(News Release)
Kenny Coolbeth Jr came into Minnesota determined to take nothing less than a win!
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 13, 2010) – After a short thirteen year hiatus the AMA Pro K&N Filters Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com Series returned on September 11th to Canterbury Park for the Minnesota Mile to a capacity and enthusiastic crowd.
Pursuing his first Grand national win since Indianapolis of 2009 Coolbeth came from deep in the eighteen rider field to capture the twenty five lap main by a little over three seconds. “We really needed this, we’ve been so close,” said Coolbeth. “When I passed Jared (Mees), I signaled him to get in line so we could run down the leaders, but it didn’t work out. The next thing I knew I was passed (Matt) Weidman and closing on Jake (Johnson).”
“I was following Jake and he started to use my line and I almost hit him, but then I was able to get by and then it was just clear sailing, just stay consistent,” said Coolbeth. “It was hard to see that outside berm and you had to be real careful not to get in too hot.”
With fast time in both timed qualifying, many predicted Matt Weidman was on the verge of his first GNC win.
Zanotti Racing’s #5 Jake Johnson had got the hole shot and the race looked like it was going to be a two rider battle as Greg Crow Racing / White’s Harley-Davidson’s #20 Matt Weidman quickly separated themselves from the rest of the field. Weidman was all over Johnson, taking the lead several times, but unable to lead at the finish line.
Coolbeth was reeling in the lead duo and was able to wedge himself into second on lap eleven. Once into second he wasted little time taking the lead and pulling to his first win of the year.
Weidman’s next problem was Rogers Lake Racing / Blue Springs Harley-Davidson’s #1 Jared Mees and Mees took third on lucky lap thirteen. Weidman had the Monster Energy Kawasaki of Werner-Springsteen’s #42 Bryan Smith and Lancaster Harley-Davidson’s #4 Chris Carr challenging him after Mees got by.
Diversity in flat track? The 18 rider field had a wide range of motorcycles; (11) Harley-Davidsons, (2) Kawasakis, (1) Triumph, (1) KTM and (1) Ducati.
KK Motorcycle Supply / Mike & Eddie Adkins’s #17 Henry Wiles was the rider on the move as mechanical problems had knocked him out of a sure heat win and forced him to win the semi to get a third row start in the main. Wiles was cutting through the field, working his way up from tenth to fourth by lap twenty two.
Weidman held on for fifth after his brilliant start. Bryan Smith and Chris Carr battled over sixth with Smith edging the seven time Grand National Champion out.
Series points leader Latus Harley-Davidson / ENI USA’s #3 Joe Kopp was in the lead pack early, but scraped off his brake pedal on lap two and forced to ride the tricky race track with no brake. Kopp was leading a huge pack in the battle over eighth place until lap twenty when he broke his chain going into turn one, ending his night.
Riders looking for points and cash will let it rip in the 4 lap Dash. Chris Carr put together 4 laps that had the entire crowd on their feet. Going into turn 3 on the last lap Carr went high to square off turn 4 for a draft pass at the finish...and it worked perfect!
Jeff Carver does what he does best...WIN!
Scott Powersports’ #10 Johnny Lewis was able to take his Kawasaki to the eighth place finish over Bonneville Performance’s #32 Shawn Baer and Kings Kustoms / KK Motorcycle Supply’s Jethro Halbert.
Earlier in the night the rejuvenated Chris Carr captured the four lap Dash for Cash. Carr only led the last few inches of the race as he drafted Jake Johnson at the line.
Johnson’s four points from the Dash moved him to within six points of Joe Kopp and the K&N Filters Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com points lead.
Johnson’s strong race and then Kopp’s sudden misfortune give Johnson a ten point lead with two races to go. Mees (-19), Wiles (-26), Coolbeth (-34) and Sammy Halbert (-37) all still have a mathematical chance at the title.
