Jeff Pate (No. 411) leads Team Hammer teammates Mike Smith (No. 6) and Britt Turkington (No. 28) early in a WERA C Superstock race at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway on April 1, 1990. Turkington eventually got around both Smith and Pate to win the race. I think something fishy was going on with under the table payments in these races. Both Pate and Kevin Rentzell, who were racing Yamahas, pulled out of the race on the final lap. I’m guessing they may have had pre-race agreements with Suzuki riders to share in contingency money Suzuki had available in the class. That may not be the case, maybe they were just being nice guys, but it was odd that two of the top running Yamaha riders both pulled out on the final lap with apparently no bike issues.
Jeff Pate (No. 411) leads Mike Smith (No. 6) and Britt Turkington (No. 28) early in a WERA C Superstock race at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway on April 1, 1990. Turkington eventually got around both Smith and Pate to win the race. (Larry Lawrence photo)
Rider Files 
That used to go on alot, I made some pre race deals with Yamaha riders when my Interceptor was giving them fits in C production, If I could win the heat on Saturday I would go talk to the Yamaha guys just behind me and make a deal, for every spot they moved up they gained money, so I would pull in on the last lap if they agreed, It was dirty pool, but I was living in my car and thats how we made money, race direction caught wind of it and threatened to ban a couple of us, so we cut it out. They are great memories stirred up by the Rider Files.
LikeLike