At the end of the biggest week in amateur flat-flat track racing in the country at the AMA Progressive Insurance Dirt Track Grand Championships, only one rider came away with an overall championship in each of three classes he ran. And the fact that all of those championshps were ultra-competitive premier classes made the achievement all the more impressive.So when all the dust settled at the end of eight days of racing, and a record-setting 1,459 entries, the event's top honor--the AMA Sports Dirt Track Horizon Award--went to that one impressive rider: John M. Lewis V.Given to the rider with the best chances of a pro career on the horizon, the award went to Lewis after overall Grand Championship wins in 450 Modified Premier, 250 Two-Stroke Modified Premier and 505 Modified Premier. Lewis won despite an equally impressive chase for the Horizon by Aaron King, the son of pro dirt-tracker Rich King, who provided a hard challenge through the final day of the Grand Championships. King himself came away with a grand championship of his own in 400 Modified, and second-place finishes to Lewis in 450 Modified Premier and 505 Modified Premier.

But the day belonged to Lewis, who was floored by his success."I just can't believe it,'' he said. "To think of all the fast people who won this award, it's just amazing."There were two other big winners on the day, with Kevin Snyder taking the overall AMA Sports Vet/Senior Dirt Tracker of the Year Award, and Michael Radley taking the Cycle News Fast Brain Award, which salutes the top rider with the best grades in school.

Sunday started on a damp note, with the already-delayed Mile race called off entirely when morning rains made the dirt on the famed Springfield Mile map look right at home--considering that the so-called "black gumbo" came from the bottom of the Sangamon River.With the Mile rained out, the entire caravan that is the Grand Championships moved to the nearby pea-gravel half-mile track, which was much more forgiving of the mornings drenchings. It was there that the final chapter of the Grand Championships unfolded, with drama befitting the Horizon Award.

Coming into the final round Lewis and Aaron were neck-and-neck in the standings. In 250cc Two-Stroke Modified Premier, Lewis was 14 points up on his nearest rival, Chad Cose. And in 400 Modified, King was 15 points up on second-place points-sitter Chance McCormick. In the classes where King and Lewis faced each other, each had a top spot with three rounds remaining. In 450 Modified Premer, Lewis led King by 12 points, while in 505 Mod Premier King led Lewis by 4 points.On the track, Lewis left nothing to chance, winning 450 Modified and 250 Modified Two-Stroke. It was in 505 Modified that the biggest drama of the day played out. King broke a rocker arm in his heat race while running second, which put him on the penalty line for the main--that is, if his dad, Rich, could get the bike repaired in time. It was tight, but by the time everyone came to the start of the main event, King was there."After today, I don't understand why it's the riders who make all the money,'' joked factory Harley-Davidson factory dirt-track rider-turned-mechanic-for-his-son Rich King. "It should be the mechanics.".  "I had total faith in my dad when he was putting it together," Aaron said. "I was just worried about the penalty-line start."At the flag, Lewis went straight to the front, while King fought up to second-place by the end. But to take the championship, he had to beat Lewis, who took the overall title with his win.  The other big award winner on the day was Kevin Snyder, who for the second year in a row walked away with the Amateur Dirt Tracker of the Year Award. And Snyder did it in high style, taking three wins and a second in Vet 30-plus Singles Premier, and a four-win sweep in Senior 40-plus Open."This is an amzing deal for me," Synder said on the podium. "I just can't explain what it means to have the support of my wife and family in this, it's just great. And I have to thank everyone here. Without them we wouldn't have this great sport."And then there was Michael Radey, who proved he could do well in school in addition to ride like a pro on a dirt-track bike. Radley, who took the overall championship in 125cc Modified, along with strong finishes in two other classes--while also maintaining a high grade-point average in school.