Kenny Coolbeth of Warren, Connecticut, has officially joined the Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson flat track racing team, according to a Harley-Davidson official. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the Harley official confirmed that Coolbeth, 28, of Warren, Connecticut, was announced as an official team rider at Harley-Davidson’s winter dealer meeting in Grapevine, Texas, on January 23.
“Coolbeth is an official member of the factory team,” the official said. “He is signed, sealed and delivered, and he will join Rich King at the first twins round on the AMA Flat Track schedule. He has been here, and he has spoken with the team.”
Cycle News was aware of Coolbeth’s imminent signing two weeks ago, but phone calls to Coolbeth were not returned.
Coolbeth joins the factory Harley team after scoring two Grand National wins and finishing second in the 2005 AMA Flat Track Championship. He finished third in the series in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
According to the Harley official, Coolbeth still has plans to contest any singles races on the AMA Flat Track schedule on his own equipment with sponsors outside the factory walls.
Besides the Coolbeth and returning factory rider Rich King, Harley-Davidson also reportedly has plans to sign two more riders to factory support contracts, thus creating two factory “dealer teams.” According to the official we spoke to, Pennsylvania rider Jared Mees and Michigan rider Bryan Smith have received those offers but have not been signed yet.
