Coolbeth starts championship defense with season opening victory
Harley-Davidson Press Release - May 31, 2007

Kenny Coolbeth picked up right where he left off last season. The Warren, Conn., native started defending his 2006 AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track championship the best way possible – with a win.

 

Coolbeth took the checkered flag Sunday at the AMA GNC Twins season opener at the Springfield Mile. He didn't win by a small margin, either. He had nearly an entire straightaway to himself.

 

"Kenny ran an incredible race and won by a large margin," Harley-Davidson Racing Manager Anne Paluso said. "We were surprised the bike didn't pass inspection on site. The bike was within the rules when we weighed it in Milwaukee prior to the race. We just had to be patient and wait for the official word from AMA and we're pleased Kenny gets to keep the victory. He ran a great race and deserved the win."

 

Coolbeth, the Screamin' Eagle factory rider, also finished first in his heat before taking the checkered flag for his 10th career AMA victory.

 

"By the fifth lap I felt real comfortable and was running my own race," Coolbeth said. "I never even looked back. I was wide open on the gas and thought it was the smoothest run around the Springfield Mile I've ever had."

 

Wrecking Crew riders Jared Mees, Bryan Smith and Joe Kopp joined Coolbeth in the top five at the first of 13 scheduled events for the GNC Twins this season.

 

Mees rode his Blue Springs Harley-Davidson into third place, his fifth career podium finish. Smith took fourth place on his Moroney's Harley-Davidson and the newest member of the team, Kopp, took fifth place on his Team Latus Harley-Davidson.

 

The next AMA GNC Twins event will be held at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn., on June 2.