Story: Kaeley Porter // Photos: Mark Kariya
March 25th, 2019 – The KENDA SRT AMA National Hare and Hound Championship Series made the haul to Murphy, Idaho for Round 3 of the 2019 racing series. With Dirt Inc. as the hosting club, our racers & the NHHA could not have asked for a better race weekend.
YOUTH
On Saturday morning, 21 Pee Wee racers lined up ready to race. The banner dropped, our racers were off of the line, and our spectators anxiously awaited the leader. Maddix Park was in the lead off of the first lap and would remain there for the entire race. Behind Park in 2nd, was Mason Wayne. Bryson TeSam was racing in a 3rd OA position, but that was soon to change when TJ Wasson, Wayne, and TeSam would battle it out off of loop 2. This battle would see a Pee Wee podium topped by Maddix Park with TJ Wasson in 2nd and Bryson TeSam in 3rd.
Race 2 of the day saw the 65cc class and all Girls classes. Leading off of lap 1 was Brennen Watson on his way to a Micro Mini win for Round 3. Caleb Tate was not going to let Watson take the win without putting a little pressure on him though. Tate followed close behind in 2nd OA for the entire race with Malcom Pearson not too far behind in 3rd. For the Girls class in this race, Allie Stambaugh held her pace with the leaders of the race to OA the Girls class next to Ari Myrdal in 2nd and Megan Gerard in 3rd for the entire race and to round out the Girls podium. The Micro Mini and OA podium for this race saw Brennen Watson on top next to Caleb Tate in 2nd and Malcom Pearson in 3rd.
Following the Micro Mini race was the last youth race of the day, the Big Wheel race. The banner dropped and our Hare, Jared Schlapia, took off ahead of the racers. First through the scoring chute off of loop 1, as no surprise to our spectators, Otto Pearson was in the lead. As part of the Pearson family, speed appears to be in Otto’s blood as he led the race with over 1 minute leads on the rest of the racers. Racing in a 2nd OA position for the entirety of the race, Lane Forbes battled with Grayson Slocum coming off of lap 3. Forbes and Slocum continued this battle through the remainder of the race. For the Mini class in this race, Jett Lessing led for the duration of the race next to Clayton Tittsworth and Cayden Chidester. The OA podium for this race saw all Big Wheel racers, Otto Pearson in 1st, Lane Forbes in 2nd and Grayson Slocum in 3rd. As for the Mini class, Jett Lessing topped the podium for this class in 1st next to Clayton Tittsworth in 2nd and Cayden Chidester in 3rd.
Come Sunday, the course conditions were prime due to the rainfall throughout the previous night. The pits fired up bright and early to walk the bomb and decipher the line they would take when the banner dropped. KC66 member and former pro racer, David Kamo would be our Hare for this race. As the banner dropped, the racers started their bikes and the leaders funneled their way ahead of the dust. JCR Factory Honda’s Kendall Norman and Factory Beta’s Joe Wasson battled it out towards the hole shot flags, until the battle was too close for comfort and Norman went down on the bomb run. Norman was able to get back on the bike but made the decision to end his race day early. Wasson was now out front by himself, reaching the hole shot flags first and catching our Hare. The pits were anxiously awaiting to hear from the checks out on course as the leaders were expecting to reach the alternate pits soon. Coming up to the alternate pits roughly 35 miles into the race, Wasson was still in the lead, but now with Jacob Argubright putting on the pressure. Purvines Racing backed Nick Burson would round out the first top 3 racers to reach the alternate pits.
Coming down pit row off of the first loop, Wasson remained in the lead, Argubright gaining time on him as the two racers headed out on loop 2. Nick Burson was still racing in a 3rd OA position with Factory Beta’s Zane Roberts in 4th OA and 1st in the Pro 250 class. Preston Campbell would come off of loop 1 in 2nd OA for the Pro 250 class, racing in the top 10 OA racers. For the Women Pro class, Rachel Stout would come off of loop 1 in a 1st in class position with Factory Beta’s Morgan Tanke in a close 2nd and Chidester Transport Racing’s backed Sharon Mowell in 3rd. For the finish of the Women Pro class, Factory Beta’s Morgan Tanke would take over the lead from Stout. To round out the Women Pro podium, Rachel Stout would finish in 2nd and Chidester Transport Racing’s backed Sharon Mowell in 3rd.
As the 32 mile second loop was coming to a close, the pits received word that the battle between Argubright and Wasson had gotten closer. Coming into the scoring chute to see the checkered flag first, Joe Wasson would be our winner for Round 3. Not too far behind him, Jacob Argubright finished 2nd OA. The spectators at the finish line awaited 3rd place and to their surprise, it was now Zane Roberts who was able to land himself a Pro podium place when previous 3rd OA Burson and teammate Tyler Lynn went down near the finish. The Pro podium would see Factory Beta’s Joe Wasson on top next to Jacob Argubright in 2nd and Factory Beta’s Zane Roberts in 3rd to continue Beta’s podium streak for the race season. The Pro 250 podium would see Zane Roberts in 1st, and now Daemon Woolslayer in 2nd and JCR Factory Honda’s Preston Campbell in 3rd.
