Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Beth Wyse

Team Velocity Racing’s Chuck Ivey, Bradley Champion, Reuben Frankenfield and Steven Breckenridge rode a Yamaha YZF-R1 to the team’s first overall Dunlop/WERA National Endurance Series win, Saturday at Summit Point Raceway in Summit Point, West Virginia. Team Velocity Racing also topped the Heavyweight Superstock class in the six-hour race.

Joe Prussiano, William Lindsay and Shawn Conrad finished second overall on their Eagle Race Team Yamaha YZF-R6, winning in the Mediumweight Superstock class.

Melissa Berkoff, Scott Fisher and Chris Pyles took their first overall podium on the Neighbor of the Beast Yamaha YZF-R6, finishing third overall and second in the Mediumweight Superstock class.

Vesrah Suzuki’s Tray Batey and John Jacobi finished fourth overall and first in the Heavyweight Superbike class on their Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Vesrah Suzuki had a large lead from the start of the race, but Batey crashed in the fourth hour, late in his second stint, drropping Vesrah Suzuki back to 10th overall.

Army of Darkness led the Mediumweight Superbike class early in the race, running third overall, but the team’s Suzuki GSX-R600 threw its chain shortly after the start of the third hour. The team dropped back to 23rd overall before finally finishing ninth overall.

Paul Youngman, Kevin Perkins, John Joseph and Larry Goldstein took over the Mediumweight Superbike class lead on the Velocity Crew Racing Suzuki GSX-R600, winning in the class and finishing fifth overall.

Myron Bell, Roger Bell and Dean Mizdal rode the Bells Suzuki II Suzuki SV650 to 11th overall and the win in the Lightweight Superbike class.

There were no red flags during the race. Light rain was reported on the back turns of the track near the end of the race as a storm moved in, but it was not enough to require teams to change tires.

RESULTS

1. Team Velocity Racing (Chuck Ivey/Steven Breckenridge/Bradley Champion/Reuben Frankenfield), Heavyweight Superstock, Yam YZF-R1, 265 laps.

2. Eagle Race Team (Joe Prussiano/William Lindsay/Shawn Conrad), Mediumweight Superstock, Yam YZF-R6, 261 laps.

3. Neighbor of the Beast (Melissa Berkoff/Scott Fisher/Chris Pyles), Mediumweight Superstock, Yam YZF-R6, 261 laps.

4. Vesrah Suzuki (Tray Batey/John Jacobi), Heavyweight Superbike, Suz GSX-R1000, 261 laps.

5. Velocity Crew Racing (Kevin Perkins/Paul Youngman/John Joseph/Larry Goldstein), Mediumweight Superbike, Suz GSX-R600, 260 laps.

6. Arnchu Racing (Randy Sherman/Rick Knuckles), Mediumweight Superbike, Suz GSX-R600, 258 laps.

7. D&D Racing (Mark Reeser/Matthew Vojvoda), Mediumweight Superstock, Yamaha YZF-R6, 257 laps.

8. Fast Lane Bodyworks (Mike Swank/Dennis King/Arthur Diaz), Heavyweight Superstock, Yam YZF-R1, 257 laps.

9. Army of Darkness (Sam Fleming/Scott Brown/Ben Walters), Mediumweight Superbike, Suz GSX-R600, 256 laps.

10. Ridge Racing (Steve Smith/Todd Stoner/Brad Baumgardner/Greg Taylor), Heavyweight Superbike, Kaw ZX-10R, 254 laps.

More, from a press release issued by Team Velocity Racing:

TEAM VELOCITY RACING WINS WERA NATIONAL ENDURANCE RACE AT SUMMIT POINT

SUMMIT POINT, W. Va.- Team Velocity Racing took the lead during the fourth hour of the WERA National Endurance Series race at Summit Point Raceway on July 31 and never looked back, as the team went on to win by four laps on their Yamaha YZF-R1.

Chuck Ivey, Bradley Champion, Reuben Frankenfield and Steven Breckenridge rode the Heavyweight Superstock machine, giving Team Velocity Racing their first overall endurance win.

“We’ve worked so hard and everybody’s come together,” enthused Ivey. “Just like at the last race, everybody pulled together and did their job. We all rode really good and just worked together good as a team. Everybody knows that it’s really tough to win overall in an endurance race, but we put ourselves in the position to do it.”

Champion started the six-hour race and was in second overall by the end of the first lap. He quickly built up a long lead over the rest of the field that Ivey, Breckenridge and Frankenfield were able to extend during their stints.

Team Velocity Racing took the lead halfway through the fourth hour of the race when the leading team crashed and lost some time. Although both Ivey and Frankenfield were still recovering from injuries sustained during crashes in previous rounds, Team Velocity Racing was able to stay out front with their invaluable combination of skilled riders and crew.

“If we didn’t have those guys we couldn’t do this, not to the level we’re doing it,” said Ivey of the crew members. “We actually had to do a front tire change halfway through and considering we have Superstock stuff, we did it in phenomenal time.”

“We’re coming into our own and meshing, and getting to know what people’s strengths are,” reflected Champion. “Looking at the team, we’re growing and this is the end result of everybody’s hard work and input. We discuss things and apply them to get a positive result.”

“To get the overall win is kind of surreal right now,” said Breckenridge. “We’ve got a team that’s building and growing and gaining experience in the pits and on that R-1. The bike is just amazing and the tires are working really good. With all that power it makes it easy to ride fast.”

“We kind of had it coming as we got better and better as a team. We needed some guidance at the beginning of the season, then things fell together and we put ourselves in the position to win,” said Frankenfield.

Team Velocity Racing’s overall win has propelled them back into the Heavyweight Superstock class championship lead, giving them a 59.292-point advantage over second place.

The next race for Team Velocity Racing will be the four-hour WERA National Endurance Series round at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway, August 21. Fans can keep up with Team Velocity Racing’s season at www.TeamVelocityRacing.com.