Kopp takes Lake Odessa win

From AMA Pro Racing

LAKE ODESSA, MI - Last Saturday night the AMA Pro Racing elite came to the I-96 Speedway half-mile and Latus Harley-Davidson / ENI USA R&M / Lloyd Brothers Motorsport's Joe Kopp overcame two restarts to take his #3 clad Harley-Davidson to win round eight of the K&N Filters Grand National Championship series.

The race was stopped the first time by oil on the track after just two laps. The red lights flashed again 11 laps in when Bryan Smith fell in turn two on his Kawasaki Monster Energy Drink backed #42 Kawasaki.

Zanotti Racing's #5 Jake Johnson had the hole shot the first time, but could not duplicate the second time around.

"I knew I had to get out front and not make any mistakes," said Kopp. "I was the veteran, I should be able to keep the 'kids' behind me."

Kopp was pulling clear as Johnson and Harley-Davidson Motor Company's #2 Kenny Coolbeth fought over second when the second red flag came out.

The single file restart saw Johnson take a look inside going into the first turn, but he just couldn't get up alongside and his fate was sealed. Coolbeth was all over Johnson, but with no better luck.

Late in the race King's Kustom / KK Motorcycle Supply's #7 Sammy Halbert, Rogers Lake Racing / Blue Springs Harley-Davidson's #1 Jared Mees and Lancaster Harley-Davidson / DFW Honda's #4 Chris Carr tried to make it a six-way race, but after Mees passed Carr on lap 22 the top positions were set.

Scott Powersport's #10 Johnny Lewis gave his Kawasaki its best finish with a seventh after falling victim to the oil on the first start. White's Harley-Davidson's #20 Matt Weidman, KK Motorcycle Supply's #17 Henry Wiles and King's Kustom's Jethro Halbert rounded out the top 10.

The K&N Filters Grand National Championship now moves west with Calistoga, CA the destination on July 31.

Race Results
1. Joe Kopp (Harley-Davidson) 25 Laps
2. Jake Johnson (Harley-Davidson) +0.215
3. Kenny Coolbeth Jr. (Harley-Davidson) +0.281
4. Sammy Halbert (Harley-Davidson) +0.636
5. Jared Mees (Harley-Davidson) +0.822
6. Chris Carr (Harley-Davidson) +1.840
7. Johnny Lewis (Kawasaki) +5.580
8. Matt Weidman (Harley-Davidson) +5.729
9. Henry Wiles (Harley-Davidson) +6.035
10. Jethro Halbert (Harley-Davidson) +6.079
11. Brandon Robinson (Harley-Davidson) +8.636
12. Michael Kirkness (Harley-Davidson) +10.460
13. Brad Baker (Harley-Davidson) +10.641
14. Luke Gough (Harley-Davidson) +12.295
15. Doug Lawrence (Harley-Davidson) 24 Laps
16. Robert Pearson (Harley-Davidson) 23 Laps
17. Bryan Smith (Kawasaki) 18 Laps
18. Brandan Bergen (Harley-Davidson) 15 Laps
Race Time: 17:18.477
Margin of Victory: 0.215
Best Race Lap: Chris Carr (0:22.223)

Point Standings (Top 10 plus Canadians)
1. Joe Kopp 154
2. Jake Johnson 141
3. Henry Wiles 139
4. Sammy Halbert 135
5. Jared Mees 129
6. Kenny Coolbeth Jr. 119
7. Chris Carr 76
8. Bryan Smith 74
9. Johnny Lewis 65
10. Jethro Halbert 55
25. Don Taylor 11
32. Doug Lawrence 4