AMA Pro Racing announced today that yet another new event has been added to the 2002 AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship schedule and another event that was slated to be a first-time AMA Grand National has been canceled. The addition to the series is being dubbed the Tunica Indoor Short-Track National to be held on Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Tunica Arena. The venue is located 25 minutes south of Memphis in Tunica, Miss. Quality Checked Certified Pre-Owned Ford, Memphis Shades and FedEx are sponsoring the indoor event.
The new race is Tunica marks a return to indoor AMA Grand National racing for the first time since 1985 when the Houston Astrodome TT and Short Track was last held. It also marks the first time the state of Mississippi has hosted an AMA Grand National.
“We are pleased to be able to bring the U.S. Flat Track Championship to Tunica,” said Bruce Bober, AMA flat track manager. “There’s a lot of variety in the series this year and we hope by bringing the series to new areas will bring in a lot of new fans to the sport.”
The Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association is promoting the race. For ticket information call the IMDA at (217) 753-8866.
Other schedule changes for the series include:
· The July 20 Grand National at Oglethorpe Speedway Park in Savannah, Ga., has been canceled.
· The 505 Pro Sport class will replace the Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance class at the Harrington, Del., Hall of Fame race on August 3. For more information, call (304) 749-8418.
· The postponed Scioto Downs race in Columbus, Ohio, has been rescheduled for Sept. 22 and will be televised on Speed Channel. Call Scioto Downs at (877) 274-1184 for more information.
· An AMA National Hot Shoe Series race has been added for August 6 at the Sturgis Fairgrounds in Sturgis, S.D. Call the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club at (605) 720-5717 for more information.
Following is the remaining 2002 AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship schedule:
May 25 Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL T.T. GNC
May 26 Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL Mile GNC/HDSP
June 1 Hagerstown Speedway, Hagerstown, MD Half-mile GNC/HDSP
June 15 Tri-City Speedway, Granite City, IL Half-mile GNC/HDSP
June 29 Allen County Fairgrounds, Lima, OH Half-mile GNC/HDSP
July 6 Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL S.T. GNC
July 13 Thunder Ridge Raceway, Prestonsburg, KY Half-mile GNC/HDSP
July 27 Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Charlotte, NC Half-mile GNC/HDSP
Aug. 3 **Delaware State Fairgrounds, Harrington, DE Half-mile GNC/505
Aug. 10 Hagerstown Speedway, Hagerstown, MD Half-mile GNC/HDSP
Aug. 18 Peoria Race Park, Bartonville, IL T.T. GNC
Aug. 24 State Fair Speedway, Sedalia, MO Half-mile GNC/HDSP
Aug. 31 Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL S.T. GNC
Sept. 1 Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL Mile GNC/505
Sept. 7 Vernon Downs, Vernon, NY Mile GNC/HDSP
Sept. 14 Tunica Arena, Tunica, MS S.T. (Indoor) GNC
Sept. 22 Scioto Downs, Columbus, OH Half-mile GNC/HDSP
Sept. 28 Du Quoin State Fairgrounds, Du Quoin, IL Mile GNC/HDSP
** = Hall of Fame Race
GNC = Grand National Championship
HDSP = Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance
Date and locations subject to change
2002 AMA HOT SHOE CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
June 8 Montgomery County Fairgrounds, Dayton, OH Half-mile
June 9 Peoria Race Park, Bartonville, IL T.T June 22 Iowa State Fairgrounds, Des Moines, IA Half-mile
July 1 Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL Short Track (505 Pro Sport only)
July 2 Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL T.T. (505 Pro Sport only)
July 4 Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL Half-mile (505 Pro Sport only)
July 4 Frederick Fairgrounds, Frederick, MD Half-mile
July 6 Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL Mile
Aug. 6 Sturgis Fairgrounds, Sturgis, SD Half-mile
