Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/617259
76 nJanuary 2016n www.thunderpress.net AMA PRO HARLEY-DAVIDSON GNC1 FLAT TRACK SERIES Jared Mees wins 2015 AMA GNC1 Flat Track Championship Bryan Smith takes second LAS VEGAS, NEV., NOV. 21— Consistent and tenacious to the end, Harley-Davidson Screamin' Eagle Wrecking Crew rider Jared Mees is champion of the 2015 AMA Pro Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines fl at track series. Mees, the defending GNC1 champion, fi n- ished third at the AMA Pro Flat Track Season Finale at Orleans Arena to secure his third AMA Grand National title in four years. "It's awesome to get this cham- pionship," said Mees, who rode a Rogers Racing Las Vegas H-D/Blue Springs H-D Harley-Davidson XR750 motorcycle in the Grand National Twins events. "Last year when I won it, I said that one meant the most to me. But now here I am and it just gets sweeter and sweeter every year. Thanks to Harley-Davidson and every- one at Rogers Racing for putting me on a fast motorcycle all season." Mees came to the AMA Finale with a seven-point lead over Bryan Smith, with Harley-Davidson Screamin' Eagle Wrecking Crew rider Kenny Coolbeth Jr. just 20 points back in third place. Mees clinched the championship when Smith and Coolbeth did not qualify for the main on the Orleans Arena short track. Mees emerged as champion through con- sistent performance on the track. The 29-year- old racer from Clio, Michigan, had a single victory in 2015 but notched nine podiums and only twice in 13 races failed to fi nish out of the top 10. Mees also won the Grand National champion- ship in 2012 and 2014. Mees began racing as an AMA Expert in 2003 and has won 16 times in Grand National competition. "Harley-Davidson congratulates Jared Mees on becoming a deserv- ing three-time champion," said Kris Schoonover, Harley-Davidson Racing Manager. "And a huge thanks to all of the Harley-Davidson racers who made this one of the most thrilling Grand National seasons in memory." Mees wrapped up the season with 204 points. Smith was second with 181 points, followed by Briggs Auto/Harley-Davidson rider Sammy Halbert, who fi nished fourth in the AMA Finale and scored 172 points. Coolbeth, who raced a Zanotti Racing Harley-Davidson XR750 motorcycle, fi nished the season in fourth place with 169 points. Harley-Davidson will be back as a sponsor of the AMA Pro GNC1 series in 2016, and will fi eld Harley- Davidson Screamin' Eagle Factory Team rider Brad Baker in all of the twins races. —Press release 2015 NHRA MELLO YELLO PRO STOCK SERIES V-Rod rockets Andrew Hines to NHRA World Championship Ed Krawiec wins Pro Stock Motorcycle Pomona race for Harley team POMONA, CALIF., NOV. 15— Harley-Davidson Screamin' Eagle/ Vance & Hines riders Ed Krawiec and Andrew Hines closed out the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship as winners and world champions. Krawiec rode a screaming- fast Harley-Davidson V-Rod motor- cycle to victory in the Pro Stock Motorcycle Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona, California, and Hines successfully defended his NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle title and secured his fi fth career world championship in the class. With Hines and Krawiec at the controls of the team's Harley V-Rod bikes, the Harley-Davidson Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines riders fi nished 1–2 in the standings for the second consecutive year, and have collected eight of the past 12 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle world championships. Hines clinched his championship with a win in the second round of eliminations on Sunday. "My outstanding Harley-Davidson team did a great job of keeping me focused and keeping the pressure off of me this weekend," said Hines, who at 32 years old is the youngest NHRA Pro to win fi ve world championships. "My V-Rod was always on point. Having fi ve championships is pretty awesome." Andrew Hines, the son of NHRA Hall of Famer Byron Hines and younger brother of three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle world champ Matt Hines, is the fi rst rider to win fi ve Pro Stock Motorcycle titles since the late Dave Schultz reached that mark in 1994. Hines won four events during the 2015 season, including three in the six-race Countdown playoffs as he climbed from the third seed to take the title. Hines has 42 career wins, second place all-time in Pro Stock Motorcycle behind Schultz, who tal- lied 45 victories during his career. "Each one of my cham- pionships has been a unique experience," said Hines. "This is a really competi- tive class right now, and we struggled in the middle of the season. This is our team's reward for all the late nights and hard work it took to get us back out front. The Harley team rises to the occasion every time." Krawiec fi nished sec- ond in season points, 43 behind Hines, after starting the Countdown as the fi rst seed. The fi nal-round vic- tory by Krawiec at Pomona was his fourth of the season and the 31st of his career. Krawiec has now appeared in eight consecutive fi nal rounds at Pomona. Krawiec got a big win in round two over Jerry Savoie to help secure the championship for Hines, and then defeated his teammate in the semi-fi nals. "It was a great weekend all-around for the Harley team," said Krawiec, a three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion. "My V-Rod was fast today but lagged a little off the line until we made an adjustment for the fi nal round and that's what won it for me. Our combination of strong V-Rod motorcy- cles and a team with outstanding talent and deep experience is hard to beat. I'm always racing for another cham- pionship but it's a happy ending when the team can send that world champion trophy back to Milwaukee." —Press release Andrew Hines takes the NHRA World Championship Jared Mees takes the GNC1 championship