8/25/05
From a press release:

Ford Quality Checked-backed Chris Carr Increases Overall Points Lead With Fourth at Peoria, Next Up State Fair Speedway Half-Mile In Sedalia, MO

Multi-time defending AMA/Ford QC Flat Track series champ increases lead over Kenny Coolbeth to 12 points with three races remaining in series' championship points chase

FLEETWOOD, Pa., (Aug. 24, 2005) - Current AMA/Ford Quality Checked Certified Pre-owned Flat Track Championship series points leader Chris Carr of the Ford Quality Checked Team increased his points lead in the overall championship points chase to 12 points with a fourth place finish this past weekend at the legendary Peoria TT.

This weekend Carr and the Ford QC team will be racing the season's last half mile - the State Fair Speedway Half Mile in Sedalia, Mo. Note: The series' other remaining half mile, Granite City (IL), was cancelled today by the AMA.

Carr, who's won at Sedalia before, figures it's going to be one of the better races of the season this weekend in terms of the points chase. Last year four racers, including Carr, Johnny Murphree, Coolbeth and Joe Kopp brought the podium right down to the wire with Murphree capturing the overall win and Carr finishing just off the box in 4th.

"It was a dogfight for first though fourth," said Carr. "And I expect something similar this year."

At the Peoria TT Carr said he ran "pretty well," finishing fourth in what he admits is the biggest struggle - short track - for the Ford QC team of the three flat track disciplines. "The weekend was good and bad," said Carr. "Bad because I didn't finish as well as I should have, but good because we left the track with a bigger lead. Again, it wasn't the result I wanted, but I'll live with it."

This weekend's half mile will be the last of the year. Springfield's Illinois State Fairgrounds will play host to two events Labor Day Weekend, the Springfield Short Track and Springfield Mile. This weekend's track is tricky, according to Carr - but nothing that the Ford QC team hasn't already seen this year.

"It's (Sedalia) a fairly flat half-mile, more geared towards sprint cars," said Carr. "It's made of this blackish clay, is not the best of tracks, but the crowd has definitely been improving over the last six to seven years. And for those in attendance this weekend, like last year, they're definitely going to see a heck of a race."

Carr added that he figures the cancellation of Granite City has put more pressure on Coolbeth and Kopp. "In a sense it's good for me because I haven't run as well recently at Granite City as Kenny (Coolbeth) and Joe (Kopp) have," said Carr. "So it's going to be more difficult on them to make up points with one less race on the schedule. Kenny needs all the races he can get to catch us, especially considering how consistent the Ford Qualify Checked Certified Pre-owned team has been running."

Carr leads rival Coolbeth by 12 points, 186-174.


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