American Racing News Vol 1, Issue 2 Issue 7 | Page 24

Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. wins Springfield
over Mile Specialist Bryan Smith
The Springfield Mile never fails to disappoint

and this year's second running of the legendary Mile race at the Illinois State Fairgrounds
in Springfield, Ill. was no exception. Kenny
Coolbeth, Jr. came out on top in a last-lap
thriller, taking the win by .009 of a second to
end Bryan Smith's win streak at Springfield
and shake up the Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines Championship.
It also marked the No. 2 Zanotti Racing Harley-Davidson XR750 rider's first win of the
season, and Coolbeth, Jr. was overjoyed to
get that win at Springfield.
"Harley won Springfield [Woohoo]!" Coolbeth, Jr. said. "It's good. It's been up and
down. It's not due to lack of effort, that's for
sure. It's just racing. We just keep striving
and it's paying off and you know we can carry this momentum to Santa Rosa."
Smith may have been the man to beat at the
Springfield Mile II, as the No. 42
Crosley/Howerton Kawasaki Ninja 650 rider
topped every session except the final one,
but Coolbeth, Jr. knows a thing or two about
the Miles himself.

Springfield II
AMA Pro Racing/Brian J. Nelson