“The bike ran great all day,” said King. “The track was rough and inconsistent due to the rain and very demanding. We kept working on the bike and when it came time, we were in the hunt, but I just missed Carr at the line. We have some half mile races coming up, so we’ll keep digging and trying to go forward.”

The race, round five of the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship, was originally scheduled for Saturday, but was postponed until Sunday afternoon due to heavy rains. The event was named in honor of Aaron Creamer, a rider from Massachusetts who died from injuries sustained in a racing accident last season, and marked the return of AMA Grand National racing to the Syracuse Mile for the first time in 12 years. The historic track hosted its first AMA races in 1924.

Latus Harley-Davidson/Jones Powersports rider Joe Kopp led the first lap of the 25-lap main event before giving way to Carr on lap two. Saddleman/Lancaster Harley-Davidson rider Jared Mees moved to the front and led laps four through seven but was passed by Springsteen, who took his only lead of the day on lap eight. King then led for three laps, followed by Carr and Springsteen, as the three veterans took control. Carr took the lead on lap 13, but would be passed for the lead two times by King as the race wound down. Carr led as the trio started the final lap and was just able to hold off a drafting move by King on the front straight to take the win by inches. Mees finished fourth, followed by American Suzuki rider Jake Johnson in fifth and KTM/Mid-America Harley-Davidson rider Kenny Coolbeth in the sixth spot.

With the win, Carr was able to pad his season points lead for the AMA Flat Track Championship. After five of 13 events, Carr has 90 points and a 24-point lead over Coolbeth, in second place with 66 points. Johnson moves up to third with 63 points, just ahead of Kopp with 62 points. Bartels’ Harley-Davidson rider Shaun Russell, who placed 11th at Syracuse, drops back to fifth place in 50 points. King, Nick Cummings and Mees are tied for sixth with 48 points.

“We’re extremely happy with the Screamin’ Eagle team’s performance,” said Harley-Davidson Racing Manager Anne Paluso. “Rich did a great job moving up to sixth in the points race. We’re building on the momentum from the Springfield win and yesterday’s second-place finish, and plan to keep rolling with it and working hard at the race in Lima this weekend.”

Round six of the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship series is scheduled for June 25 at the Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima, Ohio.

Also at Syracuse, Harv’s Harley-Davidson Racing/KK Motorcycle Supply rider Chris Hart won round two of the 2005 Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance National. Doc’s Harley-Davidson/Jim Wagner Racing rider Merle Scherb was second, followed by Powell Performance/TNT Action Sports rider Clayton Riggle. Hart, the defending Sportster Performance champion, has 39 points to lead the series over Scherb with 38 points and Lima Harley-Davidson rider Scott Stump with 37 points.