Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Chris Ulrich won the AMA Superstock race at Mid-Ohio, coming from fourth into turn one to catch and pass Mike Smith, then pulling away to a 2.869-second margin of victory. Adam Fergusson was third ahead of Ty Howard and defending Champion Jimmy Moore. Ulrich turned the fastest lap of the race, a 1:31.6569, and led the most laps, 9 of 16. Once he took the lead, Ulrich was not repassed. An ecstatic Ulrich took an extra-long cool-off lap, waving to the crowd, then pulled up to the starter stand, took the checkered flag and went on a victory lap as Smith and Fergusson waited in the winner’s circle. The event marked Ulrich’s second AMA Superstock win–he won at Laguna Seca last year–and his first podium of the 2002 season. Ulrich won on Michelin tires while Smith ran Pirelli tires and Fergusson ran Dunlops. When he was 10 years old, Ulrich ran the pit board during WERA endurance and F-USA races for Smith, who at the time rode for what was then known as Valvoline Suzuki in F-USA races and as Team Suzuki Endurance in WERA endurance events. Moore’s 5th-place finish all but ensures him of his second AMA Superstock Championship (OK, OK, last year the same class was known as 750cc Supersport), since he finished ahead of title rivals Tommy Hayden (7th today) and Lee Acree (17th today). One race remains in the series, at VIR in two weeks. John Haner, who encountered a clutch problem in qualifying, came from the seventh row on the grid to finish a gaining 10th. Jason DiSalvo led early-on but crashed after three laps; he said he hit debris on the racetrack and lost the front. Results follow: (All on Suzuki GSX-R750 unless noted) 1. Chris Ulrich 2. Mike Smith, -2.8693 seconds 3. Adam Fergusson, -3.0614 4. Ty Howard, -4.3631 5. Jimmy Moore, -6.5897 6. Chris “Opie” Caylor, -7.2564 7. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-6R, -7.4315 8. Brian Livengood, -7.9597 9. Rob Jensen, -13.5054 10. John Haner, -16.2474 11. Chris Rankin, -23.6235 12. Craig Connell, -24.1875 13. Vincent Haskovec, -25.3559 14. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki ZX-6R, -38.0373 15. Alan Schmidt, -40.8065 16. Scott Jensen, -40.8596 17. Lee Acree, -41.5475 18. Jeff Bostrom, -41.8194 19. Kevin Pate, -43.1495 20. Justin Blake, -44.3748 21. Jake Holden, -48.0414 22. Monte Nichol, Yamaha YZF-R6, -61.5967 23. Adam Coco, Yamaha YZF-R6, -68.7621 24. Andrew Nelson, Honda CBR600F4i, -72.4202 25. T. Falcone, -73.4568 26. Dave Ebben, -82.6026 27. Scotty Vanscoik, -82.8439 28. Scott Hermersmann, -88.8678 29. Eric Spector, -89.0064 30. Jason Peters, Suzuki GSX-R600, -1 lap 31. M. Johnston, -1 lap 32. M. Frick, -1 lap 33. J. Kerker, Honda CBR600, -1 lap 34. Chuck Ivey, -1 lap 35. Marty Sims, -1 lap 36. John Jacobi, -4 laps, DNF, crash 37. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R600, DNF, pulled in 38. Shane Clarke, -12 laps, DNF, crash 39. Jason DiSalvo, -13 laps, DNF, crash 40. Rich Conicelli, DNS Our best estimate of the points: 1. Moore, 258 2. Acree, 232 3. Hayden, 222 4. Haskovec, 201 5. Tie, Livengood/Brian Parriott, 180 7. Meiring, 176 8. DiSalvo, 170 9. Connell, 165 10. Ulrich, 161 11. Howard, 148