Press Release –
Doug Gust won a ferocious battle with Dustin Wimmer during Sunday’s SuperQuad Pro 450 race at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, part of the 2006 WPSA PowerSports ATV Tour season finale. As the dust cleared, it was Gust on the top step of the podium, and, in the process, he clinched the inaugural Riders’ Championship.
In the QuadTerrain Pro Stock ranks, it was Scott Kilby who netted his second win this season, while utility quad legend Daryl Rath put the cap on his championship run.
The race will be telecast on ESPN2 on Sunday, Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. EDT.
Gust (No. 55 Team Suzuki, Yoshimura/Suzuki) came into the SuperQuad Pro 450 final just one point behind Wimmer (No. 191 East Coast ATV, Axis, Sparks, Maxxis/Honda), and it certainly showed. Wimmer jumped to the early lead after Travis Spader (No. 30 Progressive Suspension/Yamaha) won the $1,000 Quad MagazineHoleshot Award. However, Gust stalked the young Pennsylvanian throughout the early stages of the race.
Gust’s constant pressure paid off on lap eight, when the veteran rider pulled off a slick inside move in a right-hander. Wimmer struck back the next lap, and two swapped the lead, before Gust came out in front.
Gust cruised the final lap to grab the victory, his third this season. Wimmer held on for second, and finished second in the title chase. Harold Goodman (No. 708 American Honda, Houser Racing, Curtis Sparks/Honda) was third in the race.
“That was the toughest race I’ve ever been in,” exclaimed Gust. “Once he got around me, he didn’t stop. I knew where he was going to go, but he changed it up quite a bit. Once I passed him, he found some different lines again. Then I snuck by him on yet another line. From there, I said ‘I have to go.’”
Gust, along with injured teammate Jeremiah Jones, helped Suzuki earn the Manufacturers’ Championship.
“I think this will help get Jeremiah back on his feet,” said Gust. “He’s been known to be a rubber man, and I think he’s going to get on his feet again. Wimmer and I went back and forth all year in this points race. First, I was 12 points behind. Then I was 12 points ahead. Then I was one behind, and pulled ahead by one. It was quite the battle.”
Rocco Arno, Jr. (No. 101 Nac’s Racing, Curtis Sparks/Suzuki) won the Rookie of the Year title.
Rory Beckman (No. 292 Jack Link’s, Spy Optics, Fly Racing/Arctic Cat) won the $500 ATVRiders.com Rock’n’Roll Award for leaving the rock crawl first, and looked to be en route to his second consecutive QuadTerrain Challenge Pro Stock victory. However, Kilby (No. 227 Can-Am, Maxxis, OMF/Can-Am) was quick on the draw in the log jam the following lap, taking the lead for good. Beckman was second, followed by Jesse West (No. 888 Oil Boyz, Stud Boy/Arctic Cat).
“I picked out some good lines early on and they worked flawlessly,” said Kilby. “He got into the logs, and I tried following him for a second, then I saw an opening. So, I just nailed it, and jumped three logs into the lead. I’ve had good runs and bad luck this season, but it feels good to end on a win.”
Rath, who finished fifth, took the Riders’ Championship, holding off Kilby, who with the win, moved to second in points, and William Yokley (No. 23 ARC Fulmer, Monster, Scott USA, Tire Balls, ITP/Suzuki), who dogged Rath throughout the season. Can-Am won the Manufacturers’ Championship.
“It’s fantastic to be here,” said Rath. “This partnership with Arctic Cat has really been successful. Here we are, at the end of the season and we have the championship. The people at Arctic Cat are extremely excited. It builds morale in the factory. We’re planning to build on this next year and get even better.
“We had to come from the back quite a bit this year,” added Rath. “You just never want to give up. We dug in deep, and sometimes it’s difficult to say that to yourself. Luckily, the QuadTerrain class features a lot of passing; I proved that all year long. WPSA should be proud of the series, and I’m honored to be a part of it.”
