A
fter years of absence the Sacramento Mile returned to Cal Expo in a big way. By 9 A.M. on
race day the tickets for seats were sold out – and by race time in the afternoon only a few standing room tickets were still available. Sacramento fans showed up in huge way to welcome back the GNC riders to the Sacramento Mile.
No one would have thought that Bob Bellino/ Circle Bell Racing could top the show that they put together last year in Calistoga but the show in Sacramento was better. The top riders even had name flags for their pits to identify them to the fans who were touring the pits during the breaks in racing. The vendor show was fabulous with an assortment of motorcycle related booths and the riders were gracious to the people who wanted to see them signing autograph cards and talking with them. The Legends autograph signing was a big success with many old timers shaking hands and chatting with the throngs of people who waited hours for the autographs. Several of the GNC riders and the Pro Singles riders joined the old timers also signing autographs for the fans.
ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY KAREN GOULD
CHECKERED FLAG PHOTOS
The track was perfectly groomed and the weather accommodated a day on the track starting off cool and heating into the low 90’s by the afternoon. Once on the track it was all business for the riders. Chris Carr, sponsored by the AMA and Classic Harley Davidson, is the local favorite to win this race on his hometown track, and Zanotti Racing’s Jake Johnson, the current number 1 rider of the GNC series were the two front runners for the first laps switching the lead back and forth throughout the first sixteen laps. It was then that Bryan Smith sponsored by
Fasthog.com and American Harley Davidson, and the winner of the last mile race held at Cal Expo in 2003, got between them for the second spot. Smith and Carr battled to the end with Johnson finishing 3rd
Chris Carr leading the way
. On the podium Smith said “Nobody is more surprised than me” and Carr on his second place finish said “I have always said second place sucks and I haven’t changed my mind.” The pro singles put on a show for the crowd
with Mikey Avila sponsored by SDI Insulation and MEH Corporation and Weirbach Racing, General Engineering sponsored Mikey Martin, both California bred racers, battling for the lead. The two switched the front position several times with Cory Texter chasing them in third. It was the last lap that made the difference in this race when Martin was able to draft into the lead from the fourth position. Behind him Avila was riding the second spot and Shana Texter and Briar Bauman were competing for third. Texter managed to get by Bauman to secure her first podium finish of 2011.
Briar Bauman Chris Carr, second; Bryan Smith, first and Jake Johnson, third
Going into Castlerock, Sammy Halbert’s hometown track, only four points separate Halbert from Johnson and Mees. In the Pro singles Martin now leads the points race with 16 over Avila. Grand National Racing is heading to Southern California, October 15, 2011 at the Pomona Fairplex. Chris Carr will end his Farewell tour at the GNC series Final, a cushion half mile. For information and tickets for the Pomona Half Mile October 15, and the Calistoga GNC half mile October 1, 2011 visit
www.sacramentomile.com
38 S&S OFF ROAD MAGAZINE - SEPTEMBER 2011 -
www.SS-OffRoadMagazine.com #42 Bryan Smith C
Winner Bryan Smith carrying the checkered
Mikey Martin
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