ATVA Extreme Dirt Track Nationals Round #2 - Taylorville, IL South Fork Dirt Riders Club June 10, 2006

ATVA Extreme Dirt Track Round #2 - Links Race Results Photo Gallery

Round 1, hosted by Bullet Speedway in Brashear, Texas, fell victim to thunderstorms on Saturday which resulted in the outcome of the amateur racing being determined by the qualifying rounds and the Pro results being determined by qualifiers and mains run on Sunday. After the Pro and Pro/Am classes ran on Sunday in Texas it was determined that the Bullet Speedway track was falling apart due to excessive moisture and the event was cancelled for safety reasons.

Round 2 at the highly acclaimed South Fork Dirt Riders facility in Taylorville, Illinois was in full swing until Mother Nature decided to drain her pipes early Saturday evening which resulted in the cancellation of Saturday’s Main Events with hopes of resuming again on Sunday morning. It was not to be. Sunday morning found more showers drizzling down on the 1.25 mile newly constructed TT circuit and after much debate the remainder of the weekends racing was cancelled around noon.

#4 Tim Farr unofficially claims his second win of the season as the final results are still under review

Seems as if some discrepancies had occurred while timing the Pro heats which left questions as to which of the three qualifiers was the fastest and which was the second and third fastest. On Tuesday following the event, ATVA sanctioning officials were contacted and it was learned that the decision to pay out the Pro purse and not award points was being reviewed by the ATVA and that this on site decision by the official could possibly be revamped. It was also learned that in accordance with the rules of the ATVA that no Pro purse money should have been paid out under the circumstances. Thus, as with Round 1 of the ’06 Extreme Dirt Track ATVA Nationals the 2nd round not only ended in controversy but with rain soggy blue grooves unfit for competition.

Despite Mother Nature’s wrath and questionable decisions, the South Fork Dirt Riders facility proved to be one of the finest facilities visited by the Extreme Dirt Track Nationals. Within the confines of the facility one found an expansive MX track, thirty miles of riding trails, a hare scrambles circuit and a newly constructed TT track that was claimed by one Pro as the best he’d ever seen. Also on the facility one could find a restaurant, a parts and service store and a whole other host of covered pavilions and recreational facilities for the family and hosted by Leroy Harris and his family.

#5 Shane Hitt has switched from Blue, Yellow, and now to Red over the past three years, but he still hasn't been obtain his dominate form of the past on the 2 Stroke	#27 Brad Riley is one of the few Pro riders racing anything other than a Honda as only a handful are racing the YFZ450 and just a couple have swithed to the LT-R450

Amateur ATV Race Overview
In the amateur classes, 14 out of 26 classes were able to complete their heats and mains. Out of these classes, the 50cc Stock Limited featured two new competitors with well known Pro fathers. Tucker Rath, astride his #67 Kasea and Logan Hitt on his #5x Polaris made their Dirt Track debut. Although neither fared in the top five, both Rath and Hitt managed to navigate the South Fork circuit, following in their footsteps of their fathers Daryl Rath and Shane Hitt. Taking the class win hands down in both the heat and the main, Nickolas Schriner (#5) of Harrison, Arkansas put a severe smokin’ on the other ten racers with DRR power between his legs.

For years the 90cc Mod class has been a showcase for up and coming youth racers. This year is no different than the rest. Greenbrier, Arkansas’ Matthew Carter aboard his #131 DC machine took advantage of a turn one crash and a red flag to get the jump on Seneca, Pennsylvania’s #88 Joel Hetrick, a JB Racing mounted and Hetrick Racing sponsored youth, and, the #316 of Ryland Johnson, an Extreme mounted Johnson’s ATV sponsored racer of Judsinia, Arkansas. Hetrick, who was involved in the first corner mishap had to start on the back row and with Carter getting a good jump off the line, had to play catch up for the entire main race. In the end, Carter held a substantial lead over Hetrick who managed to claw his way from the back row to a second place finish with Johnson bringing down the third place position in the main.

#77 Lake Kuba continues to tear it up in the 70cc Shifter Class on his highly modified Kawasaki machine against the Cobra ATV dominated class.	#88 Joel Hetrick made his season debut at South Fork Riders Club, but a first turn pileup forced Hetrick to row two, and Ryland Johnson cruised to the win.

ATV Racin Extra's own #43 Justin Screws has made the jump from the Suzuki LT-80 to the Yamaha Blaster for 2006, but without much seat time, he is still adapting to his large ride.	The Suzuki LT-R450 are starting to showup at the EDT, and with its wide stance and low center of gravity, it may attract even more riders to make the switch

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