Wells, Lowrey, Lewis win big

Ryan Wells is the 2007 AMA Youth Award winner. Although Wells came into the last event the underdog, trailing Suzuki rider Jake Lewis in both the 85cc DTX (9-13) class and the Bruce Transportation Group 85cc Mod (7-11) class, Wells stepped up his game, winning the main event in both classes.

That, and a pair of fourth-place finishes by Lewis, was all Wells needed to claim the Grand Championship in both classes.

Wells said he wasn't sure that he would be able to win the Grand Championships, and the award he suspected would come with it, since he was behind in points going into the last event, but "I just put my head down and gave it all he had."

And when he did that, what Wells found out he had in him was two wins on the half-mile. That gave him the 85cc Mod Grand Championship outright and put he and Lewis in a tie for the 85cc DTX title, which Wells won on the tie-breaker.

"I'd just like to think everyone for helping me out this week," Wells said.

AMA Fast Brain Award

"We all understand that working hard in school is just as important as going fast on a race track," said AMA Vice President Douglas Neubauer. "This award recognizes an individual who has strengths in both qualities. This year, that individual is Jeffrey Lowery."

In addition to his straight-A report card, Lowery took home several wins at the AMA Black Cat Gold DTCG, as well as the Service Pavilion 65cc Mod (7-11) Grand Championship.

Although Lowery says he doesn't really like school, he's glad that "mom has taught me that school is just as important as racing."

Jake Zemke Honda CRF250R

It might not carry as much honor as an award based solely on performance, but the most expensive hardware handed out at the AMA Black Cat Gold Dirt Track Grand Championships is a new Honda CRF250R, donated by factory Honda road-racer Jake Zemke.

"By donating the CRF, Jake Zemke helps one of the sport's next big stars make the transition to the next level," Neubauer said. "Regardless of who wins the bike, everyone here appreciates Jake's generosity."

This winner this year: Jake Lewis.

Lewis was thrilled to win the bike, and it probably took some of the sting out of coming up as the runner-up in the Youth Award.

"This is great. Now Mom and Dad don't have to buy one," he said.