Another surprise came just prior to the first round of eliminations when lame duck AMA/Prostar CEO Scooter Kizer, who plans to leave the organization to concentrate all of his efforts on his new position as AMA Road Racing director at the end of the season, announced that AMA/Prostar will be back in 2007 and will be taken over by a motorsports management group.
Kizer refused to give anymore details until the deal was finalized. Kizer would not clarify as to whether the organization is going to be sold outright or if he will continue to hold a stake in ownership. Although many were delighted at the news of Prostar returning, several big teams were heard grumbling about the lack of information.
“We have put everything on hold and we need answers very soon,” Don Plessor of the PR Factory Store said. Several racers throughout the pits voiced their concern about sponsors wanting information regarding next year’s schedule as soon as possible.
“This is when corporations are finalizing their budgets for next season. We need to know now,” Nigel Patrick of Team Yamaha said. Nonetheless Kizer remained silent but confident that Prostar will indeed be back and he plans to provide further details at the World Finals in November.
Because Funny Bike and Pro Mod were not contested at this event several competitors from those classes decided to take a chance against the two quickest and fastest dragbike racers in the sport today.
In session No. 2 of qualifying McBride recorded Atco Raceway’s first five second pass with a 5.98 at 236 mph. The crowd went wild.
“This is something I have wanted to do for a long time. I love this place,” McBride said of the track, which had recently been resurfaced and upgraded.”
In opening eliminations McBride encountered problems with the clutch and suffered a rare first round loss to Pro Mod racer Dave Beck. McBride melted his rear tire off the line and was forced to abort the run, thus slowing to a 14.88. Beck was able to get the upset of his career with a 7.00. It was the first time McBride had lost in the opening round since the World Finals in 2002.
“We had a clutch cannon plug come out,” McBride said. “I knew we were in trouble after I did the burnout. I was hoping we would find a way to pull it out, but hey that’s racing. I’m real happy for Dave Beck and Jay Regan of MRE. Those guys work really hard and deserve a win.”
“We knew if Spiderman had his stuff together he was going to win. But we also knew we had a chance to get by if something happened to him,” said Beck, who will race the following weekend in Pro Stock at Santa Pod Raceway in England. “Before the second round we went to start the bike up and it just made a horrible noise. It’s better it happens now instead of the World Finals in Pro Mod.”
“That would have been a five for sure,” Brantley said. “It was a great way to end the weekend considering what all happened. We blew the motorcycle up on Friday night and were able to get it back intact. I was disappointed to not be able to race Larry in the final but I’m glad we could win it for the team.”
The victory was Brantley’s second of the season, and significantly tightens the points battle between the two teammates heading into the tour’s final race in Gainesville, FL.
“The way the conditions have been changing it could run a six or an .06. It’s hard to tell.”
“We were 615 pounds every run. There’s no sense in cheating myself,” Phillips said. “We just gave it more fuel for the final. It was running a little lean. This gives me a lot of confidence heading into Reading. We’re going to go sixes.”
In Pro Street Velocity Racing’s Mike Slowe was untouchable on race day. Slowe ran 7.48, and low-elapsed time of the meet 7.39, to beat Rocky Ward, and Tim O’Neil in the first two rounds. On the other side of the ladder pole-sitter Phil Stoll was ousted by multi-time class champion Kent Stotz in round No. 2 with a 7.59 to Stoll’s 9.07. In the final Slowe easily defeated a wounded Stotz with a 7.45 to Stotz’s 13.58. Afterwards it was reported that Stotz had lost air pressure in his tank that runs some of the critical components of the bike, including the turbo boost controller.
“I can’t even explain how awesome this feels,” Slowe said. “I only live 40 minutes from here. This is my home track. All of my friends and family are here. This is only the second time my mom has ever been to a race and this is the first time my girlfriend has ever been to a race. They got to see me beat Rickey at his home track. That’s not easy to do.”
Additional Photos
