TOYOTA JUMP INTO CHARLOTTE!
16 November 2005 - AMA Pro Racing

First two rounds of Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series are in the books with Yamaha’s Chad Johnson leading the way in the AMA Arenacross Class

The Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series, part of the Wendys Motorsports Series and presented by Ricky Hendrick’s Performance Honda/Suzuki of Charlotte, rolls into the great state of North Carolina this weekend and sets up shop for the first time ever in the brand new Charlotte Bobcats Arena – home of the NBA Charlotte Bobcats.

Leading the newly named AMA Arenacross class (formerly named 250 class) is Team Yamaha’s “Rad” Chad Johnson. The Rhinelander, Wis., native is undefeated in four starts and leads Team Thor/Honda/Tuf Racing teammates Jeff Northrop and Brock Sellards in the overall points chase.

“I’m tellin’ you what, it’s going to be a wild one in Charlotte this weekend,” says AMA National Arenacross Series announcer Tim Cotter. “I’ve been calling these races for the past seven years and I can’t remember when the action’s been this close and this exciting. The fans in Charlotte are in for a real treat.”

“Rad” Chad Johnson looks to have been shot out of a cannon early here in the nation’s only AMA-sanctioned National Arenacross Series. With some amazing come-from-behind efforts at both the opener in Albany (N.Y.) and at the series’ last stop in Des Moines (Iowa), Johnson has a solid 28-point lead in the AMA Arenacross class. Rival Northrop went 2-2 in the Arenacross class at Des Moines and moved up to second overall in the points, four points ahead of teammate Sellards with 68 points.

Charlotte will also feature several N.C.-based racers that have a shot at the Johnson, Northrop and Sellards. They include Jim Neese (Julian, N.C.), who finished on the podium in both the AMA Arenacross class and AMA Arenacross Lites class. Neese, 32, who’s currently in fourth place overall in the points chase – just five points behind Sellards – is one of the best racers ever to come out of North Carolina. His traveling buddy, Jim Chester (Lenoir, N.C.) will also be contesting for some hardware at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Chester is in 11th place overall in the AMA Arenacross class.

The AMA Arenacross Lites class has been all Shawn Clark. Dominating much in the same fashion as Johnson, Clark has won three of four Lites class main events – finishing second to Cody Gilmore on Saturday night in Des Moines.

Action gets underway a Bobcats Arena this Friday and Saturday (Nov. 18-19) at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

www.amaproracing.com

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