AMA DIRT TRACK HORIZON AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT 26TH ANNUAL AMA DIRT TRACK GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS
AMA DIRT TRACK HORIZON AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT 26TH ANNUAL AMA DIRT TRACK GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS PICKERINGTON, Ohio -A record-breaking 1,444 entries in 19 classes competed on four distinctly different tracks at the 26th Annual AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships, held June 30 - July 7, at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois. Both for amateurs and aspiring pros, the event is widely regarded as the top rung of the dirt-track ladder. The highlight of the week, for riders and dirt-track fans alike, was the presentation of the AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award. This year the award was presented to two riders, Nicholas Cummings of Mt. Morris, Michigan, and Logan Myers of Wheeler, Michigan - only the second time in the award's six-year history that two racers have shared the event's highest honor. Over the course of the week, Myers earned five wins, two seconds and a third, and grand championships in the 250 Modified Premier and 505 Modified classes. Cummings had four wins, six seconds and a grand championship in the 600 Modified Premier class. Between the two of them, they grabbed about half of the available podium spots in their races. "In the end, when you look at all these promising racers accomplished, they were so close that we had no choice but to confer the Horizon Award on both of them," said Bill Amick, vice president of AMA Events and Entertainment. "With their results being so close - and both of them accomplishing so much before planned pro careers - they richly deserve to share this award. And I fully suspect they'll more than make their marks in the pro ranks." The AMA Horizon Award is presented each year to an outstanding young rider who's most likely to succeed at the sport's next level. Since 1997, AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award winners have distinguished themselves in AMA Pro Racing - Nicky Hayden (1997), Roger Lee Hayden (1998), Bryan Smith and Tony Meiring (1999), Cory McDermitt (2000) and Jared Mees (2001). Two other racers earned two grand championships apiece - Patrick Jacobsen of Montgomery, New York, took top honors in the 65cc DTX and the 65cc Modified 7-11 Premier classes, while Michael Martin of Lockeford, California, won both the 50PW and the 50 Senior classes. Also honored at week's end was Matthew Weidman of Westerlo, New York, who received the Cycle News "Fast Brain Award" for his prowess both on the track and in the classroom. In addition to winning the grand championship in the 85cc Mod 7-11- Premier class, Weidman maintains a 4.0 grade point average. Day-by-day track-side reports from last week's competition are available at www.AMADirectlink.com. 2001 AMA DIRT TRACK GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award Nicholas Cummings of Mt. Morris, Michigan, and Logan Myers of Wheeler, Michigan Grand Championships 50cc Pw: Michael Martin 50cc Junior: Bailey Spence 50cc Senior: Michael Martin 65cc Dtx: Patrick Jacobsen 65cc Modified 7-11 Premier: Patrick Jacobsen 85cc Dtx 9-13: Travis Myers 85cc Mod 7-11- Premier: Matthew Weidman 85cc Mod 12-15: Christopher Miller 125 Mod Premier: Chase Sconyers 250 Dtx: Clayton Riggle 250 Mod Premier: Logan Myers 400 Mod: William Stevens III 505 Mod: Logan Myers 600 Mod Premier: Nicholas Cummings 30+ Singles Premier: Kevin F. Snyder Open 40+: Royal Adderson 18+ Open Twins: Gary Hite Open 45+: Vince Holt Pro Sport 505: Jared Mees -30- The American Motorcyclist Association, founded in 1924, is a 270,000-member non-profit organization. The Association's purpose is to pursue, protect and promote the interests of motorcyclists, while serving the needs of its members. For more information, visit the AMA's website at www.AMADirectlink.com, or call 1-800-AMA-JOIN.