The following is from Harley-Davidson…
The season finale for the 2006 AMA Flat Track series will take place at Scioto Downs on Saturday. The Screamin’ Eagle Racing program knows that not everyone can be in Columbus this weekend. They also know it’s a race that shouldn’t be missed by anyone.
This time fans will be able to check out the race – regardless of where they are – live. Harley-Davidson and Live I Sports have teamed up for a weekend of racing for all website fans. What’s the charge for being able to have an up-close-and-personal view of the champion-crowning event? Zero. This time it’s free to any fan that logs onto the site.
“This is such a great site for racing fans,” Harley-Davidson Racing Manager Anne Paluso said. “Live I Sports is providing a great way to catch every lap as it happens for everyone who can’t be in Ohio. We love racing and race fans and we wanted to figure out a way to give everyone a front row seat to the exciting season finale of the flat track series. This was a great weekend to do it.”
Fans can go to www.liveisports.com, click on the “schedule” bar and click on the Scioto Downs event. Once a fan has logged in, a $0 charge reminder will pop up and fans will be directed to the event. The race starts and the site will go live at 5 p.m. (ET).
The Screamin’ Eagle teams certainly have something worthy of a broadcast. Screamin’ Eagle factory rider Kenny Coolbeth is the points leader going into the season finale. Fellow Harley-Davidson Wrecking Crew rider Jared Mees and the Texter Harley-Davidson team is in second place, just nine points away from Coolbeth. Chris Carr and the Quality Pre-Owned Ford Harley-Davidson team is third, 10 points away from Coolbeth while Wrecking Crew rider Bryan Smith and the Pat Moroney’s Harley-Davidson team is fourth, 16 points out of first. Screamin’ Eagle factory veteran and Coolbeth’s teammate, Rich King, rounds out the top five, 25 points out of first place.
This is the first time that Coolbeth is riding into the season finale with the points lead. He finished third in the final standings in 2004 and second in 2005. He’s looking to make that final leap to champion this weekend. It would be Coolbeth’s first championship and the first AMA Flat Track championship for Harley-Davidson in nine years.
“We’re all on pins and needles waiting for this race to start,” Paluso said. “This is a great example of why Harley-Davidson takes such a big interest in racing. We have great riders and crew members that have battled all season long to put themselves in a position to run for the championship at the final event of the season.
“Every one of our riders can win this race and the rest of the competition is going to do everything they can to make sure they don’t. The Harley-Davidson dealer-supported teams have been outstanding all season and it’s going to come down to the final lap at the final race to see who gets the big trophy.”
In addition to the direct team sponsorship, Harley-Davidson will also provide support through professional flat track contingency and the Rider Support Verification Program (RSVP). Under the Screamin’ Eagle banner the support will total more than $140,000 throughout the 2006 season. This includes a contingency program for qualified Harley-Davidson XR750 riders on the AMA Flat Track series.
