The following is a press release from Chris Carr Racing:
Reigning AMA Flat Track Champion Chris Carr announced today that he has signed a contract that will see his motorcycle race team remain under the Quality Checked Certified Pre-owned Ford Racing banner for the 2005 AMA Flat Track Championship season.
Carr, 37, is the winningest active flat track racer in the sport, having amassed 68 career AMA wins and six AMA Flat Track Championship titles, the last four of them consecutively. Carr will be the lead man on a two-rider team as he attempts to earn a record tying fifth consecutive AMA Flat Track Championship.
“I’m happy to be back in 2005, and I look forward to continued success with the Quality Checked Certified Pre-owned Ford program in our team’s corner,” Carr said. “When you look back over the history of flat track, having a Fortune 500 company like Ford involved has only been seen one time before, and that was during what many consider the heyday of flat track. Having Ford involved for the fourth consecutive year shows that flat track is back, and that it is a viable place for companies like Ford to showcase their products to flat track fans and those who may be turned on to flat track by companies like Ford.”
Carr is one of the most decorated motorcycle racers in the world. After a successful amateur career, Carr turned professional in 1985. He won several AMA 600cc National Championships before reaching the pinnacle of the sport by earning his first career AMA Flat Track Championship crown in 1992. After a brief road racing career, Carr returned to flat track with a vengeance in 1999, dethroning reigning champion Scott Parker to win a second AMA Flat Track title. Since then, Carr has not been without a major National Championship. A foray into the now defunct Formula USA National Dirt Track Championship Series in 2000 resulted in another title. Carr then returned fulltime to the AMA circuit in 2001 and reclaimed the AMA Flat Track Championship. He has owned it ever since, and he is not going to give it up without a fight.
“I think that any championship is difficult to win,” Carr said. “I don’t see this championship being any different than last year in that respect. But I have the best team behind me, and we are just going to stick with our plan and achieve results together.”
Carr will once again compete aboard Harley-Davidson XR750s in the twins events and utilize factory-backed KTMs in the singles races, and his motorcycles will again be prepared by crew chief Kenny Tolbert of Rhome, Texas. Recognized throughout the entire motorcycle racing industry as a recipient of the AMA’s Award for Mechanical Excellence, Tolbert has tuned Carr to all six of his AMA Flat Track Championship titles. Carr has also announced the addition of multi-time AMA National event winner Terry Poovey of Euless, Texas, to the team for 2005.
“Terry is retiring right after the 2005 Daytona Short Track,” Carr said. “He brings 30 years of flat track racing experience to the team. He is very meticulous and very smart when it comes to chassis tuning, and we look forward to having him come aboard and assist Kenny Tolbert in any role deemed necessary.”
Veteran flat track racer Willie McCoy of Justin, Texas, will also be rejoining the Quality Checked Certified Pre-owned Ford team for 2005. McCoy, 35, finished a career high eighth in the AMA Flat Track Championships series and appears ready to improve on that result.
“I’m really excited,” McCoy, 35, said. “Last year was a learning year for me, getting used to a mechanic and getting along with the team. This year is going to be even better because I know what to expect, and I’m ready to work even harder. I didn’t accomplish two of my goals last season – to get my first Grand National win and to finish in the top five in the series. I am looking forward to accomplishing both this year, and with the Quality Checked Certified Pre-owned Ford program behind me, and with Chris there to give me advice, it will make the job that much easier.”
McCoy will be supported by mechanic Bubba Bentley, who will also be in his second year with the team.
