By Pete Walton
Travelers Rest, SC – May 8, 2010 – Defending United Sprint Car Series presented by National Champion, Terry Gray from Bartlett, Tennessee won the 25-lap USCS Outlaw Thunder Tour feature race during the 7th annual USCS Night of Thunder at Travelers Rest Speedway on Saturday night. It was the second USCS feature win of the young season for Gray while driving his Rislone Engine Treatment sponsored J&J Auto Racing Wesmar powered familiar black #10 sprint car. Gray also won the 2009 USCS race at the speedway.
Gray started outside the front row after rookie teammate Morgan Turpen from Bartlett, Tennessee was awarded K&N Filters Pole position via the inversion drawing. The 17 year-old Turpen, the only female driver in the field, was awarded the pole position after Engler Machine and Tool First Heat winner, C.J. Miller from Denver, North Carolina drew a four in the K&N Filters Pole drawing. This placed Turpen and Gray on the front row for the 25-lap contest.
Gray jumped into the lead in turn one and Turpen chased her teammate for the lead on lap one, but the race was red flagged for a flipping Brad Wickham from Rutherfordton, North Carolina. Wickham was unharmed but his car was out for the remainder of the evening, On the second start Gray led again with Turpen in the runner-up spot and C.J. Miller, Johnny Bridges from Cherryville, North Carolina, Matt Linder from Hoschton, Georgia, Brian Thomas from Pendergrass, Georgia and Lance Moss from Cherryville, North Carolina comprising the lead pack. After three cautions for spinning cars in the first thirteen laps, Bridges move past the talented rookie Turpen for the runner-up spot on lap fourteen. After a restart following a caution for a spinning car on lap fifteen, rookie Troy Severin from Ashland, Virginia moved into the top five on lap fifteen.
Ten laps later at the finish Gray found his way to victory lane for the second time in 2010. Johnny Bridges followed Gray in the runner-up spot six car lengths back in his Biobased.Us sponsored, Roush-Yates ford powered, J&J Auto Racing #07 mount. Morgan Turpen had career-best USCS finish in third place in her Casey’s Lawn Care #80 J&J Auto Racing Wesmar powered car. Lance Moss rallied from a lap one spin to fourth place at the finish. C.J. Miller rounded out the top five.
The next group was headed by fifteen year-old rookie driver Eric Riggins from Charlotte, North Carolina who finished in sixth place. Troy Severin followed in seventh place and Ryan Price from Ashland, followed in the eighth position. Joe Larkin from Suwanee, Georgia finished ninth. Brandon Rekow from Mooresville, North Carolina rounded out the top ten finishers.
Terry Gray kicked off the evening’s action by winning the 6-cars, 6-laps Goodyear Speed Dash. C.J. Miller won the 10-lap Engler Machine and Tool First Heat Race. Terry Gray rolled to victory in the Butlerbuilt Second Heat Race. Joe Larkin garnered the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award passing seven cars in the main event. Morgan Turpen garnered the Goodyear, Rookie of race honors.
The next United Sprint Car Series racing event is on Saturday, May 15th at Lavonia Speedway in Lavonia, GA. For more information on that event please visit www.lvoniadrttrack.com . For rules and info on the USCS please visit www.uscsracing.com or call 770-460-7223 or 770-86-6097.
USCS Outlaw Thunder Tour presented by Goodyear
Results for May 8, 2010 – Travelers Rest Speedway
Goodyear Speed Dash: Terry Gray, Lance Moss, Matt Linder, Morgan Turpen, C.J. Miller and Jake McLain.
Engler Machine and Tool First Heat: C.J. Miller, Eric Riggins, Johnny Bridges, Jake MLain, Tim Perry, Brad Wickham, Troy Severin, Joe Larkin and Coby Adams – DNS.
Butlerbuilt Second Heat Race: Terry Gray, Lance Moss, Matt Linder, Morgan Turpen, Ryan Price, Brian Thomas, Brandon Rekow and David Thorman
USCS Main event – 25 laps:
1 – #10 – Terry Gray Bartlett, TN
2 – #07 – Johnny Bridges, Cherryville, NC
3 – #80 – Morgan Turpen, Bartlett, TN]
4 – #23 – Lance Moss, Cherryville, NC
5 – #9 – C.J. Miller, Denver, NC
6 – #47 – Eric Riggins, Jr. , Charlotte, NC
7 – #11 – Troy Severin, Ashland, VA
8 – #822 – Ryan Price, Ashland, VA
9 – #33 – Joe Larkin, Suwanee, GA
10 – #69 – Brandon Rekow, Mooresville, NC
11 – #1x – Matt Linder, Hoschton, GA
12 – #67 – Jake McLain, Indian Trail, NC
13 – #67 – Brian Thomas, Pendergrass, GA
14 – #36 Tim Perry, China Groove, NC
15 – #5 – David Thorman, Greenville, SC
16 – #6 – Brad Wickham, Rutherfordton, NC
17 – #29 – Coby Adams, Mooresville, NC – DNS
GOODYEAR SPEED DASH WINNER: Terry Gray
K & N FILTERS POLE AWARD: Morgan Turpen – Rookie
KSE Hard Charger AWARD: Joe Larkin (started 16th finished 9th)
GOODYEAR RACING TIRE YOUNG GUN OF THE RACE: Morgan Turpen – Rookie
ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Morgan Turpen
JE PISTONS TOP GUNS AWARD: Terry Gray (1st place)
K&N FILTERS 3RD-PLACE AWARD: Morgan Turpen
BUTLERBUILT 4TH-PLACE AWARD: Lance Moss
Dynotech TOP FIVE AWARD: C.J. Miller
ENTRIES: 17
PROVISIONALS: None
LAP LEADERS: Terry Gray Laps 1-25