Press Release                                                                                       March 13, 2009

            Bike week for the Griffin Racing Team began in Savannah, GA, at the Oglethorpe Speedway on February 8^th. The track was really fast and I was getting great starts. My Honda Ascot has always gotten off the line really well. I have a great respect for the AHRMA racers. Several in my class are old national numbers whom I would put against any of the top Grand National riders today. I’m really fortunate to be able to compete and take lessons from these guys. My heat landed me a place on the second row for the main. When the flag dropped, my Honda took me from the second row, around the outside of everyone on the front row, and into the lead by the time we went into the first turn. I was getting pumped. My lead would diminish after a lap or so. Youth would give way to experience and horsepower. I finished 7^th at the checkered flag and was thankful to get that!

            The rain set in the next night and the Hotshoe race ended up being cancelled. I was really looking forward to putting some laps in on my WKR motor and get my new Boughner Suspension dialed in. We left there that night and headed away from the rain searching for sunshine in Daytona. The Municipal Stadium is always a tough track. The AMA was kind enough to add a Pro and Expert class to the amateur nationals being held there on Sunday. I was excited that I was able to get some seat time before the Grand National Championship races on Wednesday and Thursday. Mike Boughner was there and really helped get my suspension dialed in. He’s really been a blessing to me. I didn’t make the main but, I learned a great deal about the track. It was a tough night because the AMA took the winner out of each heat. I finished 2^nd in my heat behind Colt Chebultz from Kansas, who is an up and coming force to be reckoned with. Someone told me the races used to be like that back in the 70’s. Back then, there were so many Novices, a racer could win his heat and still not make the show. That means “go fast or go home”.

            Next we headed to Volusia Speedway for some fast racing on the half mile track. My Kawasaki 450 worked great but again, I missed the main event by one place. I knew it was going to be tough. On another note, I’ve been praying for a Harley XR750 to ride in the Pro Twins class. Well, Jerry Steele stepped up and offered to let me ride his Suzuki SV650. It wasn’t a Harley but it did have an orange and black paint scheme. I wasn’t complaining. I was grinning from ear to ear after coming off the track for practice. The bike handled great. It was a little heavier than my singles bike but, I didn’t really notice the weight after I got going. I got off the line in 2^nd place as we went into the first turn. I ended up finishing third. I was extremely pleased. Ironically, that would be my best finish all week. That was my first experience on a twins bike and I’m really looking forward to riding one again.

            Daytona Motor Group did a great job both nights of the GNC at Municipal Stadium. It was little cooler than I would have cared for the first night, but the second night it warmed up. This was my very first Grand National Championship race that I was competing. I was really just thankful to be there. I didn’t make the program. Both nights I fell short by only a few places. Thousandths of a second separated me from a shot at competing in the big show. The track changes so quickly during qualifying that it’s really just luck of the draw which group you go out in. I went out with the first group and our lap times were a second slower than the last group that went out. The track grooved up really fast towards the end. That’s not my excuse, only an explanation. I’ll get em’ next year!! Thanks to everyone that has supported me, especially my parents. See ya’ at Springfield. I can’t wait to get on the Mile. 2009 Sponsors : WKR, Lance Jones, Boughner Racing Suspension, Westcoast Hotshoes, Motion Pro, Saddlemen, A&A, Rekluse, Wiseco, Moose, EVS, Vortex, RK, Excel, Works Connection, Scott, Motonation, Pure Attitude.

                                                                                    Jason Griffin 23c

This past racing season has truly been unbelievable. God has truly been working in my life on and off the track. Just to touch on a few of the highlights, I earned enough points this year that the AMA gave me my first Pro Sport license. It was a great day!!! I will be on the hunt next year for those points leading towards my national number. I also was crowned AHRMA Southeastern Dirttrack Champion in the 70's Singles class for 2007. There is no doubt in my mind that I am fully capable of racing at the GNC level. With the gracious help of Lance Jones and my family, I was able to step up my program for 2008 with a KX450F tuned by Woody Kyle. That was truly a blessing!!! I can't thank everyone enough for the support we've gotten. Not only does it help me as a racer, but it gives me an opportunity to help others who need some strength, inspiration, and hope. 

Believe

Jason Griffin 23c

           It looked like mother nature would rain us out once again in Paducah Kentucky. We did have luck on our side though and with the help of promoter and good friend Steve Nace, the race went as scheduled. They had lengthened the short track from last year and made some some other modifications that improved the entry and exit from the half-mile track onto the short track. Practice gave us enough laps to get our bike geared correctly. We've been changing our strategies somewhat and its been paying off. I ended up placing 2nd in the Vet 30+ and 3rd in the 505cc modifed class. The half-mile track was well prepared and traction was excellent all over the track as soon as the sun went down. The starts are a little tricky because the slope of the track was so steep. After getting an ok start. I hung in there for the duration. We were consistent all day and at the end we finished 2nd in the 505cc modified and 3rd in the Vet 30+. Thanks to all my sponsors and my tuner, my Dad!

