2002 schedule updates

Tunica indoor added, Savannah half-mile dropped from 2002 AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship.

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- AMA Pro Racing announced today that yet another new event has been added to the 2002 AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship schedule and another event that was slated to be a first-time AMA Grand National has been canceled. The addition to the series is being dubbed the Tunica Indoor Short-Track National to be held on Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Tunica Arena. The venue is located 25 minutes south of Memphis in Tunica, Miss. Quality Checked Certified Pre-Owned Ford, Memphis Shades and FedEx are sponsoring the indoor event.

The new race is Tunica marks a return to indoor AMA Grand National racing for the first time since 1985 when the Houston Astrodome TT and Short Track was last held. It also marks the first time the state of Mississippi has hosted an AMA Grand National.

"We are pleased to be able to bring the U.S. Flat Track Championship to Tunica," said Bruce Bober, AMA flat track manager. "There's a lot of variety in the series this year and we hope by bringing the series to new areas will bring in a lot of new fans to the sport." The Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association is promoting the race. For ticket information call the IMDA at (217) 753-8866.

Other schedule changes for the series include:

* The July 20 Grand National at Oglethorpe Speedway Park in Savannah, Ga., has been canceled

* The 505 Pro Sport class will replace the Harley-Davidson

Sportster Performance class at the Harrington, Del., Hall of Fame race on August 3. For more information, call (304) 749-8418.

* The postponed Scioto Downs race in Columbus, Ohio, has been rescheduled for Sept. 22 and will be televised on Speed Channel. Call Scioto Downs at (877) 274-1184 for more information.

* An AMA National Hot Shoe Series race has been added for August 6 at the Sturgis Fairgrounds in Sturgis, S.D. Call the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club at (605) 720-5717 for more information. Following is the remaining 2002 AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship schedule:

<pre> 2002 AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship Schedule

DATE        LOCATION                                     TYPE        SERIES
May 25      Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL  T.T.        GNC
May 26      Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL  Mile        GNC/HDSP
June 1      Hagerstown Speedway, Hagerstown, MD          Half-mile   GNC/HDSP
June 15     Tri-City Speedway, Granite City, IL          Half-mile   GNC/HDSP
June 29     Allen County Fairgrounds, Lima, OH           Half-mile   GNC/HDSP
July 6      Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL  S.T.        GNC
July 13     Thunder Ridge Raceway, Prestonsburg, KY      Half-mile   GNC/HDSP
July 27     Lowe's Motor Speedway, Charlotte, NC         Half-mile   GNC/HDSP
Aug. 3    **Delaware State Fairgrounds, Harrington, DE   Half-mile   GNC/505
Aug. 10     Hagerstown Speedway, Hagerstown, MD          Half-mile   GNC/HDSP
Aug. 18     Peoria Race Park, Bartonville, IL            T.T.        GNC
Aug. 24     State Fair Speedway, Sedalia, MO             Half-mile   GNC/HDSP
Aug. 31     Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL  S.T.        GNC
Sept. 1     Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL  Mile        GNC/505
Sept. 7     Vernon Downs, Vernon, NY                     Mile        GNC/HDSP
Sept. 14    Tunica Arena, Tunica, MS                     S.T.Indoor  GNC
Sept. 22    Scioto Downs, Columbus, OH                   Half-mile   GNC/HDSP
Sept. 28    Du Quoin State Fairgrounds, Du Quoin, IL     Mile        GNC/HDSP

** = Hall of Fame Race GNC = Grand National Championship HDSP = Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance Date and locations subject to change

2002 AMA Hot Shoe Championship Schedule

DATE LOCATION TYPE June 8 Montgomery County Fairgrounds, Dayton, OH Half-mile June 9 Peoria Race Park, Bartonville, IL T.T June 22 Iowa State Fairgrounds, Des Moines, IA Half-mile July 1 Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL Short Track (505 Pro Sport only) July 2 Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL T.T. (505 Pro Sport only) July 4 Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL Half-mile (505 Pro Sport only) July 4 Frederick Fairgrounds, Frederick, MD Half-mile July 6 Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL Mile Aug. 6 Sturgis Fairgrounds, Sturgis, SD Half-mile

For immediate post-race results, points, in-depth series and rider information, regular columnists and much more, log onto www.1800FlatTrack.com, the official website of the AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championships.

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