After further review, Kopp’s win stands
Joe Kopp is riding high again.
After the depressing news of having had his AMA Progressive Insurance Flat Track win on June 26 at Lima, Ohio, tossed out due to the apparent use of illegal fuel, now Kopp is enthused after the win was reinstated.
Kopp now finds himself in a suddenly tight battle with Chris Carr for the 2004 championship. The Mica, Wash., rider trails Carr, the 2003 champ, by 16 points going into round seven of the 19-race schedule at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport, Iowa.
Kopp said his victory at Lima, his second straight at the track, was crucial in not letting Carr’s early season lead blossom into a large mid-season points gap. As the schedule enters the middle stages, it appears to be a two-rider race for the championship.
A week ago, however, it appeared that Kopp’s shot at repeating the title he won in 2001 was dashed when he and Kevin Atherton were found to have used illegal fuel. They were docked race points.
The fuel was sent to an independent lab for further testing and the results came back showing again the fuel didn’t meet specifications.
Then AMA Pro Racing announced it has reversed the penalties. Pro Racing Director of Competition Merrill Vanderslice said that there was concern over the way the fuel was handled during testing.
“We conducted an internal review of the steps that were taken in the handling of the fuel samples and determined that the samples were not originally sealed to our standards,” said Vanderslice. “Accordingly, we made the decision to reverse the penalties.”
Kopp not only has new life in the championship chase, but also a new tuner in Larry Zumbrum of LZ Racing. Kopp’s hoping the new relationship will yield good results. “He seems a lot more like me,” Kopp said of Zumbrum. “I know he builds fast Harleys.”
Montana 200 this weekend
One of the area’s premier late model stock car races takes place Saturday when the 14th Annual Coors Light Montana 200 takes place at Kalispell’s Raceway Park.
A group of Spokane drivers will look to bypass the bad luck that’s dogged them for the past eight editions of the race.
Qualifying takes place Friday with Spokane-area drivers Kevin Richards, John Gamble, Dave Garber, Andy Brown and Darren Rupinski trying for the coveted title and the $5,000 that goes to the winner.
Garber was the highest local finisher (7th) in the 2003 race while Gamble was fourth in 2002. Mark Groskreutz was the last Spokane winner in 1996.
Fairgrounds hosts motorcycles Friday
Both the young and old will showcase their flat-track motorcycle skills Friday at the Spokane Fair and Expo Center.
Eight year-old Wyatt Anderson, who recently finished seventh in the nation in the 50cc class and 58 year-old Gary Hite, who won the 18 and over Twins title, are both registered to ride.
An estimated 100-plus riders from across the Pacific Northwest are expected to compete for a pro purse of $1,000, along with trophies.
Held in conjunction with the BMW Motorcycle Rally that will bring thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts to Spokane this week, the racing will take place at the new outdoor arena and will be run on a fifth-mile track.
And just in case the weather might somehow turn sour, promoter Todd Somers has already arranged with the fairgrounds for use of the indoor facility that he promotes in the winter.
Gates open at 4 p.m. with racing at 7. Admission is $10. Because the BMW Rally will be taking over a large share of the fairgrounds, those attending the flat track event are reminded to enter the facility from Broadway Avenue.
Pit stops
Eagle Track in Republic will run its Mid-Season Championship Saturday beginning at noon…Friday night high school drag racing starts the weekend’s racing program at Spokane Raceway Park. Saturday SRP hosts bracket drags and imports. The Sportsman Superstocks highlight the oval schedule. Gates open at 3 p.m. with racing at 7…Stateline Speedway hosts the Northwest Late Model Fours and Northwest Outlaw Street Stock Challenge Saturday night. Winged Modifieds and Hobby Cars are also on the program that begins with time trials at 6 p.m….The second race of the 2004 Hydro-Prop schedule takes place this weekend when the Chrysler/Jeep Detroit APBA Gold Cup, runs on on the Detroit River. It marks the 100th anniversary of the most prestigious event in powerboat racing. Dave Villwock and the Miss Budweiser won the opening race two weeks ago in Madison, Indiana.
Streaks and stats
Justin Hoffman won his first Northwest Modified main event last Saturday at Stateline Speedway. Greg Ochs was second and moved to a 48-point advantage over Dave Weaver in a battle of Colville drivers…Mike Cofini of Spokane rebounded from not qualifying at his last two races to drive his Dave Smith Top Alcohol Dragster to the win at last week’s NHRA Division Six race in Woodburn, Ore. Todd Hoerner lost his points lead in Top Comp and the rest of the Spokane contingent all went out in the first round. Next up is an NHRA national event at Seattle in two weeks…Chris Davis recently piloted his Coors Light Pro Nostalgia Dragster to the win at Woodburn, Ore. Davis plans to race next at the AHRA World Finals in August.