going to be an incredible undertaking for us but its something that we've actually wanted to do since season one. Our mission at The RoadRace Factory has always been to develop riders that can compete with the best in the world regardless of the series. We're going over there to show what our riders are capable of and what our program can produce. We're also going to explore more opportunities to grow our program and investigate the viability of possibly competing in a full season overseas. The bottom line is that we seek to promote American riders and provide them with a path toward an international series. It's been our vision all along and we're excited that it has finally been given the green light."
Jake Gagne added, "I'm excited for the whole experience. New tracks, new series, new class, I just can't wait to get racing over there. It's awesome to see all the hard work the team and especially Danny Walker has put into this effort and we'll work hard to make America proud."
Tomas Puerta says, "First I want to thank the whole RoadRace Factory / Red Bull Team for all the hard work during these three years in AMA and help me reach my best results in my career and my first professional championship.
Sponsorship opportunities exist for this adventure. If you'd like to inquire as to how you can help, please contact Danny Walker atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Be sure to follow us for all the BSB action:
Facebook - www.facebook.com/roadracefactory
Twitter - @roadracefactory
Instagram - @roadracefactory
YouTube - www.youtube.com/roadracefactory
(RoadRace Factory PR)
Deep Field, Deep Storylines as Pirelli World Challenge Heads for Mid-Ohio All Class Doubleheader
In total, 78 cars are entered among the six categories of competition. That includes season-tying or new highs in GT/GT-A (23 total), GTS (28) and TC (9).
Cadillac continues to lead both the driver's and manufacturer's championships leaving the streets of Toronto, but they will likely have a fight on their hands this weekend back on the road course at Mid-Ohio. Neither Johnny O'Connell, of Flowery Branch, Ga., in the No. 3 Cadillac Racing Cadillac CTS-V.R nor Andy Pilgrim, of Boca Raton, Fla., in the sister No. 8 Cadillac Racing Cadillac CTS-V.R has a road course win this year. Still, O'Connell has managed three podiums (two at Barber, one at Road America) and Pilgrim one (Road America Round 8) on the tracks that generally don't suit the Cadillac as well as the point-and-shoot street courses.
On the strength of consistency, DragonSpeed's Henrik Hedman, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., in the No. 10 DragonSpeed Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 has moved into the GT-A classification points lead thanks to five podium finishes in class. The Swede looks to check his first win off this weekend at Mid-Ohio.
GTS should see its biggest field of the season with 28 cars at Mid-Ohio. There were 28 entered at Barber, but only 26 ultimately started the pair of races.
Last time out at Road America, Michael DiMeo, of Toronto, had his two worst finishes of the Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car season – second in both races. The driver of Compass360 Racing's No. 71 Grand Alarms Honda Civic Si still holds a sizeable lead in the driver's championship over teammate and C360 team principal Karl Thomson, of Toronto. Thomson drives the team's sister No. 72 Children's Tumor Foundation/HPD/Racing4Research.org Honda Civic Si.
After splitting wins at the pair of Road America, Jason Wolfe now leads Shea Holbrook by just nine points in the Touring Car A category with six races remaining. It's the closest points battle within the TC categories.
Brian Price, of Middletown, Va., in the No. 51 Unlimited Racing/RP Performance Honda Fit dominated the early portion of the 2014 Touring Car B-Spec season, but a pre-race accident that took him out of the two Road America races has left him vulnerable in the championship chase. Price still leads the standings by 55 points heading into Mid-Ohio. Price won the opening three races, but the competition has closed up as the class has seen five different winners in the last five TCB races.
