The Pro Challenge Shootout was a Major Preseason Race
In this week’s Throwback we dial back the time machine to December of 1996 and land at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, California. Glen Helen was hosting the Chaparral AMA Amateur Championship Week and part of that big amateur event was the Pro Challenge Shootout. A unique race format, there were 125 and 250 heat races and the top 10 from each heat made it to the Chaparral Invitational Pro Challenge Shootout.
This photo shows the start of the 125 heat. SoCal rider Josh Tarantino (56) surprised many by snagging the holeshot in the 125cc Pro race over Michael Brandes (33), Craig Decker (20), Eric Schnell (40), Cory Keeney (53), Scott Sheak (29) and the rest of the field. Casey Johnson worked his way up to win this heat. Later that day Jeff Emig won the combined Shootout riding a 250.
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