AMA Arenacross Notebook: Wilkes-Barre
AURORA, Ill. – After a much needed off-week, the AMA Arenacross Series returns to action this weekend at Wachovia Arena in Wilkes Barre, Pa. for the penultimate round of the 2009 championship. Mahindra Tractors/Tuf Honda’s Jeff Gibson continues to sit atop the season standings and is in comfortable position to capture up his first career AMA Arenacross Series title, possessing an opportunity to wrap things up this weekend.
The hot shoe in the series entering the final four is Triple Effect Kawasaki’s Brock Sellards. Just a few weeks ago, the veteran rider sat fourth in the season standings. However, a big win in Sacramento and a pair of runner-up finishes in Reno have vaulted Sellards into second place in the standings, where he hoped to be as the series reaches its conclusion.
“I think Jeff Gibson is out of the question to catch,” explained Sellards. “But I want to finish the series in second. I’m just going to go out there and work my butt off to get as many good finishes and hopefully wins that I can because obviously those give you the most points. To try and get up there and finish the series in the top three is my goal.”
At this rate, if Sellards continues his late-season charge, he could very well catch Gibson and steal the title, permanently shedding the perennial bridesmaid tag he has earned over the past few seasons. For two of the past three seasons, Sellards has finished second in the AMA Arenacross Series Championship, including missing out by one point back in 2006.
Gibson’s advantage over Sellards currently sits at 39 points. Thanks to a stellar first half of the season in which he collected a series-leading five wins, Gibson quickly gapped the field in the chase for the championship, but over the past few weeks he has raced smart, avoiding incident and bringing home solid finishes to help maintain his advantage. If he averages a top five finish throughout the final four races over the next two weeks, he will capture the title regardless of what Sellards does. However, this is Arenacross and both Gibson and Sellards are both well aware that anything can happen. Regardless, the final push towards the championship will come down to the pair of Ohio riders.
Wachovia Arena is an 8,300-seat arena that serves as home to Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL hockey team. Built in 1998, the arena was originally known as the Northeastern Pennsylvania Civic Arena and Convention Center before naming rights were acquired by First Union Bank. With the merger of First Union and Wachovia, it became known as Wachovia Arena in 2003.
Located within Casey Plaza, Wachovia Arena is seen as one of the top small-size venues in the country. The site has played host to several various events, including NBA exhibition games, NCAA basketball games, the circus, wrestling events, and an annual concert by the Trans Siberian Orchestra. Additionally, King’s College, the University of Scranton, and Marywood University hold their graduation ceremonies at the arena.
The first gates drop on the Wilkes Barre Arenacross Friday at 7:00 p.m. followed by an additional night of bar-to-bar racing on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Amateur Day concludes an exciting weekend of action on Sunday, beginning at 10 a.m.
Tickets for this weekend’s edge of your seat action on the Gold Level are just $20. Mid Level seats go for $17 for adults and $5 for kids. All tickets are $2 more the day of the show.
The AMA Arenacross Series draws to a close next weekend with the series’ debut in Highland Heights, Ky. at the Bank of Kentucky Center, March 20-22.
Tickets are available online at www.arenacross.com, www.ticketmaster.com, www.tickets.com. For more information on the AMA Arenacross Series log on to www.arenacross.com.
About Feld Motor Sports
Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy® Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Freestyle Motocross, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.
