HURRICANE MILLS, Tenn. (August 10, 2008) -- Chad Wienen (No. 44 Team Rockstar/ MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper Suzuki) fulfilled his goal of treading to the top step of the podium during the 2008 season on Sunday, capturing the overall Pro ATV victory at Loretta Lynn Ranch. The event, part of ATV Dirt Days here, was the season finale for the ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA National Championship Presented by Parts Unlimited.
Dustin Wimmer (No. 191 Team MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper Suzuki) finished second, ahead of Josh Creamer (No. 9 Team Monster Energy Kawasaki).
Wimmer also collected a $5,000 check for winning this year's Riders' Championship. He clinched the title two weeks ago in Michigan and also helped hand Suzuki the Manufacturers' Cup.
"I've really been working hard to get back to winning speed," said Wienen, who fought multiple injuries and bad luck all season. "I was just concentrating on the overall win out there. I'm the defending race winner here, so I was looking forward to the race. It feels great to get the monkey off my back and win again. I'd really like to thank my team for giving me such a great quad, because it was the reason I was able to win."
The win didn't come easy. After finishing first in moto one, Wienen had to get past teammate ATVRiders.com Holeshot Award winner Doug Gust (No. 55 Team Rockstar/MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper Suzuki) in the second moto. Wienen began pressing hard, searching for a way around Gust, then Joe Byrd (No. 7 American Honda Joe Byrd Motocross School Honda) passed both Suzuki riders in one fell swoop. From there the battle was on.
Both riders pulled ahead of the pack and traded positions several times. Wienen captured the lead late in the event and began to look like he was going to pull away. This was not the case as Byrd fought back and made his way back around the Suzuki rider. Finally, Wienen, realizing he had the overall win, backed off and settled for second. Meanwhile, Byrd raced away with the second moto win.
"I had a mechanical failure in the first moto, but those things happen," said Byrd, who lives roughly 100 miles from the Loretta Lynn Ranch. "I have a lot of friends and family here and I just wanted ride my best for them and get another win for the Byrd House."
Creamer was strong all day, finishing second in moto one. He then put forth an amazing effort in moto two after crashing on lap one. The crash left Creamer at the back of the field, but he immediately began slicing through the pack to ultimately finish the moto sixth, good enough for third overall.
"As soon as I got up I just told myself I was going to pass as many riders as I could," said Creamer. "I saw a big pack of riders around the halfway mark, and that gave me a little extra boost to keep charging."
Wienen was awarded an extra $1,000 for winning the home base fourth and final round of the ITP Grand Slam. Meanwhile, Byrd picked up an extra $1,000 for winning the ITP Tires Grand Slam championship that consisted of the High Point, Red Bud, Muddy Creek, and Loretta Lynn rounds.
Wienen summed up the day by adding: "I've won here two years in a row now. Joe (Byrd) and I always battle hard. He's beaten me on my home turf and now I've beaten him on his. This isn't the Byrd House anymore, it's Wienen Ranch."
Special award winners were:
Ti Lube Fast Qualifier Award: Chad Wienen
Suspension Systems Holeshot Award--Moto 1: Josh Upperman
ATVRiders.com Holeshot Award--Moto 2: Doug Gust
DASA Mechanic of the Race: Bill Micke
This weekend's race represented the regular season finale for ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA National Motocross Championship. The next race for the tour, the invitation-only Steel City ATV Open, is scheduled for Aug. 30 at Steel City Raceway in Delmont, Pa.
Dustin Wimmer, who finished second Sunday, holds up his $5,000 check for winning the 2008 AMA Riders' Championship (Stephani McIntyre Photo).
Josh Creamer overcame a crash in the second moto to finish third overall on Sunday, earning his fourth podium of 2008 (Stephani McIntyre Photo).
HURRICANE MILLS, Tenn. (Aug. 10, 2008) -- Results of Sunday's ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA Pro ATV Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn Ranch (Showing finishing position, rider, bike number, bike brand, hometown, and moto finishes):
