Bowers Brings Momentum into Hometown Race as AMA Arenacross Series Debuts from Lexington's Rupp Arena2012-02-01 19:59A new winner stood atop the podium last Friday night as Team Faith KTM’s Kelly Smith became the fourth different rider to claim victory during the 2012 AMA Arenacross Series. The veteran rider’s triumph helped kick off two nights of action for the inaugural Cedar Park race, but by the end of the weekend, it was Babbitt’s Monster Energy/AMSOIL Kawasaki presented by Maxxis’ Tyler Bowers who left Texas with all the momentum. Bowers, the reigning AMA Arenacross Series Champion and current Arenacross Class points leader, grabbed his ninth win of the season on Saturday to close out the weekend and extend his advantage to 16 points over FMF Power/Poynt TUF Honda’s Jeff Gibson. Now, the championship heads to another new venue, Lexington, Ky., and Rupp Arena, for one night of action this Saturday, February 4. Bowers experienced a rare falter on the first evening of competition last weekend, but despite being forced to work his way through a talented field of riders, he still salvaged a third-place finish, losing just two points to Gibson, who finished second. The following night, Bowers bounced back in resounding fashion, taking the holeshot and leading wire-to-wire to still walk away from Cedar Park with a point in his favor towards the championship after Gibson posted another runner-up effort. The AMA Arenacross Series enters its final month of competition this weekend inside Rupp Arena. The state of Kentucky is no stranger to the sport of Arenacross, and with Bowers’ hometown of Danville a mere 35 miles from Lexington, fans are sure to come out in droves to support their tremendously successful local star. As the premier class title fight continues to soldier on, a champion will be crowned on Saturday night in the Eastern Regional Arenacross Lites Championship, which will host its 2012 season finale inside Rupp Arena. Motostar Kawasaki’s Michael McDade has established himself as the favorite heading into the weekend, by virtue of consistent efforts and one victory, throughout the course of the nine main events. McDade currently holds a 17-point lead over Dragon Racing Fuels/AG Motorsports KTM’s Michael Willard, the winningest rider in the Eastern Region. The AMA Arenacross Series will make its debut from Rupp Arena on Saturday, February 4, with opening ceremonies beginning at 7 p.m. ET. Previous Round Results: Cedar Park Center – Cedar Park, Texas January 27-28, 2012 Round 8 of 12 Arenacross Class Results – Night One (Cedar Park, Texas) Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., KTM Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, Honda Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki Cole Siebler, Emmett, Idaho, Honda Zach Ames, Prospect, Ohio, Kawasaki Chad Johnson, Rhinelander, Wis., Kawasaki Michael Willard, Newark, Ohio, KTM Nathan Skaggs, Chillicothe, Ohio, Honda Willy Browning, Pleasantville, Ohio, KTM Brad Ripple, Cypress, Texas, Honda Arenacross Class Results – Night Two (Cedar Park, Texas) Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, Honda Chad Johnson, Rhinelander, Wis., Kawasaki Zach Ames, Prospect, Ohio, Kawasaki Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., KTM Willy Browning, Pleasantville, Ohio, KTM Michael Willard, Newark, Ohio, KTM Dave Ginolfi, Lake Hopatcong, N.J., KTM Kevin Johnson, Spring, Texas, KTM Nathan Skaggs, Chillicothe, Ohio, Honda Western Regional Arenacross Lites Class Results – Night One (Cedar Park, Texas) 1. Kevin Johnson, Spring, Texas, KTM 2. Nick Myers, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki 3. Dave