By Pete Walton
Woodstock, GA – July 17, 2010 – The 2006 United Sprint Car Series Rookie of the Year, Derek Hagar from Marion, Arkansas charged past Cherryville, North Carolina hot-shoe Johnny Bridges, on lap five of the thirty- lap USCS presented by Goodyear Dixie Sprint Car Nationals at Dixie Speedway on Saturday night. Hagar was driving the Jay Hancock owned Athens, Georgia based #1A sprint car. It was Hagar’s first time in the car and he collected $2000 for his efforts. It was Hagar’s fourth career USCS feature win.
Hagar started outside row one next to K&N Filters Pole Award recipient, 15 year-old, Eric Riggins, Jr. from Charlotte, North Carolina. On lap one Hagar jumped into the lead. Johnny Bridges raced into the second position by lap four and past Hagar for the lead on the fifth circuit around the 3/8 mile red clay speed plant. Hagar regained the lead he never relinquished on lap six. The challengers pulled up behind the young Arkansan, after the caution flag flew three times, but he raced away each time to a comfortable margin.
Matt Linder from Hoschton, Georgia who started eighth advanced six positions and finished in the runner-up spot. Eight-time United Sprint Car Series presented by Goodyear National Champion and current series points leader, Terry Gray from Bartlett, Tennessee finished in the third position. Gray’s team-mate, seventeen year-old female sprint car star, Morgan Turpen from Bartlett, Tennessee finished in the fourth position. USCS veteran sprint car driver, Aubrey Black from Lookout Mountain, Georgia rounded out the top five.
The next group of finishers was headed by Rookie A.J. Maddox from Tampa, Florida in sixth place. Another rookie driver Eric Riggins, Jr. from Charlotte, North Carolina followed in seventh position. Brandon McLain from Indian Trail, Carolina finished eighth. Veteran David Thorman from Greenville, South Carolina finished ninth. Another sprint car veteran, Bob Auld from Largo, Florida rounded out the top ten finishers.
Johnny Bridges kicked off the evening’s USCS sprint car action with a win in the 6-cars, 6-laps Goodyear Speed Dash for the top six cars from the previous event. Bridges then went on to win the 10-lap Engler Machine and Tool First Heat Race. Sport Allen from Seffner, Florida. rolled to victory in the Butlerbuilt Second Heat Race. Brandon McLain garnered the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award by passing eight cars in the main event. Current Rookie of the Year points leader Morgan Turpen garnered the Rookie of Race honors.
The next United Sprint Car Series racing event is on Saturday, July 24th at I-77 Speedway in Chester, South Carolina. For more information on that event please visit www.mosleyi77peedway.com or call 803-789-7223 For rules and info on the USCS please visit www.uscsracing.com or call 770-460-7223 or 770-865-6097
USCS results Dixie Sprint Car Nationals – Dixie Speedway 7/17/10:
Goodyear Speed Dash: Johnny Bridges, Morgan Turpen, Terry Gray, Brandon Rekow, Joe Larkin and Sport Allen DNS.
Engler Machine and Tool First Heat: Johnny Bridges, Terry Gray, Derek Hagar, Morgan Turpen, Matt Linder, Bob Auld, David Thorman and David Clarke.
Butlerbuilt Second Heat: Sport Allen, Aubrey Black, Eric Riggins, Jr., A.J. Maddox, Joe Larkin and Nick DeFeo DNS Brandon McLain DNS, Brandon Rekow DNS, Darren Clarke DNS,
USCS presented by Goodyear Feature Race results (30 laps)
1 – 1A Derek Hagar, Marion, AR
2 – 1X Matt Linder, Hoschton, GA
3 – 10 Terry Gray, Bartlett, TN
4 – 80 Morgan Turpen, Bartlett, TN – Rookie
5 – 21 Aubrey Black, Lookout Mountain, GA
6 – 81 A.J. Maddox, Brandon, FL – Rookie
7 – 47 Eric Riggins, Jr., Charlotte, NC – Rookie
8 – 21B Brandon McLain, Indian Trail, NC
9 – 5x David Thorman, Greenville, SC
10 – 83 Bob Auld, Sarasota, FL
11 – 33 Joe Larkin, Suwannee, GA
12 – 07s Johnny Bridges, Cherryville, NC GA
13 – 82 Sport Allen, Seffner, FL
14 – 21 David Clarke, Huntersville, NC
15 – 12 Darren Clarke, Huntersville, NC
16 – 69 Brandon Rekow, Mooresville, NC
17 – 96d Nick DeFeo, Marietta, GA – DNS
GOODYEAR SPEED DASH WINNER: Johnny Bridges
K & N FILTERS POLE AWARD: Eric Riggins, Jr.
KSE Hard Charger AWARD: Brandon McLain (passed 8 cars).
GOODYEAR RACING TIRE YOUNG GUN OF THE RACE: Derek Hagar
ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Morgan Turpen
JE PISTONS TOP GUNS AWARD: Morgan Turpen (4th place)
K&N FILTERS 3RD-PLACE AWARD: Terry Gray
BUTLERBUILT 4TH-PLACE AWARD: Morgan Turpen
Dynotech TOP FIVE AWARD: Aubrey Black
ENTRIES: 17
PROVISIONALS: None
LAP LEADERS: Derek Hagar Laps 1-4 and 6 thru 30. Johnny Bridges Lap 5.