| SCREAMIN
EAGLE TEAM READY FOR SEASON OPENING ACTION AT HISTORIC VENUE IN
SPRINGFIELD Wrecking Crew Set to Make Debut, Honoring the Original 1920s
Team
SPRINGFIELD,
Ill. (May 25, 2006) – It might be appropriate that the season opening event for
the Screamin' Eagle flat track team is right in the middle of the NHL playoffs.
After all, Rich King is going for the hat trick.
The veteran dirt track
rider has won the previous two season-opening events at the historic Springfield
Mile and is looking for a third this weekend as the Harley-Davidson team of King
and Kenny Coolbeth kick off the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship
season.
The Screamin' Eagle riders' first event as teammates is this
weekend's Grand National Twins Championship at Illinois State Fairgrounds.
Opening ceremonies for the Mile GNC Twins starts at 1 p.m. on Sunday followed by
heat races and semifinal races. The main event is scheduled for 3:20
p.m.
King has 26 years of racing experience with 19 victories on his
resume. In his seventh season with the Screamin' Eagle Racing team King has a
series championship at the top of his priority list.
"I only have one
reason to be here, that's winning a championship," King said. "To do that, you
have to be faster than everyone else and win races. We have to be consistent
this season and finish every race and start from the front row. We really
started to gel as a team last year, and I’m confident we’ll carry that momentum
forward."
King finished sixth in the series points standings in 2005,
earning the victory at the Springfield Mile as well as five other podium
finishes.
"It's going to be an exciting season," King, 42, said. "We
just kept getting better in 2005 and I think we'll be able to bring home some
wins in 2006."
This year King is joined not only by a new teammate in
Coolbeth but also by a revival of a historical concept – the Harley-Davidson
Wrecking Crew of the 1920s. During the 20s Harley-Davidson became known for
conquering many records on two wheels including being the first powered vehicle
to top California's Old Baldy hill. At 10,000 feet, it was quite an
accomplishment. In 1921 a Harley-Davidson entry became the first bike to win a
race at an average speed of more than 100 mph at a Fresno, Calif.
event.
The "Wrecking Crew" was the name given to the group of men behind
those and many other historical two-wheeled feats. Whether dirt racing or board
racing, the Wrecking Crew was nearly unbeatable. More than 75 years later,
Harley-Davidson is looking to revive the success of the Wrecking Crew of the
past. The 2006 Wrecking Crew consists of the fully factory-backed Screamin'
Eagle team of King and Coolbeth as well as the Harley-Davidson dealer supported
team of Jared Mees and Bryan Smith.
"The Wrecking Crew is a great part of
the long history of motorcycle racing at Harley-Davidson and we wanted to bring
back that legendary group and put a modern twist on it," Harley-Davidson Racing
Manager Anne Paluso said. "We have a veterans Rich King and Kenny Coolbeth
teaming up with up and coming stars Jared Mees and Bryan Smith to create the
2006 Wrecking Crew team."
Paluso said the Springfield track is the
perfect place to debut the Wrecking Crew and kick off the new season.
"We're excited for the season opener especially because Springfield is
such a historic venue," Paluso said. "Having four dynamic riders carry the
Screamin' Eagle colors just makes it more exciting. The team worked throughout
the offseason in preparation to defend Rich's title at the Springfield Mile and
start the championship chase and that all starts on Saturday."
This is
the first year the Screamin' Eagle brand will support two riders. Coolbeth – the
team's rookie – is certainly no rookie in flat track racing. The 28-year-old
Connecticut native is the 1994 AMA Flat Track Rookie of the Year and has earned
five consecutive top five finishes in the AMA series standings.
In 2005
alone, he earned six podium finishes with victories at Lake Odessa, Mich., and
Farley, Iowa.
"Joining the Harley-Davidson factory team is a dream come
true," Coolbeth said. "They have the best equipment out there and I think that
is going to be an advantage. But it goes beyond the equipment. They are very
organized and they know what they are doing, and that is just what I need to
help me get to the next level."
In addition to the direct team
sponsorship, Harley-Davidson will also provide support through professional flat
track contingency and the Rider Support Verification Program (RSVP). Under the
Screamin’ Eagle banner the support will total more than $140,000 throughout the
2006 season. This includes a contingency program for qualified Harley-Davidson
XR750 riders on the AMA Flat Track series.
Screamin’ Eagle Performance
Parts are inspired by and built in the spirit of the raw adrenaline and power of
motorcycle racing. Screamin’ Eagle Pro parts are specifically designed for
race-use applications, while Screamin’ Eagle parts offer street-use performance
options for the Harley-Davidson motorcycle owner. Visit www.harley-davidson.com
for more information.
The Screamin' Eagle Flat Track team is sponsored by
Matco
Tools. |