Jason   Griffin #3

DAYTONA TURNED OUT TO BE BETTER THAN EXPECTED. WE HAD GOOD WEATHER FOR RACING ALL WEEK LONG. THE TRACKS WERE IN GOOD SHAPE ALTHOUGH THERE WERE A COUPLE OF BAD CRASHES. I HOPE THE GUY THEY FLEW OUT OF BARBERVILLE IS OK. OVERALL WE ENDED UP PLACING 2ND OVERALL IN THE 505CC MODIFIED CLASS AND 2ND OVERALL IN THE VETERAN 30+ CLASS. WE WERE CONSISTENT ALL WEEK WITH PODIUM FINISHES AT EVERY RACE. THE TRAINING PROGRAM THAT I'VE BEEN ON IS REALLY PAYING OFF AND THE SUPPORT WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. WE'RE OFF TO ILLINOIS FOR ANOTHER NATIONAL THIS WEEKEND. I'LL KEEP EVERYONE POSTED.

AMA Sports Champions honored in Vegas

It was a night for champions to shine in the Las Vegas Friday, as the best and fastest AMA Sports racers took to the stage at the Rio to be honored by their peers at the AMA Sports Awards Banquet. Taking top honors for the evening was 10-time AMA/NATC Observed Trials Pro National Champion Geoff Aaron, who was named AMA Sports Athlete of the Year.

The Bailey, Colorado, rider topped an all-star list of nominees that included AMA Road Race Horizon Award winner Cory Burleson, AMA Speedway National Champ Greg Hancock, AMA Motocross Horizon award winner Josh Hill and AMA Grand National Cross Country Pro Champion Juha Salminen.

"This is just great," a smiling Aaron said from the stage. "I've spent most of my life doing this, and I love it. Being recognized by the AMA means a lot."

The award was a touch bittersweet for the modern trials legend, coming as it does at the end of his final year of competition. Aaron will be stepping back from chasing the title in 2007, though he will still focus on his successful extreme riding demonstrations.

"After 10 titles, I think this might be it for me,'' he said, smiling. "And this time, I'm serious. I've got over 70 wins and 10 championships, and I've achieved what I wanted to achieve. It's great to go out on top."

Other standouts on the evening included Jason Griffin, who won Sportsman of the Year for his gutsy riding on AMA dirt-track ovals, and the route he took to reach them. Riding with one arm on a specially modified flat-track machine, Griffin used racing as a way to help his family unite after the loss of his brother, providing an inspirational note to the night.

"Dirt-tracking has really saved my life," he said. "It really has. When I won the National at Daytona, the bike I rode was the one my brother rode. If he was here today, he'd be so pumped."

AMA Prostar top fuel racer Larry "Spiderman" McBride got a good laugh when he noted from the stage that Friday was his 23rd wedding anniversary: "I do love you," he told his wife. "Thanks for your support."

Stars from the world of AMA Pro Racing were also in attendance, with AMA Superbike Champion Ben Spies, Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Champions Kenny Coolbeth and Jake Johnson--and Chris Car, the fastest man on two wheels, recognized for his 350mph world record, set in September on the Bonneville Salt Flats.

For his part, Chris thanked streamliner designer Denis Manning and his team.

"They made it so that a stupid flat-tracker could get in the thing and get the record,'' he said. "You can't do that without a good team, and that group is a hell of a team."

Plenty of other riders were part of the festivities, which recognized every champion in AMA Sports, with a few singled out for awards announced at the banquet. Notable winners included:

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FLAT TRACK - Georgia Flat Track
By Ken Hutto
Photo By Sportz Shotz (Photo © Cycle News, Inc. 2006)
Left-Handed Lightning 7/16/2005

SWAINSBORO, GA

On the starting line for the main event for the combined Over 30 and Over 40 classes, Jason “Lefty” Griffin (3) was lightning-quick as he got the holeshot on the Griffin Racing Team Honda and led the pack into turn one, off of turn two and down the back stretch. As the pack prepared to enter turn three, something went wrong: Griffin had a violent crash, sending rider and motorcycle parts flying across the track and tumbling toward the hay bales. The red flag came out, and as everything was getting sorted out, Lefty was up and appeared to be okay. Unfortunately, his Honda didn’t fare so well, and the team’s racing efforts was done for the night.

