Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

According to its website, AMA Sports apparently plans to charge gate entry fees to everyone entering Mid Ohio Sports Car Course on Wednesday and Thursday prior to the July 23-25 AMA Pro Racing National weekend, even if they have an AMA Pro Racing hard card season credential.

Which would mean that AMA Pro Racing team truck drivers and crews seeking to set up on Wednesday and Thursday would have to pay to get in the gate.

The AMA Sports website states, “AMA Pro Racing hard cards (credentials) will only be accepted for proof of road racing license and DO NOT grant entry into this event by anyone.”

And instead of Thursday practice at the event, AMA Sports is holding races–including a 4-hour–that cannot be entered by AMA Pro license holders who have finished in the top 10 in an AMA Pro Superbike race or in the top three in an AMA Pro Supersport, Superstock, 250cc GP or Formula Xtreme race since 1999. This restriction means that non-factory riders and privateers like Lee Acree, Opie Caylor, Geoff May, Jack Pfeifer, Jeremy Toye, Jake Holden, John Haner, Eric Wood and others who have not been on the track since its surface was substantially changed by grinding, will first experience the new surface on Friday, the morning before the first qualifying sessions.

Riders who have been on the new surface report that it requires substantial set-up changes.

AMA Sports is a department of the non-profit AMA, in charge of running amateur and semi-pro racing events.

AMA Pro Racing is a separate for-profit subsidiary of the AMA, in charge of running professional racing events.

AMA Sports rules for the Mid-Ohio event, which is being run under contract by WERA officials and which will pay WERA points, can be seen at:

http://www.amadirectlink.com/amrace/2004/rr/index.asp