AMA
Daytona Thursday report, results
Wisconsin Rider Takes Home Daytona Short Track Victory DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 4, 2004) -- JR Schnabel was the surprise winner of Thursday night's AMA Progressive Insurance Grand National season opener at Daytona Beach's Municipal ...
Published: Mar 6, 2004, 10:40 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Wisconsin Rider Takes Home Daytona Short Track Victory
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 4, 2004) -- JR Schnabel was the surprise winner of Thursday night's AMA Progressive Insurance Grand National season opener at Daytona Beach's Municipal Stadium. The 24-year-old Rotax-mounted rider from West Bend, Wis., took the lead on the second lap and pulled away to a commanding victory over Bryan Smith, of Flint, Mich. Californian Johnny Murphree was third on another Rotax.
Smith, who won the AMA Hot Shoe National at Municipal Stadium on Wednesday night, looked strong in the early laps on his Honda. Then Schnabel made his move, almost by accident.
"I drove in hard and kind of went high in the cushion," said Schnabel, who earned his fourth AMA Grand National win. "I found out it worked well up there. It was going so well I didn't want to back off. I love it. It's great to get my first win at Daytona."
After getting passed, Smith made a heroic effort to stay with Schnabel, but it was to no avail. At the checkered flag Schnabel had almost a full straightaway advantage on Smith.
"I wish I could have run with JR in the cushion," Smith said. "He passed me on the outside, which surprised me. I made a couple of mistakes and he got away."
Murphree said he was happy to start his season with another strong outing in third. He finished second in the championship last year.
Texan Willie McCoy came home fourth and defending AMA Grand National champ and last year's Daytona winner Chris Carr was fifth.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Results Thursday of the opening round of the AMA Progressive Insurance Grand National Championship from Municipal Stadium with rider, hometown and motorcycle:
1. JR Schnabel, West Bend, Wis., Yamaha.
2. Bryan Smith, Flint, Mich., Honda.
3. Johnny Murphree, Paso Robles, Calif., Rotax.
4. Willie McCoy, Justin, Texas, Rotax.
5. Chris Carr, Fleetwood, Pa., Rotax.
6. Shaun Russell, San Jose, Calif., Rotax.
7. Joe Kopp, Mica, Wash., Rotax.
8. Jay Springsteen, Lapeer, Mich., Rotax.
9. Terry Poovey, Euless, Texas, Rotax.
10. Jake Johnson, Deptford, N.J., Rotax.
11. Brett Landes, Los Gatos, Calif., Rotax.
12. Ken Coolbeth, Warren, Conn., KTM.
13. Ronnie Jones, Oklahoma City, Okla., Rotax.
14. Stephen Beattie, Canada, Rotax.
15. Mike Hacker, Colonial Heights, Va., Rotax.
16. Robert Pearson, Chillicothe, Ohio, Rotax
-dis-
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article NA2000: Gelles Racing annouces driver lineup
Next article Matteo Bobbi prepares for 2004 season
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Chris Carr
Could NNS championship-hunt experience determine champion?
NASCAR O'Reilly
NASCAR O'Reilly
Could NNS championship-hunt experience determine champion?
NASCAR is not budging on RCR team penalties – You fight, you pay
NASCAR O'Reilly
NASCAR O'Reilly
NASCAR is not budging on RCR team penalties – You fight, you pay
Turner Scott Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing teams penalized for Richmond incident
NASCAR O'Reilly
NASCAR O'Reilly
Turner Scott Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing teams penalized for Richmond incident
Latest news
WEC drivers question lack of full-course yellow after heavy Monza crash
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
1 h
WEC drivers question lack of full-course yellow after heavy Monza crash
Kyle Larson, Cliff Daniels and the Hendrick 5 are who we say they are
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
3 h
Kyle Larson, Cliff Daniels and the Hendrick 5 are who we say they are
Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
7 h
Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe