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Chad Wienen Wins ATV Open
Dominates
invitational race at Steel City
Chad Wienen poses with mechanic Theo
Lusardi. |
DELMONT, Pa. (August 30, 2008) -- The 2008 Pro
ATV Racing season came full circle for Chad
Wienen on Saturday at Steel City Raceway, as he
dominated the ATV Open Championship race. Dustin
Wimmer finished second, ahead of Josh Upperman.
"This is the icing on the cake," said Wienen,
who earned $5,000 and a special AMA No. 1 Plate
for the victory. "I'm speechless. I've never won
a championship before so this is a good start
for me."
Wienen (No. 44 Team Rockstar/MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro
Taper Suzuki) was sidelined with shoulder
injuries for much of the 2008 ITP Tires/Moose
Racing AMA/ATVA National Motocross Championship.
He was hungry coming into the $10,000
invitation-only race here.
"When I'm good and healthy, I think I'm a
threat to win every weekend," said Wienen.
"That's my drive every single week. I just know
I have it in me to win. I was headstrong even
when I was down and out. I was injured this
year, but I always believed I could finish out
the year strong."
Wienen rewarded the horde of fans, who
celebrated his victory with him, throwing his
chest protector, his goggles and even his racing
jersey to the crowd gathered around the podium.
"You have to love the fans; they're why we're
here," said Wienen. "I do whatever it takes,
staying late to sign autographs, just as long as
they're happy. We need to keep them coming back
and keep improving our programs, and someday I
hope we can be as big as the bikes."
Wienen's teammate Doug Gust (No. 55 Team
Rockstar/MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper Suzuki)
took the holeshot at the beginning of the event,
earning the $500 ATVRiders.com bonus. Wienen was
on a tear, though, taking second from Upperman
on lap two. He passed Gust one lap later, taking
the lead for good.
Wimmer (No. 191 Team
MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper Suzuki), who was
sporting his newly won AMA No. 1 plate for
winning the National ATV Championship, started
sixth, but methodically picked his way through
the pack, taking the runner-up slot on lap 10.
"I had a difficult start, so I just kept my
head down and tried to run a smooth race," said
Wimmer. "I knew I had the quad to do it, so I
just ran my line and it worked out."
Upperman (No. 20 American Honda/Baldwin
Motorsports Honda), ran a strong second through
much of the event, even challenging for the lead
several times.
"I saved the best for last," quipped Upperman.
DELMONT, Pa. (August 30, 2008) -- Results of
Saturday’s ATV Open at Steel City Raceway
(Showing finishing position, rider, bike number,
bike brand, and hometown):
1.
Chad Wienen, 44, Suzuki, Galena, Ill.
2.
Dustin Wimmer, 191, Suzuki, Center Valley, Pa.
3. Josh Upperman, 20,
Honda, Louisville, Ohio.
4.
Doug Gust, 55, Suzuki, Salem, Wis.
5.
John Natalie, Jr., 13, Can-Am, Houtzdale, Pa.
6. Josh Creamer, 9,
Kawasaki, N. Stonington, Conn.
7.
Pat Brown, 199, Yamaha, Pittstown, N.J.
8.
Harold Gooman, 708, Honda, Romulus, Mich.
9.
Greg Gee, 10, Can-Am, Simcoe, Ontario.
10.
Keith Little, 12, Kawasaki, Spruce Pine, Ala.
11. Cale Downen, 727, Honda, Junction,
Ill.
12. Hunter Miller, 90, Honda,
Greenville, Texas.
13. Jason
Dunkelberger, 19, Polaris, Trevorton, Pa.
14.
Jeremy Lawson, 16, Can-Am, Battletown, Ky.
15. Cody Miller, 22, Can-Am, Greenville,
Texas.
16. Sage Baker, 49, Can-Am,
Shasta Lake, Calif.
17. Russell
Shumaker, 68, Bristol, Wis., DNS.
18.
Joe Haavisto, 75, Kawasaki, New Ipswitch, N.H.,
DNS.
19. Mitch Reynolds, 137, Polaris,
Greenbrier, Ark., DNS.
The Second Annual Steel City AMA Pro ATV Open
continues tomorrow with Amateur ATV and
motorcycle racing all day. For information,
including a weekend schedule and where to
purchase tickets, please visit
www.racerproductions.com.
About the ITP/Moose
ATV National Motocross Championship Series
Presented by Parts Unlimited
The AMA ITP/Moose ATV National Motocross
Championship Series Presented by Parts Unlimited
is the nation’s premier amateur and professional
ATV motocross series, and competes at top
motocross facilities nationwide. The 11-round
series features the Nation's best racers, teams
and sponsors, and is America’s largest and
longest-running ATV National Motocross series
with more than 20 years of competition. The
series continues to expand and produce top
talent from the amateur ranks, while keeping
close to the grassroots fun that makes people
love to go to the races. Series sponsors include
title sponsors ITP Tires and Moose, and
presenting sponsor Parts Unlimited. Premiere and
Feature sponsors include ATV Sport, Moto Tees,
Scott USA, Maxxis Tires, Elka Suspension and
H-Bomb Films/Division Four. Associate sponsors
include Weekend Warrior Trailers, Denton Racing,
and Hinson Racing. Media partners include ATV
Insider, ATV Rider and ATVRiders.com. For more
information, please visit
www.atvmotocross.com.
About the ATV
Association (ATVA)
The ATV Association (“ATVA”) is the official
sanctioning body of the amateur division of the
ATVA ITP/Moose ATV National Motocross
Championship Series Presented by Parts
Unlimited. The 9,000-member ATVA is a sister
organization of the 260,000 member American
Motorcyclist Association (AMA). ATV racing has
experienced phenomenal growth at the rate of 25%
in the past two years, and continues to gain
momentum and support, outselling off-road
motorcycles annually. Each ATVA round attracts
hundreds of racers who compete for bragging
rights to one of 31 amateur national titles. For
more information, please visit
www.atvaonline.com.
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