AMA Series set for Chevy Centre

Locals Allen Sams and
Joshua Penick will compete in the amateur division.

By JOHN KOVACH

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Brock Sellards of Sherrodsville near Carrollton will be one of the top racers in the Toyota American Motorcycle Association Arenacross Series’ first-ever stop at the Chevrolet Centre today and Saturday starting at 7:30 p.m. Doors will open both nights at 6:30.

On tap will be two nights of professional indoor motocross racing between some of the world’s top arenacross-style racers competing in the country’s premier arenacross series,

The professional racers will be followed by the amateur division of competition on Sunday beginning at noon. Gates open at 11 a.m.

Entered in the amateur division are two Liberty boys — Allen Sams Jr., 7, of St. Patrick’s School in Hubbard and cousin Joshua Penick, 14, a freshman at Liberty High — who come from two families of motorcycle racers.

Sams and Penick are the AMA Ohio District 12 defending points champions, and will be launching defense of their titles Sunday. They will be honored Saturday in Massillon for winning their two 2007 crowns.

In fact Sams, who rides a Cobra and will compete in the 50-cc 4-6 age class, will be seeking his third straight Ohio District 12 title after having begun racing at age 4.

Penick, who won the 2007 Ohio District 12 trailbike points title, rides a Honda and will vie in the 125-cc schoolboy 12-15 age class.

Sams’ father, Allen Sams Sr., and his mother, Tina (Pasternak) Sams, both are former motorcycle racing champs. Sams Sr. won AMA and Competition Racing of America (CRA) titles, while Tina won is a former CRA champ.

Penick’s mother, Renee (Pasternack) Penick, Tina’s sister, also is a former CRA champion.

In addition, both Sams’ and Penick’s grandfathers — Alvin Sams and Carl Pasternak — also used to race motorcycles.

Sellards, meanwhile, who rides a Kawasaki, enters the Youngstown stop with momentum after having won three of the last four main events before finishing second this past weekend in Louisville, Ky.

Sellards already has been to the Chevrolet Centre, but not to race.

“I’ve been to this building to watch a [Youngstown] Steelhounds game and I can tell you right now it’s going to be perfect for Toyota AMA Arenacross Series racing,” said Sellards, who currently ranks third in the overall Toyota AMA Arenacross Series points chase.

“It’s a good location right in the middle of a big time motorsports region, and I bet the place will be packed both Friday and Saturday nights.”

Leading the Series through the midway point of the season is Chad Johnson (Wisconsin) of TUFF Racing/Honda, the 2005-06 Toyota AMA Supercross Series champion, who has 282 points.

Johnson was injured for much of last year and lost his title to teammate Danny Smith.

Pursuing Johnson are Sellards’ teammate, Kelly Smith (257, of Michigan), who also will ride a Kawasaki, and Sellards (254) to account for the top three places.

Only 28 points separate first and third places, meaning that leadership could change after the Youngstown stop.

Rounding out the top 10 are Teddy Maier (210), Honda, Iowa; Keith Johnson (205), Yamaha, New Mexico; Kevin Johnson (199), Yamaha, New Mexico; Tommy Hofmaster (167), Yamaha, Illinois; Jim Neese (164), Suzuki), South Carolina; Nathan Skaggs (164), Honda, Ohio; and Danny Smith (149), Honda), Idaho.

Tickets are available through www.arenacross.com, at the Chevrolet Centre Box Office, at select Sparkle locations in Cochran, Columbiana, Cornersburg, Niles and Union Square, online at www.gettix.net Action Sports Cycles, Gollans Honda or charge by phone at 1-866-4GETTIX. Fees and handling may apply.

Advanced tickets for Friday and Saturday are $16 to $20 for adults and $5 for kids ages 2-12.

Sunday’s tickets are $16 for adults and $5 for kids. All tickets are $2 more on the day of the show.