By Pete Walton
Senoia, Georgia – August 27, 2010 – Defending United Sprint Car Series presented by Goodyear Champion Terry Gray from Bartlett, Tennessee charged from a seventh place starting position into victory lane in the 25-lap Senoia Summer Nationals Round One “Race for Two Randy’s” main event at New Senoia Raceway on Friday night. The race honored two USCS racing pioneers, Randy Scott and Randy Helton who both passed away in 2008. Gray bested a twenty-car field of drivers from six states for the win including 15 year-old rookie driver Eric Riggins, Jr. from Charlotte, North Carolina who led thirteen of the first seventeen circuits before the veteran (Gray) managed to pass him for the lead in a group of lapped cars. It was Gray’s fourth USCS presented by Goodyear win of the season.
The talented rookie of the year candidate (Riggins) followed Gray to the finish line to garner a career high runner-up finish. The 2000 USCS Rookie of the Year, Michael Miller from Ocean Springs, Mississippi finished in the third position. Past USCS regional series Champion, Johnny Bridges from Cherryville, North Carolina followed in fourth place. The 2009 USCS Rookie of the Year driver, 18 year-old Justin Carver from Drummonds, Tennessee who started sixteenth in the main event rounded out the top five drivers.
The next group was headed by Nick Bashford from China Grove, North Carolina in sixth place. Veteran Ray Bugg from Iuka, Mississippi followed in seventh position. Brandon Rekow from Mooresville, North Carolina finished eighth place. Lee Moore from Tuscaloosa, Alabama finished ninth. Clint Weiss from Elizabethton, Kentucky rounded out the top ten finishers.
Eric Riggins, Jr. won the 10-lap Engler Machine and Tool First Heat Race. Seventeen year-old female sprint racer and Rookie of the Year point’s leader, Morgan Turpen from Bartlett, Tennessee rolled to victory in the Butlerbuilt Second Heat Race. Matt Linder won the FSR Racing Products Third Heat. Justin Carver who passed eleven cars in the main event garnered the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger. Eric Riggins, Jr. garnered the Goodyear, Rookie of Race honors.
The next United Sprint Car Series racing event, the 3rd Annual Randy Helton Memorial Race is on tonight, Saturday, August 28th at New Senoia Raceway in Senoia, Georgia. For more information on that event please visit www.newsenoiaraceway.com or call 770-599-6161. For rules and 2010 schedule info on the USCS please visit www.uscsracing.com or call 770-460-7223 or 770-865-6097.
USCS results for USCS Summer Nationals Round One New Senoia Raceway 8/27/10:
Goodyear Speed Dash: Terry Gray, Johnny Bridges, Eric Riggins, Jr., Matt Linder, Morgan Turpen and Nick Bashford.
Engler Machine and Tool First Heat: Eric Riggins, Jr., Sport Allen, Mike Hampton, Ray Bugg, Joe Larkin, Justin Carver and A.J. Maddox.
Butlerbuilt Second Heat: Morgan Turpen, Michael Miller, Terry Gray, Lee Moore, Clint Weiss and Bob Auld.
FSR Racing Products Third Heat: Matt Linder, Johnny Bridges, Nick Bashford, Jerry Jones, Brandon Rekow,
Jake McLain – DNS and Brandon McLain – DNS.
USCS presented by Goodyear Feature Race results (25 laps) New Senoia Raceway – August 27, 2010.
1 – 10 Terry Gray, Bartlett, TN
2 – 47 Eric Riggins, Jr., Charlotte, NC – Rookie TN 23
3 – 4m Michael Miller, Ocean Springs, MS
4 – 07 Johnny Bridges, Cherryville, NC
5 – 24 Justin Carver, Drummonds, TN
6 – X Nick Bashford, China Grove, NC
7 – 25 Ray Bugg, Iuka, MS
8 – 69 Brandon Rekow, Mooresville, NC
9 -1A Lee Moore, Tuscaloosa, AL
10 – 0x Clint Weiss, Elizabethton, KY
11 – 1X Matt Linder, Hoschton, GA
12 – 80 Morgan Turpen, Bartlett, TN
13 – 21B Brandon McLain, Indian Trail, NC
14 – 82 Sport Allen, Seffner, FL
15- 10w Mike Hampton, Milan, TN
16 – 19 Jerry Jones, Clermont, FL
17 – 33 Joe Larkin, Suwannee, GA
18 – 81 A.J. Maddox, Brandon, FL
19 – 83 Bob Auld, Sarasota, FL
20 – 67 Jake McLain, Indian Trail, NC
GOODYEAR SPEED DASH WINNER: Terry Gray
K & N FILTERS POLE AWARD: Matt Linder
KSE Hard Charger AWARD: Justin Carver (passed 11 cars).
GOODYEAR RACING TIRE YOUNG GUN OF THE RACE: Eric Riggins, Jr.
ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Eric Riggins, Jr.
JE PISTONS TOP GUNS AWARD: Michael Miller (third place)
K&N FILTERS 3RD-PLACE AWARD: Michael Miller
BUTLERBUILT 4TH-PLACE AWARD: Johnny Bridges
Dynotech TOP FIVE AWARD: Justin Carver
ENTRIES: 20
PROVISIONALS: None
LAP LEADERS =Four : Matt Linder Laps 1, Sport Allen Laps 2-4, Eric Riggins, Jr., Laps 5-17
and Terry Gray Laps 18-25