Hi race fans! Last weekend was the final weekend in the 2008 Toyota Arenacross Series in Green Bay, WI. As we headed into the weekend Chad Johnson and Kelly Smith were the two main championship contenders. Chad had a comfortable points lead and would have had to not finish the race or not qualify for the race in order for Kelly to have a chance at the Championship. I had spoke with Tuff’s team manager Chris Hunter, and he said that they had a couple of bike set up just like the race bike, just to be sure that if anything was to happen they would be covered. It is all about being completely prepared because racing is very unpredictable!

The dirt was pretty “tacky” and the track looked like it was going to be one of the best tracks of the season. It was a hometown crowd for Chad Johnson and he had a ton of fans in the crowd both Friday and Saturday night. You could tell that the energy level was high throughout the entire building, especially when Chad Johnson was on the track.

The Lites class was full of local talent but also the North Region Lites riders who began the championship hunt back in Des Moines, IA November 2 and 3. Cory Green and Shane Sewell have been the two top North Division riders all year, Cory Green had a 23 point lead going into Green Bay but unfortunately Cory Green broke his femur at the last round in Denver, CO. So Shane Sewell had to play it safe this weekend and he did just that, he left with the Arenacross Lites North Regional Championship. Shane got the holeshot on Friday night and kept himself in the front of the pack until the checkers. But it didn’t go without a challenge from TiLube/MotoXXX rider Kurt McCabe and Josh Woods. Josh Woods and Kyle Brown had a great battle until the end when Kyle Brown made a mistake and gave Josh Woods and his GPF Suzuki the final podium spot. Shane Sewell had pretty much wrapped up the championship at that time, but he still had one more night of racing on Saturday.

The Arenacross class was on the line, the adrenaline was high for Chad Johnson the Tuff Team and his family. Chad could wrap up the championship Friday night as long as he rode smart. Kevin Johnson jumped off the line and picked up the Toyota Certified Used Vehicle holeshot check. He powered through the whoops but Kelly Smith quickly went to the inside to take the lead.  Kevin Johnson and Tommy Hofmaster were running 2nd and 3rd now. Chad Johnson was in 4th but Robbie Reynard had moved up from was on his tail. Robbie Reynard looked really strong in the whoops, and that is where he was making most of his passes. Somewhere in the middle of the race both Tommy Hofmaster and Kevin Johnson both put down the anchor and faded back. But Kelly Smith was at least a straight away ahead of the entire pack, the only rider consistently tripling into the rhythm section. It was fast for him but a little scary if you didn’t have a clear track ahead of you. Robbie Reynard picked it up even more and moved into 2nd. After Chad Johnson saw Robbie ahead of him, he relaxed and must have thought, “Ok, I can do this.” Robbie actually gained time on Kelly Smith, a lot of time. As Dirt Bike Mike said, “….Reynard looked like he was 16 again.” He is so much fun to watch, he looked like he did not even have to work at it. Kelly Smith ended with the 1st place trophy, Robbie Reynard finished in 2nd, and Chad Johnson finished up in 3rd. Although Chad Johnson finished in 3rd it was still good enough to take the 2008 Championship! He wrapped it up and he now had the #1 plate and a brand new Toyota Tacoma! He rode consistent and great all year long, truly deserving of the 2008 AMA Arenacross Championship.

Saturday the pressure was off for both Shane Sewell and Chad Johnson, they both could just ride. The crowd was very close to sell out, and everywhere you looked you saw a Toyota Pit Boards with #10 Chad Johnson written across them, the hometown crowd was 100% behind their newly crowned 2008 Champ Chad Johnson. The fireworks went off during opening and the crowd screamed, it was the final race of the season.

Shane Sewell as I said earlier was riding much more relaxed on Saturday night; he didn’t have the pressure of Friday night’s main event. But Codi Adams took the holeshot with Shane Sewell rounding the corner in 2nd; Kyle Brown and Kurt McCabe were also in the mix as they all went down the whoops. It was a great race for Codi Adams from start to finish he led the race and took home the 1st place trophy along with the Toyota Certified Used Vehicle holeshot award. Shane Sewell got a little excited in the middle of the race and went down after the catapult. But he got up and saved his 2nd place finish.  Justin Berry almost had himself the 3rd spot on the podium but had bike issues on the last laps. Kyle Brown was able to pass him and take home the final podium position. But the biggest smile on the podium went to Shane Sewell! Shane Sewell took home the Lites North Regional Championship #1 plate, what a great year for Shane!

The Arenacross class was ready to go, Kelly Smith and Kevin Johnson both won their heat races, and picked their gates first. I talked with Kelly Smith earlier in the night, he said it would mean a lot to sweep this final weekend and leave the season with 7 overall wins. He was confident he could do it and it showed when the gate dropped. He and Kevin Johnson were actually side by side into the first turn. It was one holeshot we had to review in order to make the call of who would get the award. Kelly Smith however got out front early. Tommy Hofmaster was also in the mix up front, but Brock Sellards was charging hard and made a little contact as they came off the catapult. Chad Johnson was also riding smart and keeping his head up as he headed into the battle. Not too far behind him were Robbie Reynard and Teddy Maier. But Kelly Smith and Kevin Johnson were battling pretty well up front. Kelly Smith however wanted the win a little bit more than KJ did. Kelly Smith came over the catapult with fireworks and his 7th win of the season, Kevin Johnson finished in 2nd and our new 2008 Champ Chad Johnson finished 3rd. Just like that it was over, the 2008 Toyota AMA Arenacross Series finished with a bang!

It is hard to believe that the season is over; it felt like just the other day we were in Des Moines, IA about the kick off the series. This year has been an incredible year for Arenacross; we have seen a lot of changes, and set the stage for the all new Toyota AMA Arenacross Series. From the pyro and amazing opening ceremonies, to the smaller bikes in both classes, and the pits filled with names like Chad Johnson, Robbie Reynard, Brock Sellards, Kelly Smith and veterans like Jim Neese and Tommy Hofmaster, it has been an amazing season. I am very excited about the direction the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series is heading. We have not only the best indoor racing the in world, but also an incredible production! I have been a part of the program for three years now and have had the chance to be able to watch it grow. I look forward to the future of the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series ! I hope you all have enjoyed the season as much as I have, don’t forget to watch the remainder of the races on SPEED. I hope I will see everyone again next year, or at a race somewhere between now and then! So until next time, remember to keep it on two wheels and always keep your smiles! See you at the races!

XOXO
Ashley Miss Arenacross