National ATV event lures series' fastest

BENTON, Mo. -- Maybe it's not the type of four-wheel racing area fans are used to seeing on Saturday nights, but there's no shortage of speed this weekend in the Maxxis Grand National ATV Series event at the Auto Tire and Parts Racepark.

The big names of the tour were on hand Friday for the start of the three-day event, including Jeremiah Jones, Tim Farr and Shane Hitt, who are the top three in Maxxis Series points this season.

Track promoter Doug Friese said fans may be surprised by how fast these ATVs will go.

"They let it hang out," he said. "They're going to put on a good show."

More than 200 racers will compete in several classes over the weekend. Racers range in age from six to over 40.

The Maxxis National Series race is one of only six Maxxis ATV races this year. This race will be the westernmost one, with stops in North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee also on the schedule.

Friese said the track had to schedule the event a year in advance just to be able to bring it here.

"It was a really big deal just to get the race," Friese said.

For classic stock car fans this weekend's racing will have a different feel to it, although the ATVs will travel at speeds in excess of 90 mph.

Tim Farr, No. 2 on the Maxxis Series, said that driving an ATV is a whole different world than driving a stock car.

"It's entirely different," said Farr, of Canton, Ohio. "Out on a four- wheeler you can use your body to make turns," he said.

Farr said that when racing an ATV drivers have more control of the vehicle and don't have to rely on whether its setup is the best or not.

With this being the first ever appearance of the Maxxis ATV National Series at ATPR, Friese said he isn't sure what to expect in attendance. But Farr said that each new track they go to is just another chance to help increase the popularity of the sport.

"This year we've gone to a lot of new towns and tracks," he said. "You don't always have a great turnout starting out."

One aspect that should help create action-packed racing is the size of the course.

After finishing his practice run, Farr said that compared to the usual tracks they race the turns are a lot tighter on this track, which will make the racing a lot more physical.

"It's going to be pretty eventful being that it's a tight course," he said. "People will have to probably push and shove to pass."

For Hollie Shartzer, No. 3 on the women's pro tour, the tight course should make the races much more entertaining for the fans.

"The tighter the course the more bunched up quads get, which will make for better racing and more action," said Shartzer, of Springfield, Mo.

For fans who have never seen ATV racing, Shartzer said that if nothing else they can expect a lot of excitement.

"Expect a lot of action and high-speed bashing," she said. "There's never a dull moment."

Although ATV racing has not made it to the popularity level of stock car racing, the style of racing is growing. The sport, which is strongly connected with motocross, has added more races to the Maxxis Series this year than in years past, and is set to add factory teams such as Yamaha and Suzuki next year.

Shartzer said that since she joined the pro series in 1999 the sport has increased in involvement and popularity each year.

"The sport is evolving into something bigger each year," she said. "It's easier for someone to get involved in quads then it used to be."

jjoffray@semissourian.com

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