Coolbeth cruises to Grand National win at Vernon Downs
Harley-Davidson Press Release - Jun 2, 2008
 
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Harley-Davidson Screamin' Eagle factory rider Kenny Coolbeth led every lap and scored a convincing win on the Vernon, New York, Downs mile in the first complete race of the 2008 AMA Grand National Twins Championship. The two-time defending AMA Grand National Twins champion pulled away from an early battle with Chris Carr and was not challenged as he built up a lead that was 15.898 seconds at the finish of the 25-lap main. It was the 16th career Grand National victory for the 31-year-old rider from Morris, Conn., who was riding a Harley-Davidson XR-750 motorcycle.
The race-long battle for second place was a closer contest. Moroney's/Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson rider Bryan Smith dogged Carr for 13 laps and made the pass for second place on lap 23 in the midst of a dog fight that included fellow Wrecking Crew rider Jared Mess of the Blue Springs/Harley-Davidson Screamin' Eagle team and PBW/Fresno Harley-Davidson rider Brandon Bergen. On lap 24 Mees slipped past Bergen for third, as the Harley-Davidson Wrecking Crew riders finished 1-2-3. Bergen, making his first appearance in a Grand National Twins main, finished fourth, and Carr faded and finished fifth.
It was the first AMA Grand National race at Vernon Downs since 2003, and for the second weekend in a row weather played a significant role. The race was delayed for hours after heavy rain moved through the area Saturday evening. The Vernon Downs crew managed to dry and groom the track and racing resumed on a good surface late in the evening. The main event did not conclude until after 1 a.m. on Sunday.
The next stop on the 2008 AMA Grand National Twins Championship schedule is June 21 at Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville, Tenn.
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