From an AMA press release:

CHRIS CARR IS THE THIRD 2001 AMA/SPEEDVISION
PRO ATHLETE OF THE YEAR NOMINEE

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Chris Carr, winner of the 2001 AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championships, joins Eric Bostrom and Ricky Carmichael as the third nominee for the 2001 AMA/Speedvision Pro Athlete of the Year Award.

Carr, 34, of Fleetwood, Pa., won his third AMA Grand National title this year after having a spirited early and mid-season battle with 2000 champ Joe Kopp and the late Will Davis. Carr clinched the championship with three races left on the schedule.

In 2001 Carr tallied an impressive nine wins, the most ever for him in a single season. Carr now has 54-career AMA Grand National victories making him the winningest active rider in the series and second on the all-time list to former Harley-Davidson teammate Scott Parker.

Carr continued his domination of the Peoria (Ill.) TT this year, winning the historic race for the 13th time. He also won all three nationals on the Springfield Mile this year and finally earned his first victory at the Hagerstown (Md.) Half-Mile.

“It’s quite an honor to be nominated for the Pro Athlete of the Year,” said Carr. “I’ve been nominated three times before and haven’t won it yet, so maybe this will be my year. I have a lot of respect for all of the riders who are nominated. Over the years it’s been a pretty impressive list. Whether I win or not, I’m still proud to be a part of this select group.”

As Carr mentioned he was nominated three times before – 1992, 1995 and 1999. In addition to his three AMA Grand National titles, Carr is a former AMA Rookie of the Year in both Grand National dirt track and AMA Superbike. He also earned a record seven AMA 600cc National Dirt Track championships.

The 2001 AMA/Speedvision Pro Athlete of the Year will be announced during the 27th annual AMA Pro Racing Champions Awards Banquet Dec. 7, 2001, at the luxurious Desert Springs Marriott Resort & Spa in Palm Springs. To purchase tickets to the awards banquet, contact AMA Pro Racing at (614) 856-1900.


(Editor’s note: Carr raced for Blackmans Aprilia in the Formula USA road races at Daytona in March and October, and formerly rode for Harley-Davidson in AMA Superbike. Carr has agreed to serve on the Board of Directors of the Roadracing World Action Fund, a non-profit corporation now being formed to continue the work of deploying Air Fence at road races and dirt tracks.)