POINTS BATTLES TIGHTEN AS POWERSPORTS ATV TOUR
READIES FOR GARDEN STATE SHOWDOWN ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (Aug. 14, 2007) -- With the smallest of margins separating the top Pro riders in WPSA PowerSports ATV Tour, this weekend's Raceway Park National takes on added significance as the Tour makes its annual visit to New Jersey. The event, the penultimate round of the 2007 Tour, is scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. This weekend's events will be telecast on ESPN2 on Sept. 14 at 5 p.m. EDT. The racing weekend will feature the nation's top Pro riders, competing in three Classes: SuperQuad Pro 450, QuadTerrain Challenge Pro Stock, and SuperSport Side by Side. The SuperQuad Pro 450 Class features big air, motocross style racing. QuadTerrain Challenge features larger, utility-type ATVs, competing on an obstacle course that includes log jams, mud bogs, rock crawls, as well as high-speed sections. The SuperSport Class comprises four-wheel utility vehicles piloted by a driver and co-driver, sitting side by side. The purpose-built racing machines compete on a modified course that includes both big-air sections, as well as obstacles. The race weekend will also feature nearly 20 other classes for Pro Am, Amateur, Junior and Women's classes.
SuperQuad Pro 450
The big story this weekend will be the battle between Dustin Wimmer and John Natalie, Jr., both of whom are fighting for their first WPSA title. Natalie (No. 13 Elka, Maxxis/Honda) took a scant two-point lead in the last round, but Wimmer and his No. 191 MSR, Pro Taper, Yoshimura/Suzuki) has shown consistency this year, which may well pay off this weekend. Meanwhile Wimmer's teammates Chad Wienen and defending titleholder Doug Gust sit third and fourth, respectively, ahead of Keith Little (No. 12 Lonestar/Honda) However, the more significant story may just be the Manufacturers' Championship. With a victory here, Suzuki will clinch its second consecutive WPSA manufacturers' title.
QuadTerrain Pro Stock
"Working Man" Jesse West's dogged efforts this season paid off in the last round as the rider of the No. 888 West Racing/Arctic Cat took the lead in the QuadTerrain Pro Stock Riders' Championship. West now sits 14 points ahead of Scott Kilby (No. 207 Warnert Racing/Can-Am) in the chase. The Jack Link's-backed Artic Cats of Rory Beckman and Daryl Rath sit third and fourth. QuadTerrain super star Chris Borich's part-time effort this season has certainly paid off. The rider of the No. 2 Warnert Racing/Can-Am sits fifth in points after winning five races, including the last four in consecutive fashion. His winning record, in fact, puts him atop the career win column with five victories. In the Manufacturers' Championship, if a Can-Am quad finishes second or better, the company will clinch its second consecutive title. All Pro Class Riders will be vying for one of the richest purses in ATV racing here. The Tour will award $22,500 in purse monies for the SuperQuad Pro 450 and QuadTerrain Pro Stock finals. The purse pays to 20th place in the QuadMX Series and to 15th place in QuadTerrain Challenge. The purse structure awards $4,000 to win each QuadMX final and $2,000 to win in each QuadTerrain Challenge final, with $15,000 and $7,500 available in each Series final, respectively. Tickets, which start at $20 for adults and $10 for kids 6-15, will be available at the gate on Saturday.
About the PowerSports ATV Tour
The PowerSports ATV Tour is North America's premier professional ATV racing circuit, featuring QuadMX, QuadTerrain and SuperSport Pro series action as well as more than 20 amateur classes for adults, women and children. The Tour is sanctioned by the World PowerSports Association, North America's most respected snowmobile and ATV sanctioning body, and a promoter of ATV and snowmobile racing on both the regional and national level. For more information, please visit www.PowerSportsTour.com
MEDIA INFORMATION:
Media Members who have already applied for credentials should report to the main gate to sign the waiver and receive their credentials. All media is then required to report to the Media Center to check in with Director of Communications Justin Anderson. Please contact Justin at 704-589-2100 if you have not sent in a credential request. Credential request forms can be downloaded at www.PowerSportsTour.com The Media Center, which will open at 8 a.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, will be staffed all weekend and will feature high-speed Internet access. Media resources guides will also be available.
NEW JERSEY MEDIA TIPS:BENEFIT SCHEDULED...Big Daddy Motorsports, in conjunction with Media All-Stars and Randy and Pat Hinson, are hosting an "Always Remembered" benefit dinner on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. under the Media All Stars and Big Daddy Motorsports tents. Donations during the event will benefit the "Always Remembered" fund to help Youth racers, 88RidetoLive and the Dr. Rice's Mobile Medical Unit. LOCAL RIDERS...Pro Riders Rocco Arno, Jr. (Bridgeton) Jamie Bougher (Westwood), Pat Brown (Pittstown), and Travis Spader (Pt. Pleasant) highlight a list of 21 Garden Staters slated to compete this weekend. The list also includes: Quinton Barto (Hainesport), Nicholas and Jacqueline Gennusa (Holmdel); Cody Hill (Harrisburg), Cody Kubinak (Washington), Leric Lemons (Hammonton), Rich Lindsay (Atica), Donald Lysinger (Atica), Robert Mazey (Bellemead), Sean Neidlinger (Flagtown), Steven O'Neal (Warren), Antonio Pachero (Barnegat), Richard Staino (Carneys Point), Rich Stambach (Montville), Chris Tait (Pennsauken), and Jeffrey Wolf (Mickleton).
INTO THE BLUE ...The United States Air Force will induct several recruits in a ceremony scheduled for late morning on Saturday. POWERSPORTS ON THE POD...The Inside Dirt presented by ATVScene.com, the Official Podcast of the WPSA PowerSports ATV Tour, will feature coverage of this weekend,s WPSA racing action. Hosted by WPSA announcer Mark Straubinger and ATVScene.com's John Pellan, the Podcast will return this weekend and will be posted Monday evening. The Inside Dirt features interviews with the top Pros and Amateurs on the Tour, as well as hard-hitting analysis. ATV ON ESPN2...For the second consecutive year, the PowerSports ATV Tour will be featured on ESPN2. This weekend's events will be telecast on ESPN2 on Sept. 14 at 5 p.m. EDT. GRAB THE HOLESHOT...QUAD Magazine is sponsoring the "Holeshot Award." Through the Award, QUAD Magazine will award $1,000 to the winner of the holeshot in the SuperQuad Pro 450 final at each race this season. ROCK'N'ROLL...Holeshot Technologies will back the "Rock'n'Roll Award" at each race this season. The Award hands $1,000 to the first QuadTerrain Challenge Pro Stock rider to leave the rock crawl in the final at each 2007 event. HARD CHARGERS...ATVSource.com, the ATV world's source for up-to-the-minute news and information, will sponsor the "Biggest Mover" Award during this year's WPSA PowerSports ATV Tour. The award, given in the SuperQuad Pro 450 and QuadTerrain Pro Stock classes, will give $500 the rider who makes up the most positions in the final from their qualifying spot at all 10 races during the 2007 season. LIVING THE DREAM...The WPSA PowerSports ATV Tour, American Suzuki Motor Corp, ATV Scene.com, and Isoaxis Creative Consulting, in a unique partnership, have unveiled the Fantasy ATV Racing.com Contest. The free contest is now live at www.FantasyATVRacing.com and is also linked through the PowerSports ATV Tour's web site, www.PowerSportsTour.com.
Contest players can win many great prizes, including a race-prepared Suzuki LT-R450. To play, participants simply need to go to FantasyATVRacing.com, enter a valid email address, and submit podium picks for each SuperQuad Pro 450 race on the Tour. ###