Ginolfi, Lake Hopatcong, N.J., KTM 4. Kyle White, Freeport, Ill., Honda 5. Michael Willard, Newark, Ohio, KTM 6. Daniel Blair, Lodi, Calif., KTM 7. Steven Mages, Sardinia, Ohio, Kawasaki 8. Chad Cook, Oklahoma City, Okla., Kawasaki 9. Kevin Markwardt, Freeport, Ill., Honda 10. Patrick Massie, Washington Court House, Ohio, Honda Western Regional Arenacross Lites Class Results – Night Two (Cedar Park, Texas) Lance Vincent, Breaux Bridge, La., KTM Kevin Johnson, Spring, Texas, KTM Michael Willard, Newark, Ohio, KTM Chad Cook, Oklahoma City, Okla., Kawasaki Daniel Blair, Lodi, Calif., KTM Kevin Markwardt, Freeport, Ill., Honda Steven Mages, Sardinia, Ohio, Kawasaki Kyle White, Freeport, Ill., Honda Sean Hackley Jr., Orvila, Texas, KTM Tony Archer, Waldorf, Md., KTM Arenacross Class Points (After Race 14 of 19) Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki (9 wins) – 305 Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, Honda (2 wins) – 289 Chad Johnson, Rhinelander, Wis., Kawasaki (2 wins) – 253 Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., KTM (1 win) – 227 Zach Ames, Prospect, Ohio, Kawasaki – 198 Nathan Skaggs, Chillicothe, Ohio, Honda – 197 Willy Browning, Pleasantville, Ohio, KTM – 155 Josh Demuth, North Richland Hills, Texas, Kawasaki – 127 Travis Sewell, Westville, Ind., KTM – 116 Michael Willard, Newark, Ohio, KTM – 101 Eastern Regional Arenacross Lites Class Points (After Race 9 of 10) Michael McDade, Indiana, Pa., Kawasaki (1 win) – 176 Michael Willard, Newark, Ohio, KTM (3 wins) – 159 Dave Ginolfi, Lake Hopatcong, N.J., KTM (2 win) – 150 Steven Mages, Sardinia, Ohio, Kawasaki (1 win) – 140 Kevin Johnson, Spring, Texas, KTM – 102 Travis Sewell, Westfield, Ind., KTM – 91 Austin Coon, Spencer, W. Va., Honda – 77 Daniel Blair, Lodi, Calif., KTM – 75 Kyle White, Freeport, Ill., Honda – 72 Maxx Malatia, Itasca, Ill., Honda – 58 Western Regional Arenacross Lites Class Points (After Race 5 of 9) Chad Cook, Oklahoma City, Okla., Kawasaki – 78 Tanner Moore, Auburn, Kan., KTM – 63 Kevin Markwardt, Freeport, Ill., Honda – 63 Patrick Massie, Washington Court House, Ohio, Honda – 35 Lance Vincent, Breaux Bridge, La., KTM – 25 Cody Church, Grand Junction, Colo., Kawasaki – 25 Brandon Marley, McEwen, Tenn., KTM – 24 Nick Myers, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki – 22 Sean Hackley Jr., Orvila, Texas, KTM – 12 Jake Locks, Dixon, Calif., KTM – 12 2012 Dash for Cash Winners: Des Moines – Zach Ames Baltimore Night One – Tyler Bowers Baltimore Night Two – Tyler Bowers Madison Night One – Willy Browning Madison Night Two – Jeff Gibson Wilkes Barre Night One – Tyler Bowers Wilkes Barre Night Two – Nathan Skaggs Grand Rapids Night One – Zach Ames Grand Rapids Night Two – Jeff Gibson Topeka Night One – Chad Johnson Topeka Night Two – Nathan Skaggs Dayton – Jeff Gibson Cedar Park Night One – Kelly Smith Cedar Park Night Two – Tyler Bowers Live timing and scoring from each round of the AMA Arenacross Series returns for the 2012 season! To follow the intense racing action live, log onto www.Arenacross.com. For more information on the 2012 AMA Arenacross Series, log on to www.Arenacross.com. For all media requests, please contact Brandon Short: brandon@nextlevelsportsinc.com or 949-365-5750. Never miss out on the latest news! Follow the AMA Arenacross Series on Facebook and Twitter! Log on to http://www.facebook.com/AMAarenacross and http://twitter.com/arenacross today! 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 Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz®, 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. 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