Some call this young man “Lefty”; his real is Jason. He could be referred to as “Determination.” At the young age of 2, Jason lost his right arm below the shoulder in a lawnmower accident. Since then, he has learned to accomplish with one arm what many of us would struggle to accomplish with two. In this, his first season of flat-track racing, “Determination” is really turning some heads.

Prior to his horrific crash, Griffin had set sail from the starting line in the Open Novice class and went on to take the checkered flag and the win, with Keith Hoogstad second and Marty Smoak third.

In Vintage Heavy competition, once again it was Griffin taking the win, with Georgia’s Ken Davis close behind in second.

In other racing action, Orangeburg, South Carolina’s “Flying Ryan” Rutland showed his own determination as he took the top spot in both the Street & Trail stock and 65cc classes. Rutland also placed second in the 85cc class and third in the Street & Trail Modified contest. It was a busy night for this young hotshoe.

In Pro-Am and Open Pro action, Supertrapp/Star Plates By Fuzzy/Honda of Orangeburg’s Chase Sconyers of Metter, Georgia, took the checkered flag in each, with the “Carolina Gunslinger,” Garth Brow, on the borrowed Sabatka Racing entry, taking second in Open Pro, and Macon, Georgia’s Brett Sassaman scoring second in Pro-Am.

The featured race of the night, the 230cc Four-Stroke contest, was highlighted by the much-anticipated show down between the Too Many To List-sponsored Marty Smoak and Pro Circuit Exhaust/Dunlop Tire/Megacycle Cams-backed rider/track owner/promoter/motorgrader operator Allen Durden. At the start, Durden was a little too quick on the green light and was moved to the penalty line for the restart. From the start, it was all Smoak, as he set near-record lap times and cruised to what he estimated was a three-quarter-lap lead at the finish, with Durden a distant second and Robby Murphy taking the final podium position. After the event, Smoak said that he had really wished that Durden had been on the front line with him at the start –because, he said, the outcome would have been no different.

Results

50 4-STRK STK: 1. Cheyenne Leverett (Hon); 2. Kyler Snipes (Hon); 3. Evan Bishop (Hon); 4. Austin Hall (Hon); 5. Trey Amerson (Hon).

50 4-STRK MOD: 1. Bradley Beach (Hon).

65: 1. Ryan Rutland (Suz); 2. Tyler Chavis (Kaw); 3. Bradley Beach (Kaw); 4. Marston Smoak (Kaw).

85: 1. Tyler Treadaway (Kaw); 2. Ryan Rutland (Kaw); 3. Bradley Beach (Kaw); 4. Marston Smoak (Kaw).

125: 1. Luis Quinones (Hon); 2. Tyler Treadaway (Kaw); 3. Matt Screws (Yam).

230 4-STRK: 1. Marty Smoak (Hon); 2. Allen Durden (Hon); 3. Robby Murphy (Hon).

250: 1. Zach Olliff (Hon); 2. Luis Quinones (Hon).

ST & TRL STK: 1. Ryan Rutland (Kaw); 2. Luis Quinones (Hon); 3. Bronson Bragdon (Yam); 4. Tyler Edwards (Suz); 5. Aaron Williams (Yam).

ST & TRL MOD: 1. Tyler Chavis (Hon); 2. Ryan Rutland (Kaw); 3. Marston Smoak (Kaw).

MX: 1. Marty Smoak (Hon).

OPEN NOV: 1. Jason Griffin (Hon); 2. Keith Hoogstad (Hon); 3. Marty Smoak (Hon); 4. Tyler Treadaway (Kaw); 5. Luis Quinones (Hon).

OPEN AM: 1. Payton Sassaman (Hon); 2. Mike Russo (Hon); 3. Zach Olliff (Hon); 4. Charlie Sabatka Sr. (Hon); 5. Kevin Snipes (Hon).

PRO-AM: 1. Chase Sconyers (Hon); 2. Brett Sassaman (Hon); 3. Mike Russo (Hon).

OPEN PRO: 1. Chase Sconyers (Hon); 2. Garth Brow (Hon); 3. Brett Sassaman (Hon); 4. Mike Russo (Hon).

30+: 1. Keith Hoogstad (Hon); 2. Jason Griffin (Hon).

40+: 1. Charlie Sabatka Sr. (Hon); 2. Larry Davis (Rot); 3. John Parker (Rot); 4. Roger Lineberger (Hon); 5. Tony Rhodes (Tri).

50+: 1. John Parker (Rot); 2. Mike Cranford (ATK).

VINT HVY: 1. Jason Griffin (Hon); 2. Ken Davis (Yam).


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