Top Qualifiers from the 2006-’07 Toyota AMA Arenacross Series’ Amateur Program Crowned Amateur Arenacross World Champions
AURORA, Ill. (Oct. 18, 2007) – After Grant Langston had laid claim to the $100,000 2007 Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open, the amateur arenacross racers took to the track on Sunday at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena, all vying for the coveted title of Amateur Arenacross World Finals champion.
With several hundred of the top racers representing every Toyota AMA Arenacross Series Region lining up in the gate, Amateur Arenacross World Finals championships were at stake for 19 classes, ranging from four to six-year old 50cc class racers to 40-plus men and a two women’s-only classes.
“Many of the kids racing today will go on to race professionally,” said Jayme Dalsing, director of arenacross for Live Nation. “In keeping with our minor league baseball-like competition model, the Amateur Arenacross World Finals will be a stepping stone for many of these athletes along their journey to the pro ranks of Toyota AMA Arenacross Series and, ultimately, the AMA Supercross Series.”
To qualify for the Amateur Arenacross World Finals the top regional placers from the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series (North, South, East & West) all received invitations to compete at the Sunday event at the Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open. The following are the top five finishers in each division from Sunday’s competition:
125cc INTERMEDIATE
| Place | Racer | Hometown |
| 1. | Kyle Willis | Kingston, N.Y. |
| 2. | Justin Hopson | Kings Mt., N.C. |
| 3. | Brian Foster | Cameron Park, Calif. |
| 4. | Kyle White | Orangeville, Ill. |
| 5. | Josh Harris | Gastonia, N.C. |
65cc 7-9
| Place | Racer | Hometown |
| 1. | Braxton Prieto | New Plymouth, Idaho |
| 2. | Justin Cooper | Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. |
| 3. | Mitchell Harrison | Brighton, Mich. |
| 4. | Kevin Rivera | Fredricksburg, Pa. |
| 5. | Channing Hunt | Union, Mo. |
125cc NOVICE
| Place | Racer | Hometown |
| 1. | Trevor Allred | San Luis Obispo, Calif. |
| 2. | Josh Stieb | Sterling, Colo. |
| 3. | Samuel Scudder | Delafield, Wisc. |
| 4. | Jake Locks | Dixon, Calif. |
| 5. | Thomas Neuens | Wilkesboro, N.C. |
35-PLUS
| Place | Racer | Hometown |
| 1. | Jim Chester | Lenoir, N.C. |
| 2. | David Hayes | Steward, Ill. |
| 3. | Kevin Popaeko | Woodstock, Ill. |
| 4. | Jeremy Scheingold | Middletown, Va. |
| 5. | Steve Thinger | Roseville, Calif. |
50cc 4-6
| Place | Racer | Hometown |
| 1. | Eddie Norred | Bristol, Wisc. |
| 2. | Austin Black | Portland, Ore. |
| 3. | Bailey Kroone | Ham Lake, Minn. |
| 4. | Brock Papi | McMurray, Pa. |
| 5. | Zachary Smith | Laingsburg, Mich. |
85cc SUPER MINI
| Place | Racer | Hometown |
| 1. | Wing Tai Barrymore | Sun Valley, Idaho |
| 2. | Jake Mohnike | Templeton, Calif. |
| 3. | Logan Karnow | Vermillion, Ohio |
| 4. | Vernon O’Shea | Wesminster, Colo. |
| 5. | Kody Kamm | Kenosha, Wisc. |
250cc INTERMEDIATE
| Place | Racer | Hometown |
| 1. | Justin Berry | Edmond, Okla. |
| 2. | Kyle Willis | Kingston, N.Y. |
| 3. | Daniel Sanders | Byron, Ill. |
| 4. | Zach Larson | Bennett, Colo. |
| 5. | Derek Rummel | Stafford Springs, Conn. |
85cc 7-11
| Place | Racer | Hometown |
| 1. | Scott Carpenter | Lenox, Mass. |
| 2. | Max Harris | Woodland, Wash. |
| 3. | Keenan Davis | Holly, Colo. |
| 4. | Jonah Locks | Dixon, Calif. |
| 5. | Patrick Delowery | Rochester, Mass. |
250cc NOVICE
| Place | Racer | Hometown |
| 1. | Nathan Nalley | Hendersonville, N.C. |
| 2. | Gene Einspahr | Kendall, Kan. |
| 3. | Josh Trivette | Taylorsville, N.C. |
| 4. | Jake Locks | Dixon, Calif. |
| 5. | Thomas Neuens | Wilkesboro, N.C. |
50cc 7-8
| Place | Racer | Hometown |
| 1. | Mitchell Harrison | Brighton, Mich. |
| 2. | Jake Pinhancos | Rochester, Mass. |
| 3. | Joey Crown | Metamora, Mich. |
| 4. | Jacob Edison | Woodhaven, Mich. |
| 5. | Callion McHaney | Coalinga, Calif. |
85cc 12-15
| Place | Racer | Hometown |
| 1. | Kody Kamm | Kenosha, Wisc. |
| 2. | Wing Tai Barrymore | Sun Valle, Idao |
| 3. | Kyle Mierzewjewski | Union Grove, Wisc. |
| 4. | Vernon O’Shea | Westminster, Colo. |
| 5. | Durk Roper | Winnebago, Ill. |
30-PLUS
| Place | Racer | Hometown |
