LIMA, Ohio (June 26, 2011) -- Harley-Davidson® Screamin' Eagle® Factory rider Kenny Coolbeth placed sixth in Grand National Twins racing at the Allen County Fairgrounds half-mile, the ninth round of the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Flat Track Championship. The race was won by Kings Kustoms rider Sammy Halbert on a Harley-Davidson XR750 motorcycle.
Coolbeth qualified for the 25-lap main by winning the third heat race of the night. At the start of the main, Fasthog.com/American Harley-Davidson rider Bryan Smith, Zanotti Racing /Schaeffer`s H-D rider Jake Johnson, Halbert and Rogers Lake/Blue Springs Harley-Davidson rider Jared Mees formed a lead pack. Those riders stayed at the front after a re-start following lap two for a red flag and a crashed rider. Coolbeth was in sixth place at the time. Smith and Halbert edged away after the re-start, with Halbert passing for the lead on lap 11 and immediately opening a gap on Smith that stretched to 1.9 seconds by lap 17. White's Harley-Davidson rider Matt Weidman, who started the race at the back of the grid, passed Smith for second place on lap 18 and closed to within 0.654 second of the leader before Halbert made a burst on the last three laps to seal a 1.183-second victory, his third win of the season and his first at Lima. Smith was third, 6.570 seconds back, followed by Lloyd Brothers/Team Hurt by Racing.com Ducati rider Brad Baker, Mees, American Harley-Davidson rider Robert Pearson, and Coolbeth in sixth place.
"It's sixth place but that's better than we've run here in past years," said Coolbeth, who placed 13th on the Lima half-mile in 2010. "It's a cushion track and you've got to hold it wide-open. The team worked hard and the bike went OK tonight."
Smith won the Dash for Cash bonus sprint race.
After nine of 22 rounds in the 2011 AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Flat Track Championship, Halbert leads the series with 186 points. Johnson is second with 161 points, followed by Mees with 155 points. Coolbeth is fourth with 136 points.
The next race on the AMA Grand National Twins schedule is July 9 on the Hagerstown Speedway half-mile in Hagerstown, Md.
Company Information
Harley-Davidson Motor Company produces heavyweight custom, cruiser and touring motorcycles and offers a complete line of Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts, accessories, riding gear and apparel, and general merchandise. For more information, visit harley-davidson.com.
The Harley-Davidson Screamin' Eagle Flat Track team is sponsored by Matco Tools.