Dirt Track Grand Championships: The 2010 Horizon Award winner is...

Story and photos by Dewanna and Curt Comer

The 2010 AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships wound down in spectacular style at Du Quoin’s Magic Mile.  For many racers, this was their first opportunity to ride a mile, and hoops and hollers could be heard as riders came off the track from their first experience.

For a field of relatively novice mile riders everyone, amazingly, managed to stay on both wheels the entire day.  This was quite the feat as the heats and mains saw riders four, five and six packed drafting for the lead.

As reported all week, there were several letters of intent received for the Horizon Award; however, there were three riders (Briar Bauman, Hayden Gillim and Ryan Wells) who rose to the top – and we’ve followed them all week long in their quest to take home this coveted award.  At week's end, it was Bauman who was awarded the 2010 AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award. 

Bauman, sponsored by Rod Lake Racing, Breen Hoffman, Scott and Jim Malcolm, Ronnie Brown/Brown Cycles, Lazer Racing Frames, Arai, O’Neal Racing, Scott Goggles, Clawson Motorsports and Gene and Gail Cummings stated from the podium: “There’s no way I could have done this without my family and sponsors.  I can’t thank my Grandma enough. She’s always been there.” 

Bauman went on to talk about each of his sponsors and share stories about how his Grandma climbed a fence!  

We talked with Bauman after he’d had a chance to sleep on his win.

“I’m exhausted and ready to take a little rest,” he said.

Bauman said that when his name was called, he was “shocked.”

“I knew there were two other riders battling it, out and we were all really close,” he said. “I just felt like I could fly!  To think they chose me and that my consistency paid off… it’s amazing!”

Bauman, who doesn’t turn 16 until next summer, plans to hit as many races as he can at the end of next year, but assured, “I’ll be back 100% for the following season.”

The Horizon Award wasn’t the only award that required riders to file letter of intent.  The Fast Brain award requires riders to submit an official school transcript.  The award winner can come from either Group One or Group Two, and is selected based on performance on the track as well as performance at school. 

This year, there was an added incentive for the Fast Brain Award: a $2,000 scholarship.  This scholarship was funded by various AMA members, including 2010 event special guest and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Bill Werner, event honoree Byran Smith, AMA Board of Directors Chairman Stan Simpson, 2009 AMA GNC Twins Champion Jared Mees, 2010 AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championship Honoree Bryan Smith, dirt-track fan Shawn Ralls and AMA Racing.

The 2010 Fast Brain award was presented to Chalon Spore.  Spore, who just graduated in May, is preparing to go to a local community college and was elated to be chosen as the winner.

“This will really help to pay my college expenses,” Spore said. “When I filled out my registration for riding, I saw the information on the Fast Brain and thought…'well, I might as well submit my grades.'  I never thought I would win, and I didn’t realize at the time that it came with a scholarship.  I want to thank all of those who gave money to make this happen.  I will certainly put it to good use.  It’s been a rough week for me as I had some bike problems, but to end this way, it’s great!”

The Vet/Senior Rider of the year was awarded to the Senior Vet 50+ Champion Dan Shaw.  Shaw didn’t plan to ride the entire week, so he traveled home as planned after the TT.  On Tuesday evening, he found out his work plans would be changing because his work is weather related.  He called and was told that a pre-entry wasn’t required, so he threw his things in the truck and he and his nephew set out for the 600-plus mile trip and showed up in time to ride the half-mile.

“I didn’t realize this award would be given,” Shaw said. “I just wanted to come back because I was having fun.”  

If there has been a theme throughout the 2010 AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships, it has been family. Whether that is Shaw's nephew helping him drive all night to come back to race or any number of champions thanking their mom, dad, nana, grandpa, wife, sister or brother on the podium, no one earned an AMA Racing No. 1 plate by themselves.

Racing requires a big effort to pull together and extensive support to chase the dream. There is no way this week could have been the success it was without support from families across America.