Chad Johnson Carries Toyota AMA AX Points Lead

February 19, 2008, 2:33pm

Series Splits Once Again this Weekend with Racing Action at Sacramento’s ARCO Arena & Greensboro’s Coliseum

$3 off advance coupons available at Wendy’s for Greensboro race this Saturday; Sacramento ARCO Arena Box Office has special $3-$5 off group rates as the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series makes its final stop out west

AURORA, Ill. (Feb. 19, 2008) – Each coast of the United States will host Toyota AMA Arenacross Series races this weekend at Sacramento’s ARCO Arena and Greensboro’s Greensboro Coliseum, Rounds 16 and 17 of the 19-round 2007-’08 season.

Showing his true measure as a Toyota AMA Arenacross Series champion this past weekend was Bad Boy/TUF/Honda’s Chad Johnson. The Rhinelander, Wis., native swept the Pikeville (Ky.) round and left the Monster/Babbitt’s/Kawasaki team reeling – and looking for revenge this weekend.

“There is a lot of racing left in this series, and we’re looking forward to more podiums and a shot at the championship,” said Johnson.

Bad Boy/TUF/Honda’s Dave Antolak’s response has been around arenacross racing for a long time and wants his competition to know where he will be on this split-racing weekend.

“After our second double win in three weekends, I want to make something perfectly clear: The Bad Boy/TUF/Honda team will be going to Greensboro (N.C.) next weekend,” said Antolak. “With the last split weekend of the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series I want everyone to know where we are going. We are not trying to avoid anyone.”

With Monster Energy® Supercross opening the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites championship, it’s possible that West Coast racers Jeff Northrop and Eric Nye (former ARCO AX podium finisher), along with the possibility of the last ARCO Arena Toyota AMA Arenacross Series champ – Justin Brayton – will show up in Sacramento.

“Which ever coast they might be on, fans are going to see some smash mouth Toyota AMA Arenacross Series racing this weekend,” said Tim Cotter, announcer for the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series. “With one night races in both Sacramento and Greensboro – and with all that’s at stake – it’s going to be one heck of a night for our sport.”

Heading up the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series points chase through 15 rounds were Chad Johnson and Kelly Smith (Monster/Babbitt’s/Kawasaki) who were basically deadlocked in points (316-307). But this past weekend, which could quite possibly go down as the turning point of the 2007-’08 Toyota AMA Arenacross Series season, Chad Johnson stepped up and threw two knockout blows – putting Smith and his teammate Brock Sellards on the dirt canvas with his 1-1 performance. The move blew up the nine-point lead Chad Johnson had a couple weeks ago to a 33-point lead heading into this weekend’s competition.

200 07-’08 AMA Arenacross Class Point Standings

1. 1. Chad Johnson, Hon, 366

2. 2. Kelly Smith, Kaw, 333

3. 3. Brock Sellards, Kaw, 312

4. 4. Teddy Maier, Hon, 288

5. 5. Kevin Johnson, Yam, 273

6. 6. Keith Johnson, Yam, 272

7. 7. Tom Hofmaster, Yam, 219

8. 8. Jim Neese, Suz, 220

9. 9. Gray Davenport, Kaw, 190

10. 10, Robbie Reynard, Suz, 188

Advance tickets for the Feb. 23 Toyota AMA Arenacross Series round at Sacramento’s ARCO Arena are available through www.arenacross.com, at the ARCO Arena Box Office and Ticketmaster Outlets or PCP Motorsports. Show times are Saturday, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday (amateurs) at 12:00. Doors open Saturday at 6:30 p.m., Sunday at 11 a.m. Saturday advance tickets are $18 to $25 for adults, $5 for kids ages 2-12. Sunday’s tickets are $18 for adults, $5 for kids. $3-$5 off group races available through ARCO Arena Box Office. All seats $2 more day of show.

Advance tickets for the Feb. 23 Toyota AMA Arenacross Series round at Greensboro’s Coliseum are available through www.arenacross.com, at the Coliseum Box Office and www.ticketmaster.com. Show times are Saturday, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday (amateurs) at 12:00. Doors open Saturday at 6:30 p.m., Sunday at 11 a.m. Saturday advance tickets are $16 to $20 for adults, $5 for kids ages 2-12. Sunday’s tickets are $16 for adults, $5 for kids. $3 advance coupons available at Wendy’s. All seats $2 more day of show.