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2003 Ricky Graham AMA U.S. Flat Track
Rookie of the Year Award goes to Wood
John Raun Wood has been named 2003
Ricky Graham AMA U.S. Flat Track Rookie of the Year. Wood,
23, of Dublin, Pa., scored points in six rounds of the AMA
Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship this
year. He scored three top-10 finishes, all on short
tracks. Wood finished the season ranked 20th in the final
AMA Grand National point standings.
Wood started the year off
impressively with a ninth-place finish in the prestigious
Daytona Beach Short Track National during Bike Week in
March. He moved up another notch at the end of May when he
scored an eighth at the short track event in Chillicothe,
Ohio. His other top-10 result came in front of thousands
of Harley-Davidson 100th Anniversary participants in
attendance for the Hales Corner Speedway Short Track race
in August. Wood also scored national points at the short
track in Haubstadt, Ind., on the half-miles at Sharon
Speedway in Hartford, Ohio, and the State Fair Speedway in
Sedalia, Mo.
“It’s cool,” said Wood, the 2001 Pro
Sport 600 and 505 Hot Shoe Champion. “I didn’t even know I
was in contention for the award until Saturday night’s
short track at Springfield.”
Wood, who goes by his middle name
Raun or John Raun as his buddies call him, admitted his
strong suit is short track racing. “I grew up racing on
little clay short tracks,” he said. “I rarely rode
half-miles as an amateur and never miles, so I’m still
getting used to the bigger tracks.”
Wood is backed by Scott Powersports
a multi-brand dealership located in Coopersburg, Pa. His
bikes are owned and built by Bob Berry.
Wood becomes the 33rd recipient of
the AMA U.S. Flat Track Rookie of the Year Award. Numerous
AMA National Champions launched their careers after being
named the top rookie including riders like Jay
Springsteen, Scott Parker, Bubba Shobert, Doug Chandler,
Chris Carr, Ben Bostrom and Nicky Hayden. The award is
given to the rider who has earned the most points in his
or her first full year of competition as a Grand National
Championship license holder.
Wood will be presented his award at
the 29th annual AMA Pro Racing Awards Banquet to be held
at the Rio Suites Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, on Saturday
evening, Nov. 22.
For immediate post-race results,
points, in-depth series and rider information, regular
columnists and much more, log onto
www.1800FlatTrack.com, the official website of the AMA
Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship
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