2005 Extreme Dirt Track ATV Racing - RD#2 - Birch Creek - ATV Race Coverage

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Danville, VA - For the 2nd time this year the ATVA Nationals visited Birch Creek with the fourth Round of MX series held here in April and now EDT(Extreme Dirt Track) Series brings that fastest ATV riders back to Virginia for one last time this year.

Thursday Night as some of the racers began to arrive they were greeted with severe thunderstorms as the remnants of Hurricane Cindy pounded the area with heavy rain and lightning while Hurricane Dennis headed toward Florida where the ESPN Great Outdoor Games were being held at the Disney Complex with a $30,000 Purse.

Unfortunately, for several of the Top Pros, they were forced to make a decision whether to compete in Florida in one of the biggest television events for ATVs or compete for the FMF Extreme Dirt Track Championship.

All of those invited to the GOG declined their invitation and headed to Virginia to support the fans that were counting on them to show up at the ATVA Extreme Dirt Track National.

Fortunately, for the racers and the fans, the stormy weather moved out of the area by Friday, and the rest of the weekend was forecasted to be nothing but blue skies, but hot and humid. Ken Ferrell and track crew worked through out the day on Friday to clear the water from the track for Friday, and it was ready to go by Friday Night for a three hour practice session

Saturday, the Fans began arriving early to claim there spot in the stands or on the hill to watch all the racing action throughout the day and into the night for the main event, and it was good some arrived early because this years event attracted more spectators than ever and even the rider turnout was up over 20% over last year with 382 entries.

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The Birch Creek Motorsports Dirt Track - Known as "The Short Track" of the FMF Extreme Dirt Track ATVA Nationals is a basic horseshoe style of track with approximately 100 yard straight-a-way leading into a sweeping, mildly banked left hand corner turn which carries you onto the back stretch (about 100 yds.) At the end of backstretch there is a hard 180 degree left hand turn (high banked bowl turn, 3 line corner) which carries you into the infield. After the 180 turn, a short straight with a roller jump that leads into another high banked bowl turn, 3 line, 180 degree turn. Out of this turn there's a short straight with a roller jump which leads you into another 180 degree turn (this one is not banked) and back onto the front stretch straight-a-way.

The track is short and fast with the Pros running 25 to 27 second laptimes with speeds exceeding 85mph on the backstretch while many of the amateurs where recording 30 to 35 second lap times

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Pro Event

#708 Harold Goodman(JPMX) Won the opening round aboard his LTZ400 Suzuki in Arkansas holding off the defending Champion, Keith Little(Lonestar Racing), and Tim Farr (Baldwin Motorsports).

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The Pro Class only had 17 entries, which was below the full gate of 20 possible riders for the Main, so every entry advanced to the Main Event scheduled for the last race of the evening.

The Pros were split into three groups to compete for six laps which would determine the starting position for the Main Event, which is critical in EDT racing because of the small track size, the riders are started on two rows. The riders on the second row are at huge disadvantage.

Darin Ogden, Harold Goodman, and Lee J. Reineccius chat on the starting line before the first qualifier

1st Qualifier Lineup
Darin Ogden - Honda
Lee Reineccius - Yamaha
Harold Goodman-Suzuki
Kelsey Stamm-Honda
Scott Morris-Honda
Jerry Lauder-Kawasaki

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The start had #43 Scott Morris putting his Honda out to a slight lead on the outside headed toward turn one, but #708 Harold Goodman was able to put his Suzuki out front into turn one with #2 Darin Ogden right behind him.

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For five laps, Goodman and Ogden put on a tandom and syncronized display of EDT racing with side by side battles along with Goodman taking the Outside lines high on the banked corners and Ogden hanging low on the inside as these two battled for the lead.

Meanwhile, #43 Scott Morris followed in third place.

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In the final lap, Ogden is able to make the pass on Goodman to take the win with Morris finishing in 3rd.

1st Qualifier Results
1. Darin Ogden
2. Harold Goodman
3. Scott Morris
4. Jerry Lauder
5. Kelsey Stamm

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2nd Qualifier Lineup
Nathan Dallas-Yamaha
Brad Covington-Yamaha
Keith Little-Yamaha
Eric Jennings-Yamaha
Chad Lohr-Honda

#38 Eric Jennings(HB Racing) and #22 Brad Covington put the squeeze on #12 Keith Little off the start, but amazingly, Little was able to carve his way to the front and grabs the Holeshot with Covington and Jennings dropping in behind him.

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#12 Keith Little(2004 National Champion) pulls away to a 5-6 quad length lead over Covington and Jennings battling for the 2nd spot.

Little cruises his way to the Win, and looked strong and smooth as he used various lines in the corners during the qualifier to find his quickest time around the track.

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HB Racings, #38 Eric Jennings, makes the pass on Covington to finish in 2nd Place for an impressive Pro Racing debut aboard his Yamaha YFZ450.

2nd Qualifier Results
1. Keith Little
2. Eric Jennings
3. Brad Covington
4. Nathan Dallas
5. Chad Lohr