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MUSKEGON , Mi. (February 6, 2011) – Babbitts Motor Sports Racing returns
to Toledo, Ohio for two incredable nights of racing in hopes of taking over
the points lead. Tyler Bowers comes away with a win on Friday night.
Returning to Ohio and another double header weekend of racing, Team
Babbitt’s Monster Energy Kawasaki TiLUBE presented by Maxxis Tires
Team had mega momentum on their side from the wins they garnered at
the previous round in Denver. Friday night in Toledo’s Huntington Center
saw Tyler Bowers track down early leader Jeff Gibson, make the pass,
and then gap the field to take his second win of the season. Overcoming
poor starts; teammates Gray Davenport and Chad Johnson would battle
through the pack and finish fifth and sixth. When the checkers flew Saturday
night, Tyler Bowers took second, Chad Johnson just missed nabbing a
podium with fourth, and Gray Davenport finished sixth.
Friday night’s main began great for Tyler Bowers as he rounded turn one in
second. Not quite as fortunate were teammates Chad Johnson (who had
earlier won his Heat Race), and Gray Davenport - both barely cracking the
top ten. Within just a few laps though, Davenport and Johnson had worked
up into battling for a top five spot. Johnson moved by Davenport, and
attempted another pass; unfortunately clipping that rider’s bike. Johnson
then went down; which allowed Davenport back by. As Chad would comment
“I had passed Gray and was moving forward until I clipped my handlebars
on (Dave) Ginolfi’s rear fender, and went down. It wasn’t the night that I
wanted, but the night that I had”. With laps winding down, Bowers passed
Gibson for the lead, and began to check out. “The night actually started
horrible, as it was the first time that I had not set the fastest lap times in
practice” said Tyler. Johnson would regroup from his crash, and by race
end would catch up to the rear wheel of Davenport, and the duo would finish
in fifth and sixth. “All in all the night turned out pretty decent. I had a poor
gate pick, and started from the second row, so to get a top five finish from
that is okay” added Davenport. “I’m pretty happy; in particular I’m very happy
with Tyler’s ride, as he rode patient and kept pressure on Jeff. Tyler waited
until Jeff made a mistake, and rode very smart. Chad also rode well; in
spite of hitting the rear fender of Ginolfi and going down. He pushed to
recover the best that he could. Then Davenport finished just ahead of Chad,
so he did well too” added Team manager Denny Bartz.
Saturday night’s main event saw the Team Babbitt’s guys recover from poor
gate picks to still be close to the front going into turn one – especially Gray
Davenport, who said “ I had a good start, and was actually right behind leader
Cole Siebler, but then fell back some. My bike was awesome, but I just struggled
with the whoop section – that was my weak point in Toledo”. Still, Davenport
would finish sixth for the night. “I had a pretty good start in the main, but then
stuck my foot in someone’s wheel. I later battled with Gibson for third, but just
couldn’t get by him, and finished fourth” added Chad Johnson. After a crash in
his heat race, Tyler Bowers was forced to go to the LCQ; which he easily won.
Despite a poor gate pick, Tyler still made moves through the pack to battle past
main rival Jeff Gibson to finish an impressive second overall! “It’s all about the
main event; both night’s I rode smart, and pressured Gibson” said Bowers.
Noteworthy in Toledo was the fact that Gray Davenport has a new mechanic; his
name is Ken Lile, who has previously been a member of the Babbitt’s Team.
Also, Team Owner Eddie Babbitt and his family were in attendance. “It’s really
great being here; this is the closest race to our home base in Muskegon, Michigan
and there are a lot of fans from home here. It was great to see Tyler get the win
Friday; I think that he’s very relaxed and happy with things – I hope we’ll see
many more of these (wins)” added Babbitt.
Now ranked second, third, and fourth in the Championship points, the team travels
south to Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky for round 6. For more on the team,
check out www.teambabbitts.com
February 6, 2011
Jim Kimball
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| Mindscape