HAGERSTOWN, Md. (July 27, 2008) – Kenny Coolbeth and Joe Kopp have been trading the series lead back and forth in the battle for the AMA Grand National Twins Championship. On Saturday night Coolbeth wrested back the top spot in the standings by winning the Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway Half-Mile for the second straight year.
Coolbeth, riding his factory Harley-Davidson XR750, worked his way through the field and surged from fifth to first. Coolbeth worked his way past early leader Sammy Halbert on lap 16, and after surviving a counter-charge by Halbert, pulled out a 1.537-second victory over Halbert, who rode a Glassman Harley-Davidson. Kopp finished a distant third on his Latus Harley-Davidson.
The race started in a light sprinkle, but the weather cleared and a crowd estimated at 6000, witnessed an excellent 25-lap national.
The victory moved Coolbeth back into the series lead, after losing the top spot to Kopp last week in Greenville, Ohio. Coolbeth now leads Kopp by six points (149-143).
The Twins championship now takes a month-long break.
The Grand Nationals move to MetraPark Raceway, in Billings, Montana, this coming Saturday, Aug. 2 for a round of the AMA Grand National Singles Championship. Suzuki’s Jake Johnson leads the GNC Singles Series heading into Billings.
