SMITH RIDES HARLEY-DAVIDSON TO VICTORY ON LIMA HALF-MILE

LIMA, Ohio - Moroney's Harley-Davidson/Screamin' Eagle rider Bryan Smith prevailed in a thrilling seven-lap duel with Blue Springs Harley-Davidson/Screamin' Eagle rider Jared Mees to win the AMA Grand National Twins main event on the Allen County Fairgrounds half-mile. Mees finished second and takes over the season points lead. Halbert Family/Kings Kustoms rider Sammy Halbert finished third. All three riders were on Harley-Davidson XR-750 motorcycles.

The 25-lap main started with Mees, Smith, Chris Carr Racing/Lancaster Harley-Davidson rider Chris Carr and Halbert breaking away from the pack. Mees and Carr officially swapped the lead five times in the first 16 laps, with Smith lurking in third place and Halbert gradually falling out of touch with the leaders. On lap 17 Carr fell off the pace and dropped back to fourth place, and Mess took the lead with a gap of more than a second over Smith. But as the laps wound down, Smith gradually closed the gap and finally passed Mees to take the lead for the first time on lap 23. On the last lap, Mees and Smith charged down the backstretch and into turn three, where the riders collided. Neither went down, but Smith made the pass as Mees ran wide. Mees recovered and crossed the finish line 0.059 seconds - about a bike length - behind Smith. Carr faded to finish in sixth place.

"It's great to finally get a win here in Lima because it's so close to my home," said Smith, who lives in Flushing, Mich. "The Moroney's crew put me on another great Harley-Davidson, and I survived that last-lap banging with Jared. This was just great racing tonight."

Harley-Davidson Screamin' Eagle factory rider Kenny Coolbeth, the three-time and defending Grand National Twin champion, had a difficult evening in Lima, qualifying last in the field after placing second in a semi-final heat. Coolbeth finished the main in 15th position, and never ran higher than 11th during the race. The fourth member of the Harley-Davidson Wrecking Crew, Latus Harley-Davidson/Screamin Eagle rider Joe Kopp, placed 11th at Lima. Prior to the Grand National Twins main, Carr won the four-lap Dash for Cash bonus sprint.

After three of nine 2009 AMA Grand National Twins Championship events, Mees takes over the series points lead with 59, followed by Halbert and Carr with 50, and Coolbeth with 47. Matt Weidman is fifth with 42 points, followed by Smith in sixth with 40 points.

The 2009 AMA Grand National Twins Championship will next race on July 25 on the Hagerstown Speedway half-mile, in Hagerstown, Md.

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.