Paul Carpenter Records His Third Top Ten SX Class Main Event Finish Of ’08
Dallas supercross track brings out the best in Paul Carpenter, as well as his cousin, Jack, who made his first AMA Supercross Lites class main event
Carlsbad, Calif., (April 8, 2008) – Deluge Sport Drink’s Paul Carpenter (Atomic Racing/Honda) scored his third top ten Supercross class finish of the 2008 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season (an FIM Championship), placing 8th at Texas Stadium in Irving on Saturday. In addition, Carpenter’s cousin and teammate, Jack Carpenter, made his first AMA Supercross Lites class main event and finished 16th on the evening.
Paul Carpenter couldn’t have been more pumped for his cousin, Jack.
“I was really happy to see Jack make it,” said Paul. “He’d been so close. I mean SO CLOSE – like missing making the qualifying by three-tenths of second or less at three or more rounds this year. I told him just to go out there and ride – this is what we train for.
He continued: “Then right before his Last Chance Qualifier I told
him: ‘You belong.’”
Jack Carpenter was in, finishing a hard-fought 4th in his LCQ to make the main. Some of his confidence can be attributed to the momentum he gained the lone FIM World Championship round in Toronto two weeks ago where he finished 10th overall in the Lites class main event. The younger racer then parlayed that finish into the self-belief he needed to make the Dallas Lites main.
For Paul Carpenter, a good start and some strong passing moves early was all it took to put his Deluge Sport Drink-backed Atomic Honda CRF450R into the top ten for the third time this year. “I got by a few guys early, put my head down and put myself into a good position to make the top ten,” he said. “It was my third top ten of the year, but it came pretty easy, which was nice.”
Paul Carpenter is currently in 9th place overall in the Supercross class, three points ahead of factory KTM racer Nick Wey and three points behind factory Suzuki racer David Vuillemin.
Next up for Deluge Sport Drink’s Paul and Jack Carpenter is Round 14 of Monster Energy Supercross at Detroit’s Ford Field (April 12th).