3/1/02

2002 Gets Underway, Carr Rolls a Pair of Thirds

AMA National Hot Shoe Series Oglethorpe Raceway Park
Savannah, GA

The new season, complete with powerful new sponsors, a new race truck, and fresh equipment, got underway with the first round of the AMA Hot Shoe Series at the Oglethorpe Half-Mile in Savannah, GA. The event headed off the rains that closed in soon after the final checkered flag, and the QCCPO Ford Racing Team managed two podium finishes despite poor starts. Carr was not elated, but the team was happy enough considering how Chris was able to make passes in conditions unsuitable for overtaking.

Satruday night will see the team head to Volusia County Stadium for two days of racing there.

"Oglethorpe was a case of - we weren't quite good enough in the heat races, and we weren't getting really primo starting spots for the main event. We were having to come from behind. Kevin Atherton - on the new Honda 450-slash-504, I guess, was going real good and he zapped me in the heat race. I didn't quite get a good enough start position to get off the line good in the main event. We finished the heat race nose-to-tail, but in the main event, he got a really good start, got out front, and kind of checked out on everybody. I was stuck back in about sixth or seventh and worked my way up to third. I stayed about even with (Dan) Stanley most of the race, but gave it away a little toward the end. I really didn't have anything for him, and Kevin was pretty much gone.

"In the 750 race got off the line about sixth or so, and the track was a little bit one-lined. I got by Willie McCoy and he crashed. We worked our way up and I caught (Rich) King at the end. I passed Steve Beattie with about three to go and was about ten bike lengths behind King, and I caught him by the end, but didn't have any time to work on him. That was pretty much the night.

"We had been running pretty competitive times all night long. We didn't really try anything different for the main event - I just wasn't making mistakes, and the other guys were and I was able to capitalize on it. In a twelve lap race, I moved up four positions, which is pretty good on a half-mile, especially a one-line track.


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