| 1. | Jim Chester | Lenoir, N.C. |
| 2. | Kevin Popaeko | Woodstock, Ill. |
| 3. | Jay Hershey | North Ridgeville, Ohio |
| 4. | John Conley | Aurora, Ill. |
| 5. | Steve Thinger | Roseville, Calif. |
COLLEGEBOY 16-24
| Place | Racer | Hometown |
| 1. | Justin Berry | Edmond, Okla. |
| 2. | Brian Foster | Cameron Park, Calif. |
| 3. | Tanner Alexander | Thousand Oaks, Calif. |
| 4. | Josh Harris | Gastonia, N.C. |
| 5. | Justin Hopson | Kings Mt., N.C. |
125cc SCHOOLBOY
| Place | Racer | Hometown |
| 1. | Daniel Sanders | Byron, Ill. |
| 2. | Kyle White | Orangeville, Ill. |
| 3. | Tyler Johnson | Edgar, Neb. |
| 4. | Derek Rummel | Stafford Springs, Conn. |
| 5. | Michael Lang | Saugerties, N.Y. |
25-PLUS
| Place | Racer | Hometown |
| 1. | Jim Chester | Lenoir, S.C. |
| 2. | Steve Thinger | Roseville, Calif. |
| 3. | Jay Hershey | North Ridgeville, Ohio |
| 4. | Brian O’Neal | Wilson, N.C. |
| 5. | John Conley | Aurora, Ill. |
65cc 10-11
| Place | Racer | Hometown |
| 1. | Trevor Shaffer | Kempton, Pa. |
| 2. | Carter Oldknow | Douglasville, Ga. |
| 3. | Darren Walsh | Hamilton, Ohio |
| 4. | Zachary Mangum | Declo, Idaho |
| 5. | Patrick Delowery | Rochester, Mass. |
WOMEN
| Place | Racer | Hometown |
| 1. | Lauren Volentir | Thorton, Colo. |
| 2. | Rochelle Charnowski | Cedar Rapids, Iowa |
| 3. | April Roper | Winnebago, Ill. |
| 4. | Kaitlynn Comer | Versailles, Ohio |
| 5. | Briann Stiles | Orion, Ill. |
40-PLUS
| Place | Racer | Hometown |
| 1. | Kevin Popaeko | Woodstock, Ill. |
| 2. | David Hayes | Steward, Ill. |
| 3. | Rod Comer | Tipp City, Ohio |
| 4. | Patrick Vacchieri | Sacramento, Calif. |
| 5. | Brett Schock | Casper, Wyo. |
WOMEN PRO
| Place | Racer | Hometown |
| 1. | Ashley Boham | Loveland, Colo. |
| 2. | April Zastrow | Kuna, Idaho |
| 3. | Lindsey Jelitto | Falcon, Colo. |
| 4. | Sarah Elworthy | Durango, Colo. |
| 5. | Meika Cornelius | Murietta, Calif. |
About Toyota AMA Arenacross Series
In its 24th year, the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series, owned by Live Nation, is the premier indoor motocross series in the U.S. playing to sold-out arenas nationwide. Information on the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series events may be found at www.Arenacross.com. Live Nation is the world's largest live music company. Our mission is to inspire passion for live music around the world. We are the largest promoter of live concerts in the world, the second-largest entertainment venue management company and have a rapidly growing online presence. We create superior experiences for artists and fans, regularly producing tours for the biggest superstars in the business, including The Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Madonna, U2 and Coldplay. Globally, we own, operate, have booking rights for and/or have an equity interest in more than 160 venues, including House of Blues® music venues and prestigious locations such as The Fillmore in San Francisco, Nikon at Jones Beach in New York and London’s Wembley Arena. Our websites collectively are the second most popular entertainment/event websites in the United States, according to Nielsen//NetRatings. In addition, we also produce, promote or host theatrical, specialized motor sports and other live entertainment events. In 2006, we connected nearly 60 million fans with their favorite performers at approximately 26,000 events in 18 countries around the world. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Live Nation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol “LYV.” For more information regarding Live Nation and its businesses or concerts near you, please visit our website at www.livenation.com.
About AMA Racing
AMA Racing is the competition arm of the American Motorcyclist Association and is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its professional properties include the AMA Supercross Series, the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF, the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship, the AMA Supermoto Championship and the AMA Pro ATV Championship. In amateur and pro-am competition, AMA Racing sanctions over 4000 events in 24 different disciplines and supports over 110 thousand active members. For more information about professional racing, visit www.amaproracing.com.
