By Pete Walton
Albany, Georgia – September 15, 2012 – United Sprint Car Series National point’s leader, Tim Crawley from Benton, Arkansas chased 2008 USCS Rookie of the Year, Anthony Nicholson from Bartlett, Tennessee for the first twenty-two laps of the thirty-lap USCS main event at Albany Motor Speedway on Saturday night before racing into the lead on lap twenty three after Nicholson, who appeared to be headed to his second win of the 2012 season, spun exiting turn two of the quarter-mile South Georgia clay oval while encountering lap traffic. It was Crawley’s second visit to the www.rockauto.com USCS victory lane in a row and fourteenth of the season. Defending USCS National Champion, Terry Gray from Bartlett, Tennessee raced to the finish line behind Crawley in the runner-up spot. Nicholson who only lost three positions during his complete spin recovered to collect the third place K&N Filters Podium Award. The 2010 USCS National Rookie of the Year and only female driver in the field, 19 year-old Morgan Turpen from Oakland, Tennessee finished in fourth place after starting sixth. The 2010 USCS Mid South regional series Rookie of the Year and two-time 2012 feature winner, Jerod Roller from Olive Branch, Mississippi rounded out the top five drivers.
The 2010 USCS Southern Thunder regional series Rookie of the Eric Riggins, Jr. from Charlotte, North Carolina, who has two career 2012 USCS feature wins, chased the top five across the finish line after going to the rear of the field for a tire change on lap sixteen. Young gun Ryan Moore from Hurley, Mississippi followed Riggins to the stripe in seventh place. Clint Weiss from Seale, Alabama finished in eighth place. Shawn Murray from Jacksonville, Florida finished ninth and Nick DeFeo from Marietta, Georgia completed the top ten drivers.
Tim Crawley kicked off the evening’s USCS action with a win in the 6-lap Goodyear Speed Dash for the winged sprint cars. Anthony Nicholson charged to a win in the Engler Machine and Tool First Heat Race. Tim Crawley also got the heat race victory in the Butlerbuilt Second Heat Race. Ryan Moore passed the most cars in the main event to earn the Wilwood Engineering Hard Charger Award. Jeff Willingham from Ripley, Mississippi garnered the Goodyear Rookie of Race honors. Anthony Nicholson claimed the JE Pistons Top guns Award for his third place finish in the main event.
The United Sprint Car Series presented by Goodyear next racing event for winged sprint cars is scheduled for Friday, September 28th at Carolina Speedway for Round #1 of the 4th annual Carolina Thunder Nationals. On the following night (Saturday, September 29th) the USCS presented by Goodyear will invade Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, South Carolina for Round #2 of the Carolina Thunder Nationals. For rules and an updated 2012 schedule and other USCS info please visit www.uscsracing.com or call 770-460-7223.
United Sprint Car Series presented by Goodyear results:
Albany Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 15, 2012:
Goodyear Speed Dash: Tim Crawley, Morgan Turpen, Jerod Roller, Terry Gray, Anthony Nicholson, and Eric Riggins.
Engler Machine and Tool First Heat: Anthony Nicholson, Terry Gray, Terry Witherspoon, Bruce Durden, Ryan Moore, Nick DeFeo and Bob Auld.
Butlerbuilt Second Heat: Tim Crawley, Morgan Turpen, Eric Riggins Jr., Jerod Roller, Shawn Murray, Clint Weiss and Jeff Willingham.
USCS Presented by Goodyear A-Main 30 Laps:
Albany Motor Speedway – September 15, 2012:
1 – 88 Tim Crawley, Benton, AR
2 – 10 Terry Gray, Bartlett, TN
3 – 16 Anthony Nicholson, Bartlett, TN
4 – 80 Morgan Turpen, Oakland, TN
5 – 5 Jerod Roller, Olive Branch, MS
6 – 47 Eric Riggins, Jr., Charlotte, NC
7 – 38 Ryan Moore, Hurley, MS
8 – 0x Clint Weiss, Seale, AL
9 – 22 Shawn Murray, Jacksonville, FL
10 – 96d Nick DeFeo, Marietta, GA
11 – 17 Bruce Durden, Jacksonville, FL
12 – 43 Terry Witherspoon, Jacksonville, FL
13 – 83 Bob Auld, Largo, FL
14 – 28 Jeff Willingham, Ripley, MS
GOODYEAR SPEED DASH WINNER: #88 Tim Crawley
K & N FILTERS POLE AWARD: #16 Anthony Nicholson
Wilwood Engineering HARDCHARGER AWARD: #38 Ryan Moore (11th to 7th place)
GOODYEAR RACING TIRE YOUNG GUN OF THE RACE: #80 Morgan Turpen
ROOKIE OF THE RACE: #28 Jeff Willingham
JE PISTONS TOP GUNS AWARD: #16 Anthony Nicholson (3rd place)
K&N FILTERS PODIUM AWARD: #16 Anthony Nicholson
BUTLERBUILT 4TH-PLACE AWARD: #80 Morgan Turpen
Keizer Aluminum Wheels Top Five Award: #5 Jerod Roller
DMI/Diversified Machine Top Ten Award: #96D Nick DeFeo
ENTRIES: 14
PROVISIONALS: None
LAP LEADERS = Laps 1-22, Anthony Nicholson, Laps 23-30 Tim Crawley.