Hamill, Hancock Battle for AMA Nat’l Title
| August 8, 2004
Returning British League-based Americans dominated the first two rounds of the AMA Progressive Insurance National Championship Speedway Series, with former World Champions Greg Hancock and Billy “The Bullet” Hamill coming away with a win each in the first two rounds of the series, held this weekend.
Hancock, who currently sits third in the World Speedway Championship standings, decisively won the opening round of the series at Fast Fridays Speedway in Auburn, California, on August 6. After coming into the A Final tied with Hamill on 14 points, Hancock rocketed from the pole and was never headed. Billy Janniro finished second and Hamill third after he struck the wall coming out of turn two on the opening lap. Stateside-based Chris Manchester finished fourth
It looked as though it would be more of the same for Hancock when round two played before a standing-room-only crowd at Wheel 2 Wheel Raceway in Victorville, California, last night. Hancock went undefeated on his way to the A Final, while Hamill had only dropped one point, to Hancock, with Janniro also making his way through to the big race, the trio joined this time by veteran speedway racer “Flyin’ Mike” Faria.
Hancock came off the pole again, and again looked to get the best start off the gate, but Hamill, who came off gate two, dropped inside of Hancock off turn two and pulled even with him down the back straight before stuffing it into three and moving Hancock off the line to take the lead and go on to win the race. Janniro also snuck past to claim second, and this would be crucial, as it means that Hancock and Hamill are now tied on points, with Janirro just a couple points behind them, heading into the series final at Fast Fridays Speedway in Auburn on September 24.