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Friday, August 1, 11:00 A.M. EDT (TC/TCA/TCB)
Saturday, August 2, 8:00 A.M. EDT (GT/GT-A/GTS)
Friday, August 1, 5:10 P.M. EDT (TC/TCA/TCB Race 1)
Saturday, August 2, 11:55 A.M. EDT (GT/GT-A/GTS Race 1)
Saturday, August 2, 4:35 P.M. EDT (TC/TCA/TCB Race 2)
Sunday, August 3, 1:40 P.M. EDT (GT/GT-A/GTS Race 2)
50 minutes (GT/GT-A/GTS), 40 minutes (TC/TCA/TCB)
Friday, August 1, 5:05 P.M. EDT (TC/TCA/TCB Race 1)
Saturday, August 2, 11:45 A.M. EDT (GT/GT-A/GTS Race 1)
Saturday, August 2, 4:15 P.M. EDT (TC/TCA/TCB Race 2)
Sunday, August 3, 1:15 P.M. EDT (GT/GT-A/GTS Race 2)
Rare Ferrari Supercar Collection To Be Displayed at The Quail Motorsports Gathering on August 15, 2014
Noted Los Angeles Ferrari collector David Lee will be displaying five cars from his unique Ferrari supercar collection at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering 2014, held at the Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel, California on Friday, August 15,2014 from
10:00am – 4:00pm.
This will mark the first time David Lee’s remarkable collection will be displayed to the public as a group and likely the first time many Ferrari enthusiasts will set their eyes on the outrageous 288 GTO Evoluzione, a 2,072 lbs. Kevlar bodied beast, powered by a 650HP, V8 twin–turbo engine. This particular “Evo” was owned by the legendary Belgian racer and Ecurie Francorpchamps team owner, Jacques Swaters, for over 20 years. Alongside the ferocious Evo will be the legendary street legal version 288 GTO, as well as an F40, an F50 with only 560 miles and the stunning Enzo.
While many Ferrari collectors focus on vintage models, David Lee’s collection is known for its variety and its rarity; from a 275 GTB 6 cam (only six produced) and a Daytona Spyder to both 288 GTO’s and an Enzo. When asked what led him to such an eclectic collection of Ferraris, Lee said, “I’ve always loved fast cars with beautiful lines and no marque has ever captured that in one package better than Ferrari. Each one of my Ferraris was groundbreaking in its day and pushed the envelope of performance and design. My goal is to drive a Ferrari seven days a week, the FF as my daily driver and any one of my classics on weekends. I also co–host Morning Octane, a monthly gathering of sports cars at the Rose Bowl, which gives me a chance to share my cars with fellow enthusiasts.”
The Lee Ferrari collection includes: 275 GTB (6 cam), 330 GTS, 365 GTB, 288 GTO, 288 GTO Evoluzione, F40, F50, Enzo, and FF.
NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES AWARDS CEREMONY RETURNS TO L.A.’S WESTSIDE IN 2014
On Monday, November 17, the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Awards Ceremony will return to the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles’ posh Westside. The NHRA also announced that the entire NHRA Mello Yello Awards Ceremony will be broadcast on the Web at NHRA.com and via NHRA’s YouTube channel on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. (ET) / 3 p.m. (PT). It marks the sixth year that the full event will be available to fans via the Internet.
Perfectly situated on the fashionable Westside, adjacent to Beverly Hills, the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza sits on seven acres with 726 spacious guestrooms and a world-class spa and fitness center, making the property a luxury resort hotel situated in the heart of the city.
The invitation-only black-tie event, where NHRA will crown its Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world champions in all four categories, will feature a pre-event cocktail reception at 5 p.m., followed by a formal sit-down banquet, and will end with the official Patrón XO Cafe ‘Late Night’ After Party.
ESPN2 lead anchor Dave Rieff will host the awards ceremony for the third year.
The Hyatt Regency Century Plaza features three restaurants and bars and the Equinox Fitness Club + Spa offering exclusive fitness equipment, elite personal coaches and cutting edge group fitness classes. The Spa features 20 treatment rooms, three outdoor cabanas, a manicure/pedicure suite, and a full menu of massage and facial treatments and products. The outdoor pool and whirlpool includes six furnished poolside cabanas.
The property also will play host to the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Awards Ceremony, scheduled earlier in the day in the Westside Hall where the 2014 NHRA Lucas Oil world champions will be honored.
Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 24 national events featuring the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street program and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 5 to 17. In addition, NHRA owns and operates five racing facilities: Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville in Florida; National Trail Raceway in Ohio; Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis; and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
Dungey Posts Most Dominant Effort of 2014 at Washougal, Gains Considerable Ground in Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Fight
The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, returned to the west coast on Saturday afternoon with its annual visit to the Pacific Northwest and Washougal MX Park for the Motosport.com Washougal National, presented by Peterson CAT. For the second time in the last three rounds, Red Bull KTM's Ryan Dungey topped the 450 Class, posting his first 1-1 sweep of the season for his third overall victory of 2014 and gaining significant ground in the championship standings. In the 250 Class, Red Bull KTM's Marvin Musquin duplicated the efforts of his premier class teammate, earning the first 1-1 sweep of his career en route to his first win of the season.
Washougal's trophies are always in the spirit of the Pacific Northwest. Photo: Simon Cudby / Racer X
Toyota/Yamaha/N-FAB/JGRMX's Justin Brayton was first out of the turn in the opening 450 Class moto, securing the Motosport.com Holeshot Award just ahead of Dungey. The KTM rider wasted little time in making his move on Brayton and took over control of the lead on the opening lap while his closest rivals, Red Bull KTM teammate Ken Roczen and GEICO Honda's Eli Tomac, battled from behind. With a clear track ahead of him, Dungey was able to consistently pull away but the battled behind him proved to be the highlight of the moto.
Roczen was able to pass Team Honda Muscle Milk's Trey Canard for second on Lap 4 and looked to settle into the position, but Tomac was on a charge through the field following an 11th-place start. The Honda rookie and winner at the previous round methodically moved his way forward and had Roczen in his sights after taking over third on Lap 5. In the ensuing laps Tomac steadily closed the gap on his fellow rookie and after about five laps of pursuit, made the move for the runner-up spot on Lap 10.
Out front, Dungey took the moto win by nearly 14 seconds with Tomac second and Roczen third. Canard followed in fourth while Monster Energy Kawasaki's Brett Metcalfe rounded out the top five.
Dungey's best outing of 2014 came at the right time, gaining 10 points in the championship. Photo: Simon Cudby / Racer X
Brayton once again put himself at the forefront of the field at the start of Moto 2, sweeping the afternoon's Motosport.com Holeshot Awards. Metcalfe and BTO Sports KTM's Andrew Short rounded out the top three off the start, with Dungey in fourth. Tomac slotted in a few spots behind Dungey in about seventh, while Roczen was forced to battle his way from a start outside the top 10.
As he did in the first moto, Dungey seized the opportunity on the opening lap and jumped from fourth to first in one corner, immediately pulling away. Tomac wasted little time following Dungey through, moving into the top three, picking off multiple riders to secure second by Lap 2. While the lead duo checked out, Roczen was doing his part by fighting his way into a podium position. While he had to do battle with Metcalfe over the course of several laps for third, Roczen eventually made the pass stick and asserted himself in the final podium spot.
The top three stayed the same through to the finish, with Dungey crossing the line over eight seconds ahead of Tomac. Roczen was a distant third.
"Today was just about coming in and not worrying about the championship. There's a lot of racing left [this season]," said Dungey, who won for the fourth time in five tries in the 450 Class at Washougal. "We just tried to put out our best effort and we did that. We got great starts and Eli [Tomac] kept us honest in that second moto, but I just really tried to put the hammer down and extend the gap. Fortunately we did that. I love it here [at Washougal] and this just feels awesome."
Dungey's win was a landmark one, marking the 30th of his 450 Class career and his 37th combined victory (including the 250 Class) in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. Tomac followed in second (2-2) with Roczen completing the podium in third (3-3). Metcalfe posted a season-best finish in fourth (5-4), while Short rounded out the top five (6-5).
