Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

American Honda’s Nicky Hayden won round 15 of the Progressive Insurance AMA U.S. Flat Track Championship, a short track race, Saturday night at Rodeo Arena at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois.

After winning the fastest qualifying heat race of the night, Hayden started from pole position but was second through the early going. Hayden took the lead from Kevin Varnes just before the halfway point in the 25-lap final and rode away to take the win on his White Brothers-backed Honda CRF450F.

After each winning their respective qualifying heat races, Tommy Hayden finished sixth on a Rotax while Jake Zemke finished 16th on a Honda CRF450F.

Among the other professional road racers competing at Springfield, Roger Lee Hayden DNF in his semi qualifying heat with a mechanical problem, and Larry Pegram took fifth in his semi, where only the winner advances to the main.

In all, 106 riders tried to qualify for one of the main event’s 16 starting spots.

In addition to winning the 2002 AMA Superbike Championship, Hayden has won four of the six AMA U.S. Flat Track Championship races he has entered in 2002. The riders with the next highest total of wins are series leader Chris Carr and Rich King, each with two wins.

On Sunday, Hayden will be shooting for a win in the Springfield Mile to complete the Grand Slam of motorcycle racing — a National win in a short track, a TT, a half-mile, a mile and a Superbike race.

Main Event Results:
1. Nicky Hayden, Honda, 25 laps
2. Jake Johnson, Honda
3. Kevin Varnes, CCM
4. Bryan Bigelow, Honda
5. J.R. Schnabel, Honda
6. Tommy Hayden, Rotax
7. Chris Carr, Rotax
8. Kevin Atherton, Honda
9. Joe Kopp, KTM
10. Cory McDermitt, Rotax
11. Terry Poovey, ATK
12. Johnny Murphree, ATK
13. Shaun Russell, Rotax
14. Ken Coolbeth Jr., Rotax
15. Steve Beattie, Honda
16. Jake Zemke, Honda