M3 shines at Daytona Bike Week 2001 AHRMA Vintage Races

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M3 Racing’s team included AMA Hall of Famer and former Daytona 200 winner Gary Nixon, 2 time Formula 750 Champion and Daytona lap record holder Adam Popp (Mpls), team owner Mark McGrew (Hawley) and vintage newcomer/current BOT II & III AHRMA Champion Johnny Staska (Fargo).

McGrew took the team’s first win in the Historic Production Class at the warm-up races at Deland Airport on his hotrod Honda CB750.

Gary Nixon on his brand new M3 Honda CR 750 had Steve Manney covered for a sure first place finish, when the gear box started to act up during the F750 race.

In the featured F750 race at Daytona, Popp took the immaculate M3 Honda CR 750 into the lead from the start and finished nearly 55 seconds ahead of second place! Nixon fought hard aboard the second M3 Honda and earned a well deserved spot on the podium in third place.

Staska had high hopes for a good finish in 500 Premier class on the M3 Honda Drixton CB450 after following the ultimate winner closely in practice. An apparent blown head gasket would keep him from a shot at the win.

Day 2 at Daytona was just as good as the first. Popp started on the Formula Vintage race from the tenth row and had worked through the 35 bike field by lap 3. Popp diced with racing legend Yvon Duhamel for the next few laps and ultimately stretched out a lead on the last lap to take the checkered flag. This makes for a total of 6 Daytona victories for Adam Popp and the M3 Racing team over the past 4 years.

Additional race information featuring M3 Racing can be found on the web at the following sites:

www.ama-cycle.org
www.cyclenews.com
www.speedvision.com
www.AHRMA.org
www.m3racing.com