AMA Arenacross Series Prequel Kicks Off in Des Moines
AURORA, Ill. (October 28, 2009) – After 25 great years of bar-to-bar, high intensity action, the tight confines of the AMA Arenacross Series enters a quarter century of racing in 2009. Some of the most recognizable names in racing have graced the arenacross stage, leaving their tire tracks on what has become a great legacy.
Last season Rhinelander, Wis.’s Chad Johnson took his second AMA Arenacross title in three years, outlasting Ludington, Mich.’s Kelly Smith in a highly competitive 19-race season. Additionally, Johnson provided Tuf Powersports Honda with its second consecutive AMA Arenacross Championship after taking overall victories in seven races, including the season opener in Des Moines, Iowa.
In the multi-regional AMA Arenacross Lites class, four champions were crowned. Colt Humphrey proved that consistency is key en route to a dominating performance in the West Region despite not winning a single race. In the East Region, Tyler Bright swept all three of the regional races for a convincing title run. In a competitive battle for the North Region crown, Shane Sewell outlasted a field of talented competitors to come out on top, while the most competitive Lites battle of the season came in the South Region as Jimmy Albertson and Chad Cook finished tied atop the standings, but by virtue of an overall victory, Albertson took the title.
In 2009, a revised schedule will greet the series competitors. Consolidated from 19 races to 11 by eliminating the split weekend format, the AMA Arenacross Series will travel throughout the United States, including three new stops in Tulsa, Okla. (February 7-8), Fresno, Calif. (February 14-15), and Highland Heights, Ky. (March 20-22), which will serve as the season finale. The traditional mainstay from Des Moines, Iowa will once again kick off the season on November 7-9, but will not be included in the season championship. Instead, it will serve as a season prequel previewing what fans can look forward to come January 2-4 in Grand Rapids, Mich.
"As the defending champion of the series, I am looking forward to racing in front of my fans in the cities that we will return to and expanding my fan base in Highland Heights, Fresno and Tulsa," said 2008 champ Johnson.
Chasing the #1 plate is a strong list of candidates who will gun for the title in 2009.
“The 2009 season should prove to be one of the most competitive in the history of AMA Arenacross,” stated AMA Arenacross Series Director Jayme Dalsing. “We should see fireworks with the return of two-time champion Josh Demuth challenging the defending two-time champion Chad Johnson and his teammate Kelly Smith, who placed second overall in his debut season of AMA Arenacross.”
2009 AMA Arenacross Series On-Sale Schedule
*November 7-9 Wells Fargo ArenaDes Moines, IA January 2-4 Van Andel Arena Grand Rapids, MI January 9-11 1st Mariner Arena Baltimore, MD January 17-18 Ervin J. Nutter Center Dayton, OH January 23-25 Broadbent Arena Louisville, KY January 31-February 1 Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, NC February 7-8 BOK Center Tulsa, OK February 14-15 Save Mart Center Fresno, CA February 21-22 Arco Arena Sacramento, CA February 27-March 1 Reno Livestock & Events Center Reno, NV March 13-15 Wachovia Arena at Casey PlazaWilkes Barre, PA March 20-22 Bank of Kentucky Arena Highland Heights, KY *Prequel race to the 2009 season and is not part of the championship
Tickets for Nov. 7-9 AMA Arenacross Fueled by Monster Energy and brought to you by Hicklin Powersports at Wells Fargo Arena are available through www.arenacross.com, at the Wells Fargo Arena Ticket Office, online at www.dahlstickets.com, all Des Moines-area Dahl’s Grocery Stores or charge by phone at 1-866-55-DAHLS. Fees and handling may apply. Show times are Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 10am. Doors open Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m., Sunday at 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday tickets are $20 for all Gold Circle seats, $16 for Mid Level seats/$8 for kids Mid Level seats. Sunday tickets are $16 for adults, $8 for kids. All seats $2 more day of show. Note: Kids = children ages 2-12.
The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) announced today the 2009 schedule for the AMA National Enduro Championship Series. In addition to two new venues, this year's schedule welcomes the historic Alligator Enduro back to the national calendar. Image via Wikipedia "We're very excited about the 2009 schedule," said AMA Off-Road Director Chuck Weir. "We worked very closely with the National Enduro Promoters Group to put together a program that offers our racers and fans variety, exposure and, of course, the challenging terrain and great riding that they demand."
This year's championship will begin on Jan. 25 in the Manchester State Forest near Wedgefield, S.C. The 10-round championship will culminate on Oct. 4 in Upland, Ind.
One highlight is the return of the famed Alligator Enduro to the National Enduro Championship Series. Although the Alligator Enduro has long been an AMA Sports-sanctioned event, in recent years it has not been a national. For 2009, the historic event will once again help crown the national enduro class champions. The 2009 Alligator Enduro takes place on March 5 off Tomoka Farms Rd., just south of International Speedway Blvd. in Daytona Beach, Fla.
The two new stops on the calendar include the June 21 race in Upton, Wyo., and the June 28 race at the Bull Run Guest Ranch near Great Falls, Mont. The complete schedule is below.
The AMA National Enduro Championship Series dates to the 1920s and is one of the longest-running national motorsports championships in the world. The series features AMA Sports-sanctioned events and remains one of the country's premier off-road racing series, giving both amateur competitors and the country's fastest enduro racers a place to race.
2009 AMA National Enduro Championship Series Schedule
Round 1 January 25, 2009 SERMA Johnny McCoy 803-481-5169 www.sermaclub.com LOC: Manchester State Forest, Wedgefield, S.C. GPS: 33.86N 80.50W
Round 2 February 22, 2009 Cherokee Cycle Club Garrett McKey 678-231-5858 www.setra.org LOC: Greensboro, Ga.
Round 3 March 5, 2009 Alligator Enduro Daytona Dirt Riders Steve Pettenger 386-615-6722 www.floridatrailriders.org/ddr/ LOC: Tomoka Farms Rd., Daytona Beach, Fla.
Round 4 March 29, 2008 Acadiana Dirt Riders Darin LaFleur 337-363-4229 www.acadianadirtriders.org LOC: Kisatchie Nat. Forest, Forest Hill, La.
Round 5 April 26, 2009 NATRA Paul Traufler 256-837-0084 www.natra.dirtrider.net LOC: West Point, Tenn. GPS: 35ø 7.991" N 87ø 33.116" W
Round 6 June 21, 2009 Superfly Race Productions Scott Bright 970-302-4045 www.racermec.org LOC: Upton, Wyo. GPS: 44ø 05'47N 104ø 37'091
This blog is written and maintained by Scott Lukaitis and Lukaitis Photo. If you like what you see check our associate sites at njmotocross.com or lukaitisphoto.com. Questions or comments can be addressed to me directly at scott@njmotocross.com Thanks and enjoy!
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