1. Chad Wienen, 44, Suzuki, Galena, Ill., 1-1.
2. Dustin Wimmer, 191, Suzuki, Center Valley, Pa, 4-3.
3. Josh Creamer, 9, Kawasaki, North Stonington, Conn., 2-6.
4. Joe Byrd, 7, Honda, Union City, Tenn., 10-1.
5. Doug Gust, 55, Suzuki, Salem, Wis., 3-5.
6. Pat Brown, 199, Yamaha, Pittstown, N.J., 7-4.
7. Cody Miller, 22, Can-Am, Greenville, Texas, 8-7.
8. Harold Goodman, 708, Honda, Romulus, Mich., 11-8.
9. Greg Gee, 10, Can-Am, Simcoe, Ontario, 12-9.
10. Jeremy Lawson, 16, Can-Am, Battletown, Ky., 6-17.
11. John Ragon, 98, Honda, Milan, Tenn., 14-10.
12. Josh Upperman, 20, Honda, Louisville, Ohio, 5-19.
13. John Natalie, Jr., 13, Can-Am, Houtzdale, Pa., 9-18.
14. Keith Little, 12, Kawasaki, Spruce Pine, Ala., 15-13.
15. Jasmin Plante, 91, Yamaha, Notre Dame, Quebec, 17-12.
16. Cale Downen, 727, Honda, Junction, Ill., 13-16.
17. Russell Shumaker, 68, Kawasaki, Bristol, Wis., 20-11.
18. Sage Baker, 49, Can-Am, Shasta Lake, Calif., 18-14.
19. Rocco Arno, Jr., 101, Honda, Bridgeton, N.J., 19-15.
20. Jason Dunkelberger, 19, Honda, Trevorton, Pa, 16-20.
ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA Pro ATV Motocross Championship final points: Wimmer 438, Byrd 371, Gust 352, Creamer 298, Lawson 277, Wienen 268, Natalie 263, Goodman 259, Upperman 227, Brown 187.
Notebook:
ENTRIES ABOUND... A record 836 entries checked in for this weekend's race, representing a more than 27% jump from last year and the most this season. The previous record for this year was 732, set in March at Millcreek Raceway in Alabama.
CONCERT TIME...Recording artist Krista Marie thrilled a packed house Saturday night here. Marie, who is also a competitive ATV rider, performed many of her hits in front of several record executives and other Nashville-area celebrities.
KIDS KARNIVAL...The Kids Karnival, in conjunction with the Youth Contingency Awards, were held Friday night at Loretta Lynn Ranch. The event attracted many participants, who took part in the golf car parade, carnival games hosted by the tour's Pro riders, and other activities.
SHOWCASE SUCCESS...This weekend's Showcase featured a large display by Team Suzuki associate sponsor Makita, as well as demo rides by Can-Am, a RiderCourse training program and much more.
ROCKING WEATHER...This weekend's weather was warm and sunny with temperatures on reaching the 80s. With steamy weather usually the norm here, winner Chad Wienen trained in the heat for the last two weeks. "Man, I wish it was hotter," quipped Wienen.
About the ITP/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA ATV National Motocross Championship Series Presented by Parts Unlimited
The AMA ITP/Moose Racing ATV National Motocross Championship Series Presented by Parts Unlimited is the nation's premier amateur and professional ATV motocross series, and competes at top motocross facilities nationwide. The 11-round series features the Nation's best racers, teams and sponsors, and is America's largest and longest-running ATV National Motocross series with more than 20 years of competition. The series continues to expand and produce top talent from the amateur ranks, while keeping close to the grassroots fun that makes people love to go to the races.
Series sponsors include title sponsors ITP Tires and Moose Racing, and presenting sponsor Parts Unlimited. Premiere and Feature sponsors include Can Am, Amsoil, ATV Sport Magazine, Quad Magazine, Moto Tees, Maxxis Tires, and FMF. Associate sponsors include Fox Shox, Gatorade,HinsonRacing, Custom Axis, and H-Bomb. Media partners include ATV Insider and ATVRiders.com. For more information, please visit www.atvmotocross.com.
About the ATV Association (ATVA)
The ATV Association ("ATVA") is the official sanctioning body of the amateur division of the ATVA ITP/Moose Racing ATV National Motocross Championship Series Presented by Parts Unlimited. The 9,000-member ATVA is a sister organization of the 260,000 member American Motorcyclist Association (AMA). ATV racing has experienced phenomenal growth in recent years, and continues to gain momentum and support, outselling off-road motorcycles annually. Each ATVA round attracts hundreds of racers who compete for bragging rights to one of 31 amateur national titles. For more information, please visit www.atvaonline.com.
About the ATV Promoters Group (ATVPG)
The ATVPG is composed of the individual promoters that host the AMA ITP/Moose Racing ATV National Motocross Championships, presented by Parts Unlimited. The goal of the ATVPG is to raise awareness of ATV motocross through the production of professional and amateur championship racing events. For more information on the ATVPG and the ATV National events they produce, please visit www.atvmotocross.com.