SuperTrapp/Moroney’s H-D’s Mike Hacker said he was a little nervous before the start of the main event at round two of the Progressive Insurance Grand National Championship Series, but it was the other 17 riders in the race who should have been.
The 26-year-old Virginian dominated the Will Rogers Downs mile race track and pulled to a six second lead over the wily veteran, Jay Springsteen (Bartel’s H-D/Corbin) and Corbin/Samson/Dave Burks’ Kenny Coolbeth.
Heavy rains in the area and spotty sprinkles early in the day, left the future of the event in doubt, but skies cleared long enough to get the racing in.
Johnny Murphree and Kevin Atherton dueled over fourth, with Murphree coming out on top and taking over the points lead in this very new season.
Jake Johnson made it two for two for Moroney’s as he won the Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance main. Defending class champion Bryan Smith was second by inches. Rusty Rogers took third after Scott Scherb’s Sportster quit on the last lap.
Will Rogers Downs
Claremore, Oklahoma
Results: April 13, 2002 (Round 2 of 20)
GRAND NATIONAL (25 laps, 18 riders): 1. Mike Hacker (H-D); 2. Jay Springsteen (H-D); 3. Kenny Coolbeth (H-D); 4. Johnny Murphree (H-D); 5. Kevin Atherton (H-D); 6. Steve Beattie (H-D); 7. Bryan Smith (H-D); 8. Kevin Varnes (H-D); 9. Geo Roeder II (H-D); 10. Paul Lynch (H-D); 11. Joe Kopp (H-D); 12. Willie McCoy (H-D); 13. Shaun Russell (H-D); 14. Jess Roeder (H-D); 15. Chris Carr (H-D); 16. Dan Stanley (H-D); 17. Jake Johnson (H-D); 18. Ricky Winsett (H-D).
Time: 16 min., 07.634 sec.
AMA/PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE U.S. FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES POINT STANDINGS (after 1 of 20 rounds): 1. Johnny Murphree (30); 2. Kevin Varnes (27); 3. Kenny Coolbeth (26); 4. Ricky Winsett (24/1 win); 5. Mike Hacker (23/1 win) (TIE) Terry Poovey/Shaun Russell/Joe Kopp/Jay Springsteen (19); 10. Chris Carr (18).
