|
Dirt Track Grand Championships: That's a wrap for Group 1
Story and photos by Dewanna and Curt Comer
Group 1 wrapped up its AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships experience on the half-mile under sunny skies. As is customary on the last day of racing, the Youth Dirt Track Rider of the Year was announced. The AMA takes into consideration many factors when choosing this rider.
Joe Bromley, AMA Race Director, made the announcement to the anxious crowd.
“Four people that we looked at did an outstanding job this year, Austin Helmholz, Tristan Avery, Dalton Gauthier, and Brandon Price,” Bromley said. “This year it came down to a toss up and it is going to the rider who had six race wins this year: Brandon Price.”
Price won the overall championship titles in both 65cc classes and he also dabbled in the 85cc classes, making every main event.
“This award can be for anyone on a 65cc or higher,” Bromley said. “You will still have time yet to almost win it again next year and I’m sure with your riding ability it’s a possibility that you cold do that. Nobody has done that before. The only other rider that has won this award on a 65 was Ethan Gillim. So you’re on a list of riders that is real rare by winning on a 65.”
Price, sponsored by Bletner Power Sports, Independence Home Improvement and of course his family, was excited and surprised that he was chosen.
“I really didn’t expect that I was going to get it,” he said. “Dalton won three races on the 85 and I didn’t think I would get it.”
Price’s father was moved to tears.
“I took into consideration that they usually give it to an 85cc rider, but I knew he had a dominate showing this week with six wins and seven #1 plates,” he said. “He actually had a third, fourth and sixth on the 85 which was pretty good too. I was shocked and teary eyed.”
Kevin Stallings was the winner of the steel shoe given away by Gary Kinzler from Lightshoe. Kinzler supported riders all week long and held a drawing for the Group 1 steel shoe giveaway. Another drawing will be held for a lucky Group 2 rider tomorrow.
|
Joe Bromley presents the AMA Youth Dirt Track Rider of the year award to 65cc rider Brandon Price.
|
House fan.
|
|
Industrial fan.
|
Big orange fan
|
|
Jim Grant and Dewanna Comer pose for Announcer Barry Boone. Grant is the official photographer at the Grand Championships and Dewanna (that would be me!) is doing the AMA’s coverage for the week.
|
A happy family watches on as Damon Ream’s Dad checks out his heavy Gold Cup Championship trophy! They passed the trophy from person to person. Damon put in a great performance this week.
|
|
Brandon Price’s family looks on as he goes up to receive his award.
|
(l to r) Brandon Price (65cc DTX 7-11 & 65cc Modified 7-11), Tristan Avery (85cc DTX 9-13), Jeremiah Duffy (50cc DTX Sr. 7-8), Damon Ream (50cc DTX PW Shaft 4-8), Austin Helmholz (85cc Modified 12-15) and sitting out front in the middle Damon Ream (50cc DTX PW 4-8). Not pictured is Dalton Gauthier.
|
|
Brandon Price poses with his family who helped support him all week. His sister could be heard cheering every time he took to the track. His brother always had his notebook taking notes and Dad was the glue that stuck them together all week. Good job Brandon and family!
|
The 65cc DTX (7-11) field took off fast and furious. Unfortunately, for Blake Barrett he hit the air fence coming out of turn two. Wes Daugherty found himself collected in this accident. Barrett was transported while Daugherty, who chose not to rejoin this race, came back and raced in a later class. On the restart, it was Brandon Price who was off the line first; however, Price wouldn’t race all alone as Kevin Stollings applied pressure. Price appeared to miss a gear in turns three and four and Stollings got by him and went on to take the win. Brady Tausan rounded out the top three, but only after a hard fought battle with Turner Roberts. In this photo #99 Stollings leads #199 Roberts as he works his way up to challenge Price.
|
|
In the 85cc Modified (12-15) class Damon Coca was called for jumping, although he maintained after the race, “I still don’t think I jumped!” On the restart Coca squeezed his way between riders and established himself as a contender, but it was Thomas Goodnick who would rise to the top for the win. In this photo #16 Austin Helmholz attempts to make his way around #1nc Blake Claeys these two raced neck and neck. In the end Coca was able to bounce back for the second place, leaving Claeys with third while Helmholz took fourth.
|
#32 Dallas Daniels was able to get by Douglas Cook on the last lap to take the win in the 50cc DTX PW (4-8) class. Casey Chisham rounded out the top three.
|
|
The Pro Singles took to the ˝ mile with a vengeance. Kevin Pouliot and Keith Boulis led the pack into turn one with Kully Millage and Justin Minnaert in tow. This was a challenging battle with Pouliot holding off Boulis for the win. The battle for the third and final podium position was between #88 Kully Millage and #14 Justin Minnaert with Minnaert holding tight for third.
|
First turn action in the 65cc Modified (7-11) class saw #11 Turner Roberts out front along with race winner #1 Brandon Price. #66 Cody Chisham is hidden behind Roberts in this photo but is certainly in the lead pack coming into turn one, followed by #28 Dawson Schieffer,#31 Jeremiah Duffy and #3g Hunter Goodwin. Chisham hung on for second followed by Roberts in third. Robert’s commented, “It was pretty rough in the corners so I just had to work the outside. I did as much as I could.”
|
|
As always the 125cc Modified riders put on a great show. #41 Colton Smith comes into turn one on the outside while #90 Wyatt Anderson takes the low line. They are followed closely by #110 Jamison Minor and #169 Jake Daugherty. Although challenged by Minor, Anderson would hang on for the win. Third place was hard-fought between Smith, Daugherty and Matt Trout with Smith winning that battle.
|
Holding the #1 plate on top of the box for the 50cc DTX Sr (7-8) class for winning the ˝ mile – Jeremiah Duffy, Wes Daugherty, who took a spill in an earlier race was happy to report, “My knee hurts a little, but I feel good.”, was second and Dallas Daniels third.
|
|
On this day it was Aidan Roosevans who would win the 50cc DTX PW Shaft (4-8) class. Caden Demaa was second followed by Robert Wheatley in third.
|
It was an Austin Avery day as he won both the 85cc DTX (9-13) and 85cc Modified (7-11) classes. At the end of the day Avery had this to say, “It’s nice to come out here, ride safe, get these trophies and to have fun!”
|
|
Awaiting the green light, the 85cc DTX (9-13) class prepares to take off from the starting line. Tristan Avery’s at this ˝ mile secured his overall win of this class. Charlotte Kainz, riding her first ever ˝ mile cushion track, diced it out for second with Cameron Smith, who came from a second row start to finish third. As usual this class saw racing throughout the pack.
|
After a couple of laps, Austin Avery checked out on the 85cc Modified (7-11) the fight was on for the other two podium positions between #15 Cameron Smith, #9e Hunter Edwards and #14g Dalton Gauthier. This photo shows these three charging down the straight in their final finishing order.
|
|
Email
Print;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)