The biggest weekend in the 2000 AMA/Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championships will be even bigger, as Scott Parker, the winningest rider in the history of AMA racing, will be putting on his leathers to race the September 1-2-3, 2000 Springfield Hall of Fame Weekend. In what could be race fans’ last chance to see the legendary Parker race, he has committed to all three Grand National Championship events: the Friday night National Short Track Shootout, the Saturday Dirt Track Hall of Fame National, and the Sunday Springfield Mile National.
“I am planning on winning all three races,” Parker, a nine-time AMA Grand National Champion, said. “When they brought back Springfield as a Regional in 1981, I won it, and ever since then I have really liked Springfield. When someone hasn’t seen one of our races asks me what race should I go to, I tell them Springfield is the place. It’s the best track, it produces great racing and it has a lot of history.”
After 20 years, nine championships and 93 National wins, the 38-year-old Parker retired from fulltime racing at the end of last season.
“I don’t seem to miss racing,” Parker said. “It’s sort of like I’m on vacation and I get to come to Springfield and have fun racing. Harley said they would provide equipment for a few races for me this year, so I will be riding the factory bikes at Springfield tuned by Bill Werner. I’m excited about coming to Springfield, I have won some short tracks, so Friday will be fun, and then two days on the mile. I know the track and where you need to be to get the checkered flag. It’s going to be great weekend.”
