Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/693447
84 nJuly 2016n www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS HARLEY-DAVIDSON RACERS DOMINATE FLAT-TRACK AT X GAMES Medal podium dominated by Harley riders Wrecking Crew riders Kenny Coolbeth Jr. and Brad Baker Claim Silver and Bronze AUSTIN, TEXAS, JUNE 2—A trio of Harley-Davidson racers fi lled the medal podium as Harley-Davidson Flat-Track racing opened 2016 ESPN X Games Au stin. Jared Mees rode a Harley-Davidson XR750 motorcy- cle to the win and an X Games gold medal following a race-long battle with Harley-Davidson Screamin' Eagle Wrecking Crew rider Kenny Coolbeth Jr., who fi nished second to claim the X Games silver medal. Harley-Davidson Screamin' Eagle Factory Team rider Brad Baker won X Games bronze for a third-place fi nish. "That's a sweet gold-medal win for Jared Mees and a great perfor- mance by all of these talented fl at- track racers," said Dino Bernacchi, Harley-Davidson U.S. Marketing Director. "Flat-track racing is America's original action sport. What a great way to kick off the X Games." Mees was the fast qualifi er for the race, staged on a challenging Circuit of The Americas half-mile dirt oval, but it was Baker aboard the Factory Harley- Davidson XR750 motorcycle who led the early laps of the main. Mees got past Baker and opened a gap on the pack only to have Coolbeth chase him down on his Zanotti Racing Harley- Davidson XR750. Coolbeth was able to pull even with Mees on several passing attempts but never took the lead. Mees roared across the fi nish line on his Rogers Racing/Las Vegas H-D XR750 motorcycle just 0.369 seconds ahead of Coolbeth. Onsite for the weekend at X Games Austin, Harley-Davidson will be in the Galleria area with X Games athletes, its new 2016 motorcycles and the H-D Jumpstart riding experience. Harley will also host appearances and autograph sessions with X Games athletes and a lounge area to stay cool with free giveaways and more. Fans can enter a sweepstakes to win Harley- Davidson Riding Academy training, a VIP experience and a 2017 Harley- Davidson motorcycle. —Press release 2016 NHRA HARLEY-DAVIDSON DRAG RACING SERIES June 17–19 Bristol Dragway (Top Fuel only) Bristol, TN June 17–19 Bandimere Speedway (Non-Top Fuel Event) Denver, CO July 22–24 Sonoma Raceway Sonoma, CA Aug. 19–21 Cecil County Dragway Rising Sun, MD Oct. 28–30 Rockingham Dragway Rockingham, NC Nov. 5–8 The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Las Vegas, NV 2016 NHRA MELLO YELLO PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE SERIES June 23–26 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals Norwalk, OH July 7–10 Route 66 NHRA Nationals Chicago, IL July 22–24 Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals Denver, CO July 29–31 NHRA Sonoma Nationals Sonoma, CA Aug. 18–21 Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Brainerd, MN Aug. 31–Sept. 5 Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals Indianapolis, IN Sept. 16–18 NHRA Carolina Nationals Charlotte, NC Sept. 23–25 AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals St. Louis, MO Sept. 29–Oct. 2 NHRA Keystone Nationals Reading, PA Oct. 13–16 AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals Dallas, TX Oct. 27–30 NHRA Toyota Nationals Las Vegas, NV Nov. 10–13 Auto Club NHRA Finals Pomona, CA 2016 AMA VINTAGE DIRT TRACK NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES July 2 Oshkosh Speedzone (3/8 Mile) Oshkosh, WI July 3 Oshkosh Speedzone (3/8 Mile) Oshkosh, WI July 9 Ashland County Fairgrounds (Half Mile) Ashland, OH Aug. 12 Marion County Fairgrounds (Short Track) Indianapolis, IN Aug. 13 Marion County Fairgrounds (Short Track) Indianapolis, IN Sept. 24 TBD (Short Track) Cuddebackville, NY Sept. 25 TBD (Short Track) Cuddebackville, NY 2016 AMA PRO FLAT TRACK SCHEDULE June 25 Lima Half-Mile, Allen County Fairgrounds Lima, OH July 30 Charlotte Half-Mile, Charlotte Motor Speedway Charlotte, NC Aug. 9 Sturgis Half-Mile, Black Hills Speedway Rapid City, SD Aug. 14 Peoria TT, Peoria Motorcycle Club Peoria, IL Aug. 20 TBA New York State Sept. 4 Springfi eld Mile II, Illinois State Fairgrounds Springfi eld, IL Sept. 17 TBA Southern California Early Oct. TBA Northern California Harleys dominated the fl at track races at the X Games