Success at the highest levels of motorcycle racing demands consistency, speed, maturity and respect. Kevin Stollings, from Indianapolis, Ind., displayed all those qualities in winning the 2015 AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award, the top honor at the AMA Dirt Track Grand Championship, which took place July 6-10 at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds in Du Quoin, Ill.
“American dirt track racing is rich with the history of racers who have ultimately become the most talented motorcycle competitors in the world,” said AMA Track Racing Director Ken Saillant. “The route to this level of success is a long one, and it begins in the amateur ranks. As Kevin Stollings graduates to the professional ranks, he has left no question in the minds of his competitors, family and friends that he has the talent to succeed at the next level.”
AMA Horizon Awards are presented annually in dirt track, motocross and road racing to riders showing the most promise for success as a professional racer.
Stollings finished the event with an overall championship in the 450cc Modified class. He also won individual races in the TT (450cc Open Singles and 450cc Modified), short track (450cc Open Modified) and the mile (450cc Modified and 450cc Open Singles).
Although the AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award is the highest-profile special award at the AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships, additional AMA honors recognize other competitors for standout performances.
The AMA Fast Brain Award, sponsored for the by dirt-track tuning legend and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Bill Werner, Zanotti Racing’s Dave Zanotti and AMA Life Member Stan Simpson, recognizes a rider whose speed on the track is matched by stellar grades in the classroom. The 2015 AMA Fast Brain award was won by Declan Bender, 9, from Cooksville, Ill. Bender competed in the 65cc Modified (7-11) and 65cc DTX (7-11) classes.
The 2015 AMA Youth Dirt Track Rider of the Year award was David Kohlstaedt Jr. from Puyallup, Wash. The 11-year old won an overall championship in the 85cc Modified (7-11) class.
Dallas Mayer, from Carbondale, Ill., won the 2015 AMA Vet/Senior Dirt Track Rider of the Year award. The 53-year-old Mayer won the Super Senior 50+ overall championship.
The AMA Dirt Track Grand Championship crowns amateur and youth champions based on their performance in individual dirt-track disciplines, including mile, half-mile, TT and short-track events. Amateur racers also compete in mile events.
For more information: www.americanmotorcyclist.com > Racing.
Overall Champions – 2015 AMA Dirt Track Grand Championship
201cc-250cc: Dallas Daniels
250cc DTX: Dallas Daniels
250cc Modified: Dallas Daniels
251cc-500cc DTX: Brandon Price
450cc Modified: Kevin Stollings
450cc Open Modified (Singles & Twins): Brandon Price
450cc Open Singles: Kevin Stollings
50 DTX- Senior (7-8): Levi Montgomery
50cc DTX PW (4-8): Trevor Tidwell
50cc DTX PW Shaft (4-8): Bradon Pfanders
65cc DTX (7-11): Chase Saathoff
65cc Modified (7-11): Chase Saathoff
85cc DTX (12-15): Hunter Brooks
85cc DTX (7-11): Tyler Scott
85cc Modified (12-15): Hunter Brooks
85cc Modified (7-11): David Kohlstaedt
Hot Rod Vintage Multis: Bill Knox
Hot Rod Vintage Singles: Randy Hassler
Senior 40+: Steve Suckling
Super Senior 50+: Dallas Mayer
Veteran 30+: Vince Holt
Womens (12+) 250cc-Open Single: Elizabeth Tinker
