Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Wrecking Crew rider Jared Mees dominated the 25-lap main at Black Hills Speedway to claim his first win of the season and extend his points lead in the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines flat track series. Mees led every lap of the main on a Rogers Racing Las Vegas H-D/Blue Springs H-D Harley-Davidson XR750 motorcycle.
“How cool to win on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle here at the 75th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally,” said Mees, the defending AMA Grand National champion. “We’ve been so consistent this season, but it really feels good to get this first win.”
After eight races Mees leads the GNC1 series by 18 points.
Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Wrecking Crew rider Kenny Coolbeth Jr. appeared to be the rider to beat at Black Hills Speedway. Coolbeth was fast qualifier on the Zanotti Racing Harley-Davidson XR750 motorcycle, won a heat race and then won the Dash for Cash bonus sprint race. At the start of the GNC1 main Mees got a tremendous start to jump immediately out front and opened a 10-bike-length lead on Coolbeth in the first lap. Coolbeth eventually found a fast line around the half-mile Black Hills oval and pulled to within a half-second of Mees. Lapped riders delayed Coolbeth as the race wound down, and Mees crossed the finish line 1.287 seconds ahead of Coolbeth.
The Harley-Davidson Wrecking Crew riders next race August 29 when the Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series visits Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C., for the Don Tilley Memorial Half-Mile.
