SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (September 5, 2011) -Harley-Davidson® Screamin' Eagle® Factory rider Kenny Coolbeth placed fourth as the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Flat Track Championship Grand National Twins race on the Springfield Mile came to a dramatic finish. After a re-start for a red flag, the race came down to a five-lap sprint to the checkered flag with six riders racing elbow-to-elbow in the lead pack. Harley-Davidson of Wausau rider Willie McCoy would win the race, scoring his first AMA Grand National victory in 23 years of racing as a pro. McCoy crossed the finish line just 0.011 seconds ahead of American Motorcyclist Association/Classic Harley-Davidson rider Chris Carr. Zanotti Racing/Schaeffer`s Harley-Davidson rider Jake Johnson was third, 0.064 seconds behind McCoy, with Coolbeth just 0.111 seconds back.
Coolbeth was fast all night on his Factory Harley-Davidson XR750 motorcycle, winning his heat race and claiming the pole with fast lap in the heats. At the start of the 25-lap main, a pack of six to seven riders took the point, including Coolbeth, Johnson, Carr, Fasthog.com/American Harley-Davidson rider Bryan Smith, Rogers Lake/Blue Springs Harley-Davidson rider Jared Mees, Kings Kustom/White's Harley-Davidson Sammy Halbert and Johnny Lewis on the Scott Powersports Kawasaki. The top-ten riders in the race finished within one second of the winner.
"The Factory Harley crew gave me a great bike today and we were able to run up front, and it was typical Springfield with lots of drafting and back and forth," said Coolbeth, who never ran lower than sixth place.
The next race on the AMA Grand National Twins schedule is Sept. 10 on the Knoxville Raceway half-mile in Knoxville, Iowa.
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 Screamin' Eagle Flat Track team is sponsored by Matco Tools.