AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships: TT track action

Photos by Jim Grant
Story by Chelsea Daniels

The 251-500cc DTX class was one event that everyone agreed would be great to see. With three AMA Racing Dirt Track Horizon Award candidates on a track that would show no mercy, it wasn’t hard to see why.

The horseshoe turn in particular was tricky for nearly everyone, and so was the straight coming out of Turn 8. Surprisingly, the only Horizon guy even in the top five was No. 33e Michael Avila, who placed third. Your first place rider was No. 22 Frankie Gillim with No. 76 Gerit Callies in second.

Super Senior 50+
These riders were just as fast as everyone else in today’s mains, contributing to the blue grove that worked its way into the center of the track. No. 1n Dave Shaw came in first, with No. 2 Vince Holt right behind.

250 Mod 4-Stroke
This was another class that everyone was looking forward to. There was a lot of action and times when breath was held. No. 36 Jeremy Hamilton in particular did very well, even after a rough start, and fought his way back to the top. He ended up coming in second behind No. 69 Hayden Gillim, with No. 1n Michael Avila coming in third.

Veteran 30+
The right turns in this TT track didn’t seem to bother these riders at all. They flew through the track with no problems. No. 12 Rex Fisher placed first, and No. 10 Tim Greig got second -- after traveling here all the way from England. It was well worth the trip, if you ask me…

450 Mod
Of course, this race was fast and furious, and also heartbreaking. No. 19 Harley Dunn seemed to have it in the bag until he wiped out in the horseshoe turn, giving up his top spot for last place. On the other hand, the Hayden and Frankie Gillim managed very well, and placed first and second out of the twelve riders in the event.

Senior 40+
Once again, the man from England Tim Grieg placed second, this time behind No. 71m Jon Nunez. The eight riders dealt pretty well with the right hand turns, and only a few struggled with the horseshoe.

250 DTX
Fast-paced and exciting, this event appeared like it would go to No. 96 Cody Johncox, who’s been ruling the tracks since day one. But today he just couldn’t get past first place No. 69 Hayden Gillim, who has done exceedingly well on the TT track

Pro Singles
The pros all flew today, sticking to the blue groove that by now was showing up on the hot line of the TT course. These riders were really speeding through the turns and down the straights! No. 17m Brad Baker took the lead and ran with it, but not without having No. 95c J.D. Beach on his tail trying to pass. In the end, Beach just wasn’t able to get by, and had to settle with second place.

250 Mod 2-Stroke
These guys proved to be an extremely competitive bunch, sticking close together and feuding for a top position. Dalton Winkler, No. 35 came out on top, with No. 5 Joseph Bromley close behind.

451-Open Singles
No. 11L Norman Widman really demonstrated his skill here, taking first place ahead of No. 96 Cody Johncox. Both riders had no real trouble with the turns that got everyone else all slowed down. (Update: Widman's bike was later disqualified. The finishing order is now Johncox, Gary A. Jones and Tyler Treadaway.)

125 Mod
Toward the end of the day with the track starting to dry out and the grove getting slicker, it still proved no problem for these riders. No. 54 Daniel Bromley beat out No. 1n Austin Luczak for the win, while Evan Fields, from La Center, Ky., rounded out the podium.

86-150 4-Stroke Mod
No. 5 TJ Masset and No. 7f Tyler Butts really duked it out for first in this class. It was constant back-and-forth action, neither one willing to give up the lead. In the end, it was Masset who dominated the last turn, and shot past Butts in the straight to take the win. Molly Terry finished third.