After the dust settled on a full night of racing at the AMA Sports Magic Mile Shootout in Du Quoin, Illinois, on Saturday, August 23, Michigan's Stephen Vanderkuur stood at the top of the box - and went home $11,000 richer.
Also featuring a Pre-1982 Vintage Twins support class, which saw Dave Atherton claim the $2,500 winner-take-all main event, the AMA Sports Magic Mile Shootout brought together the country's most talented amateur, pro-am and vintage dirt trackers to compete at one of the sport's most-famous venues: the Du Quoin Magic Mile.
Promoted and organized by the Du Quoin State Fair, and with backing from sponsors Black Cat Gold, Lucas Oil Indy Mile, Bud's Harley-Davidson, The Service Pavilion, Lancaster Harley-Davidson, and Gatewood Engineering and Race Support, organizers were able to offer one of the largest purses ever for an event of this type, including a $10,000 prize for winning the main event.
"From track prep to competitor performance to spectator enthusiasm, we couldn't have asked for a better night of racing," said AMA Sports Flat Track Director Ken Saillant. "Everyone involved worked hard to make the AMA Sports Magic Mile Shootout a success."
No one, though, had a better night than Vanderkuur. The Honda rider dominated the premier 450 Modified class, leading all but a lap or two all night. Vanderkuur won his heat race, pocketing $500, then won the Last Man Out race for another $500 before bringing home the first-place trophy in the main event.
Ohio's Robert Descenna didn't make it too easy on Vanderkuur in the main, however. Vanderkuur and Descenna checked out on the field, with Descenna keeping it close, and briefly passing Vanderkuur, before Vanderkuur got back out front for good.
"I started off in the lead. Then I got passed and worked my way back out front. I don't know what happened, if he slowed or what because I'm riding the track pretty much wide open the whole way around," said Vanderkuur, who was backed by Buddy Pullium, Woody Kyle and TCR/Nick Cummings for the event. "It feels good to win this race. It was good to have something different with all the fastest guys on the fastest bikes. I'm excited, and I'm looking forward to getting my expert license."
Although Vanderkuur ultimately took the win in the 15-lap race by five bike lengths, and Descenna had half-a-straight cushion in second, racing for third through seventh was intense. J.D. Beach, Jeffery Carver, Shayna Texter, Brad Baker, Tony Davilla and Colt Chebultz swapped places every lap, running three-wide through the turns.
Other heat race winners included Descenna and Beach, who pocketed $500 each. Evan Baer and Corey Crawford won the semis.
In the Pre-1982 Vintage Twins class, Paul Covert held a big lead until the seventh lap, when he suffered a mechanical failure on the back straight, allowing Atherton to move into the lead for good. Kevin Snyder and Roger Johnson rounded out the podium.
