So Mother Nature met us with rain on Wednesday and practice was open all day, but few riders took the track since the forecast was to be dry for the balance of the four days. Thursday we got up to more rain which did not end till noon and the track dried after about the 4th race of the day. The WERA Vintage and Pirelli Sportsman Riders took the track Thursday with their championship races. Multiple winners for Vintage included Jim Hinshaw and Doug Bowie. In the Sportsman races multiple winners included Experts Tedd Cobb, Tray Batey, Taylor Knapp and Robert Jensen. On the Novice side it was a three-way battle with up and coming riders Jimmy Merck, Reece Wacker and Robert Rowles. In the Lightweight Classes Benjamin Clinton, Chris Parrish, Phil Fortune, Alex Lazo, Cassidy Heiser all saw Championships. Novice Lightweight Champions included Heath Cope with multiple Championships, Anthony Creek, James Butler and Luke Echols. The Ridersurance.com Senior Superbike HW saw Expert Tim Hunt and Novice Rick Davis take championships and in the Ridersurance.com Senior Superbike MW, Expert J.B. Layman and Novice Troy Sorenson took home the Championships.
Friday was the Bridgestone/WERA National Endurance final round. Coming into this round two class titles were on the line – Zyvax Racing came out on top for the Mediumweight Superbike Class and defending Champs Ghetto Customs held on to their #1 Plate for 2009. Vesrah Suzuki took the Overall and Heavyweight Superbike Class Championships with a perfrect season. Team TVR131 defended their Heavyweight Superstock Title and Dalke Motorsports defended their Mediumweight Superstock Title.
Saturday and Sunday the Michelin/WERA National Riders and Suzuki Cup Series Finalists took the track. Racing was very competitive with each race seeing groups of four to five in the lead pack. Big winners included Taylor Knapp (GSX-R 1000), Tray Batey (GSX-R 750), Michael Barnes (GSX-R 600) and Ryan O’Donnell (Suzuki SV650) in the 23rd Annual Suzuki Cup Finals.
For the names and results on all the Champions at the GNF visit the WERA web site at www.wera.com. Thanks to all the sponsors, riders, officials, corner workers and fans that came out to this event and made it one to remember. Look for the 2009 WERA Grand National Finals and Suzuki Cup Series Finals and the 2009 schedule to be released on the web site soon!