"You always want to be up front, but it was another weekend of work for us," said Roczen. "It'll be good to have an off weekend and recharge the batteries. Ryan [Dungey] rode really well today and congrats to him. I'll take some time to regroup and get some rest in. I really want to keep that red plate [as the points leader]. All that matters is who's on top in the end, and we aren't there just yet."
With 10 points in Dungey's favor on Saturday, Roczen's lead in the 450 Class standings now sits at 14 points. Canard sits third, 77 points behind.
Tomac and Roczen went bar-to-bar in the first moto. Photo: Simon Cudby / Racer X
In the 250 Class, Valli Motorsports Yamaha's Christophe Pourcel led the field into the first turn in Moto 1, claiming the Motosport.com Holeshot Award ahead of Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha's Jeremy Martin. The French rider fended off the current championship points leader for a brief period, but Martin soon made his way around and set a solid pace. Behind them, Red Bull KTM's Marvin Musquin took advantage of a third-place start to challenge the two Yamaha's ahead of him. He passed his fellow Frenchman Pourcel on Lap 1 and went to work on Martin for three laps before ultimately moving into first. Once out front, Musquin pulled away and was never threatened.
While Musquin established his dominance, the battle behind him turned into a captivating five-rider battle between Pourcel and Martin, in addition to Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Blake Baggett, Rockstar Energy Racing's Jason Anderson and Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha's Cooper Webb. A mistake forced Martin to drop from second to fifth, putting the battle for second between Pourcel and Baggett. Eventually Baggett made the pass on Pourcel, but gave the position back just one lap later.
Anderson began to put pressure on Baggett for third but suffered a big crash and dropped deep into the field. That allowed Webb to assume the position after passing his teammate and soon all four riders were separated by just over a second. As he looked to close in again on Pourcel, Baggett went down and fell to fifth, while the Star Yamaha teammates of Webb and Martin swapped third on multiple occasions.
In the end, Musquin cruised to his first moto win of the season by over eight seconds ahead of Pourcel while a late pass by Webb with two laps to go awarded him third over Martin. Baggett soldiered home to finish fifth.
Musquin's win ends a 16-race drought for the Frenchman. Photo: Simon Cudby / Racer X
Pourcel raced to his fourth straight Motosport.com Holeshot Award in the final moto, with GEICO Honda's Justin Bogle on his rear fender. Bogle took advantage of the strong start to pass Pourcel on the opening lap and assume control of the moto. Behind them, Musquin and Baggett also were looking to make the most of their strong starts, while Martin and Webb jockeyed for position deeper in the field.
While Bogle maintained a strong pace out front, Musquin made the move on Pourcel for second and set his sights on the lead. Pourcel continued to lose positions and eventually dropped out of contention up front. Bogle was impressive in his defense of the position and was able to keep Musquin at bay for the majority of the moto. However, on Lap 9 the Frenchman made his move and easily pulled away once out front. Bogle then fell into the clutches of Baggett, who rebounded from his misfortune in the opening moto to put himself in podium contention. Baggett methodically wore Bogle down and the Honda rider soon tipped over to put Baggett into second. Bogle quickly recovered to hold on to third, but then had to fight off Martin for the position in the final stages of the moto.
Musquin maintained his lead on Baggett through to the finish, while Bogle was able to hold on for third. The victory was Musquin's first since the fourth round of the 2013 season and comes off his best finish of the season a week ago. He now has four career wins in the 250 Class.
"I'm so glad, that was a perfect day. I was fastest qualifying and got both moto wins," said Musquin. "It was my first time in American going 1-1 [in motos]. My teammate Ryan [Dungey] went 1-1 and I wanted to join him. I found an outside line that helped me make passes all day and I'm really happy to know I got some good starts and was able to make the passes I needed to get into the lead."
Baggett's runner-up effort in the final moto helped him finish second overall (5-2), while Martin (4-4) edged out his teammate Webb (3-5) for third, needing a tiebreaker to finish on the podium. Bogle completed the top five (7-3).
