AMA championship wraps up this weekend

The ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA National Motocross Championship Presented by Parts Unlimited will wrap up this weekend at Loretta Lynn’s in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. with the season finale of the 11-race national tour.

Team MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper rider Dustin Wimmer wrapped up the Riders’ Championship July 27 in Michigan, but the fight for second is in full tilt as two veterans prepare to do battle.

With just 19 points between two-time AMA Champion and Tennessee native Joe Byrd and ATV legend Doug Gust, the dirt is certain to fly.

Byrd, American Honda/Joe Byrd Racing School, has three victories to his credit this year, including one at the most recent race in Michigan. Though plagued with bad luck early in the tour, Byrd has been very strong in recent weeks. With his hometown of Union City, Tenn. just 100 miles away, Byrd is definitely going to be the hometown favorite.

Joe Byrd is looking to lock up second place on the season.

Suzuki’s Gust has a pair of wins this year and is the consummate ATV veteran. He’s been the model of consistency this season with eight top-five finishes in ten races.  Josh Creamer continues to carry Team Monster Energy Kawasaki’s banner strongly this season as his fourth-place slot in points demonstrates. Creamer has come close to victory several times, netting three podiums, including a runner-up finish.

Team Epic Can-Am’s Jeremy Lawson came into the season as a bit of a dark horse, but he is currently leading the charge for Can-Am’s new factory effort this year. He has a pair of runner-up finishes on the new DS-450.

John Natalie (Warnert Racing Can-Am), Harold Goodman (American Honda/Houser Racing), defending Loretta Lynn’s winner Chad Wienen (Team Rockstar MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper), Josh Upperman (American Honda/Baldwin Motorsports) and privateer Rocco Arno, Jr. (Honda) round out the top ten in the championship.

This event also represents the home plate of the $5,000 ITP Tires Grand Slam Presented by QUAD Magazine. The championship within a championship, being held at four of this year’s Showcase Events, is offering monetary awards in the Pro Class, as well as special bronze, silver and gold medals in the Amateur Classes.

Along with the premier ATV motocross action in the country, this weekend’s event will feature country music recording artist Krista Marie in concert on Saturday at 8 p.m. A Women’s Class ATV racer, as well as a singer/song writer, Marie will merge her two passions this weekend. The concert is free with race admission.

This weekend’s Showcase will feature the popular RiderCourse ATV training program, as well as demo rides of the newest ATVs from Can-Am. The Showcase will also include other outdoor-themed displays and other entertainment opportunities for fans.

In addition, Friday’s festivities will include a Kidz Karnival Featuring the Youth Contingency Program. The event kicks off with a Golf Cart Parade at 5:30 p.m., followed by carnival games staffed by the Series’ Pro riders. The event concludes at 7 p.m. with the Youth Contingency Program featuring the Kidz Choice Awards.

The race will be telecast on Versus Network on Oct. 27 at 3:30 p.m.

Related Reading:Wimmer clinches 2008 AMA Championship