By Pete Walton,Chris Seelman photo
Toccoa, Georgia – September 2, 2012 – The 2010 United Sprint Car Series presented by Goodyear National Rookie of the Year and the only female racer in the field, 19 year-old Morgan Turpen from Oakland, Tennessee charged her way from the K&N Filters Pole Position into the www.RockAuto.com USCS victory lane at Toccoa Speedway in the 25-lap USCS Red Dirt Rumble Round #3 on Saturday night. Turpen exited her #80 winged sprint car and leaped to the top of the wing with checkered flag in hand to the roar of the capacity crowd voicing their approval of the young college student’s victory over a talented field of men. Turpen, who led every lap, held off USCS presented by Goodyear National point’s leader and twelve-time 2012 USCS feature winner, Tim Crawley from Benton, Arkansas for the win. Crawley lined up on her back bumper after re-starts on laps 15, 18 and 19, but couldn’t make a move to get past the third year USCS racer. It was Turpen’s first win of the 2012 season. It was the third career USCS feature win for Turpen who finished in the runner-up spot in the 2010 and 2011 USCS National standings.
Crawley finished in the runner-up spot just about four car lengths behind the hard charging teenager (Turpen). Saturday night’s USCS Red Dirt Rumble Round #2 at Sugar Creek Raceway feature winner Jerod Roller from Olive Branch, Mississippi followed in the K&N Filters Podium Position third place. The 2000 USCS Rookie of the Year and 2012 Randy Helton Memorial Race Champion, Michael Miller from Ocean Springs, Mississippi finished in fourth place. The 2008 USCS Rookie of the Year, Anthony Nicholson from Bartlett, Tennessee who is in third place in the USCS presented by Goodyear National point standings rounded out the top five drivers.
Hard charging 2006 USCS Rookie of the Year Derek Hagar from Marion, Arkansas who has four 2012 USCS feature wins chased the top five across the finish line in sixth place after starting outside the eighth row. The defending and ten-time series Champion, Terry Gray from Bartlett, Tennessee who started eleven in the field raced back to seventh place at the end of the main event. Traveler Todd Fayard from Saucier, Mississippi finished eighth. The evening’s Engler Machine and Tool First Heat winner, Clint Weiss from Seale, Alabama followed in ninth place and Rookie of the Year contender Jeff Willingham from Ripley, Mississippi completed the top ten drivers.
Tim Crawley kicked off the evening’s USCS action with a win in the 6-lap Goodyear Speed Dash. Morgan Turpen Clint Weiss from Seale, Alabama then charged to a win in the Engler Machine and Tool First Heat Race. Crawley also got the victory in the Butlerbuilt Second Heat Race. Derek Hagar passed the most cars (10) in the main event to earn the Wilwood Engineering Hard Charger Award. Jeff Willingham from Ripley, Mississippi garnered the Goodyear Rookie of Race honors. Morgan Turpen claimed the JE Pistons Top guns Award for her first place finish in the main event.
For rules and 2011 schedule info on the USCS please visit www.uscsracing.com or call 770-460-7223.
United Sprint Car Series presented by Goodyear results – Toccoa Speedway on Sunday, September 2, 2012:
Goodyear Speed Dash: Tim Crawley, Jerod Roller, Eric Riggins, Jr., Morgan Turpen, Terry Gray and Derek Hagar.
Engler Machine and Tool First Heat: Clint Weiss, Michael Miller, Morgan Turpen, Jerod Roller, Eric Riggins Jr., Jeff Willingham, Ryan Devitt, Nick DeFeo and Stacy Mashburn.
Butlerbuilt Second Heat: Tim Crawley, Johnny Bridges, Anthony Nicholson, Todd Fayard, Johnny Pterozelle, Terry Gray, Terry Witherspoon and Derek Hagar.
USCS Presented by Goodyear A-Main 25 Laps Toccoa Speedway – September 2, 2012:
1 – 80 Morgan Turpen, Oakland, TN
2 – 88 Tim Crawley, Benton, AR
3 – 5 Jerod Roller, Olive Branch, MS
4 – 4m Michael Miller, Ocean Springs, MS
5 – 16 Anthony Nicholson, Bartlett, TN
6 – 23 Derek Hagar, Marion, AR
7 – 10 Terry Gray, Bartlett, TN
8 – 13 Todd Fayard, Saucier, MS
9 – 0x Clint Weiss, Seale, AL
10 – 28 Jeff Willingham, Ripley, MS
11 – 96d Nick DeFeo, Marietta, GA
12 – 46 Ryan DeVitt, Capistrano Beach, CA
13 – 43 Terry Witherspoon, Jacksonville, FL
14 – 47 Eric Riggins, Jr., Charlotte, NC
15 – 07 Johnny Bridges, Cherryville, NC
16 – m33 Stacy Mashburn, Newnan, GA
17 – 59 Johnny Petrozelle, Denton, NC
GOODYEAR SPEED DASH WINNER: #88 Ti Crawley
K & N FILTERS POLE AWARD: #80 Morgan Turpen
Wilwood Engineering HARDCHARGER AWARD: #23 Derek Hagar (16th to 6th place)
GOODYEAR RACING TIRE YOUNG GUN OF THE RACE: Morgan Turpen
ROOKIE OF THE RACE: #28 Jeff Willingham
JE PISTONS TOP GUNS AWARD: #80 Morgan Turpen (1st place)
K&N FILTERS 3RD AWARD: #5 Jerod Roller
BUTLERBUILT 4TH-PLACE AWARD: #4m Michael Miller
Keizer Aluminum Wheels Top Five Award: #16 Anthony Nicholson
DMI/Diversified Machine Top Ten Award: #28 Jeff Willingham
ENTRIES: 17
PROVISIONALS: None
LAP LEADERS = Morgan Turpen laps 1-25