Martin was steady all afternoon and retained his comfortable points lead. Photo: Simon Cudby / Racer X
"I'm pumped," exclaimed Martin. "Last year I went 29-12 at Washougal and this year I went 4-4, so I'm super, super happy. I was able to get some good starts, find some good lines and get into a rhythm."
Martin retained control of his lead in the 250 Class standings, with a 43-point lead over Webb. Baggett sits third, 54 points back.
The 2014 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will take a week off before returning to action on Saturday, August 9, with the 10th round of the season from Unadilla in New Berlin, N.Y. Action for the Red Bull Unadilla National begins at 1 p.m. ET.
Baggett made his return to the forefront of the field. Photo: Simon Cudby / Racer X
Results
Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Motosport.com Washougal National Washougal MX Park - Washougal, Washington July 26, 2014 Round 9 of 12
450 Class (Moto Finish)
450 Class Championship Standings
250 Class (Moto Finish)
250 Class Championship Standings
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Ken Block Wins Red Bull Global Rallycross Charlotte
On Saturday, July 26, Ken Block earned the second win of his Red Bull Global Rallycross career at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. Block, driving the #43 Hoonigan Racing Division Ford Fiesta ST, earned the victory on a mostly dirt course over Subaru Rally Team USA’s Sverre Isachsen and SH Racing Rallycross driver Nelson Piquet Jr.
“For me, most of my career has been on gravel and dirt,” said Block. “We were very quick to get the car set up right, to get my Ford Fiesta out to the front and from there be able to find the right lines. The gravel gives us so much more of an opportunity to find different lines and try different stuff. The track constantly changed, and I love that.”
For Piquet and Block, Charlotte marked their second podium finishes in two weeks, as both drivers also made their way to the podium at last weekend’s Volkswagen Rallycross NY. Despite having to race in the last chance qualifier, Piquet, a Charlotte native also extended his provisional championship lead to 46 points over Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross driver Scott Speed.
“It was good to spend a weekend here at home and see friends and family,” Piquet said. “I saw a lot of friends that I made last year in NASCAR around, and it’s good for them to see a new world and more open sport. The weekend had a lot of ups and downs—coming in with the points lead, we tried to eliminate all the risks we had, but until the final it was a rollercoaster ride of emotions. We were just up and down and running around.”
In GRC Lites, Mitchell DeJong won his third race of the season over Olsbergs MSE teammates and brothers Kevin and Oliver Eriksson. DeJong currently leads the GRC Lites championship by 10 points.
Results from Red Bull Global Rallycross Charlotte are as follows:
- Ken Block, #43 Hoonigan Racing Division Ford Fiesta ST
- Sverre Isachsen, #11 Subaru Rally Team USA WRX STI
- Nelson Piquet Jr., #07 SH Racing Rallycross Ford Fiesta ST
- Joni Wiman, #31 Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta ST
- Scott Speed, #77 Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross Polo R
- Bucky Lasek, #81 Subaru Rally Team USA WRX STI
- Steve Arpin, #00 Royal Purple Racing/OMSE2 Ford Fiesta
- Tanner Foust, #34 Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross Polo R
- Brian Deegan, #38 Rockstar Energy Drink Ford Fiesta ST
- Austin Dyne, #14 Barracuda Racing Ford Fiesta
- Rhys Millen, #67 Hyundai/Rhys Millen Racing Veloster Turbo
- Emma Gilmour, #27 Hyundai/Rhys Millen Racing Veloster Turbo
- Patrik Sandell, #18 Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta ST
Provisional point standings are as follows:
- Nelson Piquet Jr., 227
- Scott Speed, 181
- Steve Arpin, 164
- Joni Wiman, 162
- Ken Block, 155
Red Bull Global Rallycross resumes its 2014 season on August 22-23 at Daytona International Speedway. Tickets are available athttp://www.redbullglobalrallycross.com/DIS. The Red Bull Global Rallycross Midseason Recap will be broadcast on NBC on Sunday, August 3, at 4PM ET.