From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

CARR LEADS AMA PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE U.S. FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP AS IT RUMBLES INTO CHILLICOTHE, OHIO

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (May 27, 2003) — Defending AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr leads the AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship as it heads to a new track for the series, K-C Raceway in Chillicothe, Ohio, this Saturday, May 31. K-C Raceway is listed as a short-track event, but it’s longer and wider than most short tracks and features banked turns, which should provide for fast racing action.

The championship has been very competitive so far this season with four winners in the four races leading up to this weekend’s race. This race looks to be wide open since it’s new to all the competitors and is a unique circuit. The racers will use their 505cc machines used primarily for short track and TT racing circuits.

“This is a big, wide open short track,” said Steve Morehead, AMA Pro Racing’s Flat Track Operations Manager, about K-C Raceway. “It’s a clay oval and banked so it will be the fastest short track we’ve ever raced on.”

This marks the first AMA Short Track National to be held in the state of Ohio.

Chris Carr leads the series by 14 points over Johnny Murphree and Joe Kopp, who are tied for second in the standings. Carr, the winningest active rider in the series, is hoping to become only the second rider in the history of AMA Grand National competition to win five titles. Carr comes into Chillicothe with the confidence of having won the first short-track race of year, the season opener in Daytona Beach, Fla., in March, and finishing second in the indoor short track held in Tunica, Miss., also in March. In the four races leading up to this weekend’s race, Carr has finished on the podium three times.

Murphree is no slouch on short-track circuits either. He finished runner-up to Carr in Daytona Beach and should be a leading contender Saturday night. Harley-Davidson’s Rich King is moving up in the standings after winning the Springfield (Ill.) Mile last weekend. King is also another rider in the field who has won a short-track national and he’ll be looking to move up from fourth in the series standings.

Joe Kopp is seeking his first short-track national win this weekend, as will a host of other top riders.

Practice begins at 5 p.m. and qualifying at 6 p.m.. The gate opens at 4:00 p.m. For further information call (740) 663-4141 or visit www.kc-raceway.com.