By Pete Walton
Chris Seelman
Phenix City, AL – Saturday, June 8, 2013 – Derek Hagar from Marion Arkansas took advantage of the misfortune of defending USCS National Champion Tim Crawley from Benton, Arkansas who had a flat right rear tire on lap 28 and drove his #9Jr. Dynotech powered J&J Auto Racing/R.E. Enterprise sprint car from eighth starting position into the www.rockauto.com United Sprint Car Series victory lane in the 6th annual Randy Helton Memorial Race at East Alabama Motor Speedway on Saturday night. It was Hagar’s sixteenth career United Sprint Car Series feature win and sixth win in ten USCS starts during the 2013 season.
Crawley had led 25 laps of the contest after taking over the lead from early race-leader and K&N Filters Pole Position starter, Todd Fayard from Saucier, Mississippi on lap three. Hagar charged through the field into the runner-up spot before Crawley had the flat while leading by four to five car lengths over the 2006 USCS Rookie of the Year. April 12, 3013 Carolina Speedway feature winner, Eric Riggins, Jr. from Charlotte, North Carolina finished in the runner-up spot behind Hagar and 10-time USCS National Champion, Terry Gray from Bartlett, Tennessee grabbed the final podium spot and the K&N Filters Podium Award. The 2008 USCS Rookie of the Year, Anthony Nicholson, also from Bartlett, Tennessee finished in the fourth position. Crawley charged back through the field after a tire change to fifth position in just two laps.
Fayard finished ahead of the next group in sixth place. Lance Moss from Cherryville, North Carolina followed in seventh place. Rookie Brandon Hanks from Burlison, Tennessee finished in eighth place followed by Lee Moore from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, who drove his #1a home in the ninth finishing position. The Texas Rambler, Jim Perricone from San Antonio, Texas rounded out the top ten drivers.
The only female sprint car driver in the field and 2011 Randy Helton Memorial Race Champion, Morgan Turpen from Oakland, Tennessee kicked of the evening’s competition with a win in the Hoosier Tire Speed Dash. Tim Crawley won the Engler Machine and Tool First Heat. Terry Gray won the Butlerbuilt Second Heat. After high passing points earner Tim Crawley drew a six in the K&N Filters inversion drawing Todd Fayard was awarded the K&N Filters Pole Award. Derek Hagar who started 8th in the main event advanced the most positions to earn the Wilwood Disc Brakes Hardcharger Award.
The next event for the USCS Outlaw Thunder Tour winged sprint cars will be on Friday, June 14th at Lavonia Speedway in Lavonia, Georgia. The following night the series invades Ray Cook’s Tri-County Racetrack in Brasstown, North Carolina. For information Lavonia Speedway please visit their Lavonia Speedway page on Facebook. For racing info on Tri County Racetrack just go to their website at www.tricountyracetrack.com For rules, schedules and other info on the USCS Outlaw Thunder Tour winged sprint car series 2013 and 17th annual National tour please visit www.uscsracing.com or call 865-6097.
USCS Outlaw Thunder Main Event – East Alabama Motor Speedway – Saturday, June 8, 2013
Hoosier Speed Dash 6-laps: Morgan Turpen, Lance Moss, Derek Hagar, Tim Crawley, Terry Gray and bob Auld.
Engler Machine and Tool First Heat: Tim Crawley, Eric Riggins, Jr., Todd Fayard, Derek Hagar, Brandon Hanks, Morgan Turpen, Jeff Willingham and Nick DeFeo.
Butlerbuilt Second Heat: Terry Gray, Lance Moss, Anthony Nicholson, Lee Moore, Jim Perricone, Bob Auld, Joe Larkin and Kyle Amerson.
USCS Filtercharged by K&N Filters main event 30-laps:
Pos. Car # Driver/Hometown:
1. 9Jr Derek Hagar, Marion, AR
2. 47 Eric Riggins, Jr., Charlotte, NC
3. 10 Terry Gray, Bartlett, TN
4. 16 Anthony Nicholson, Bartlett, TN
5. 88 Tim Crawley, Benton, AR
6. 13 Todd Fayard, Saucier, MS
7. 23 Lance Moss, Cherryville, NC
8. 3H Brandon Hanks, Burlison, TN
9. 1a Lee Moore, Tuscaloosa, AL
10.10p Jim Perricone, San Antonio, TX
11 Bob Auld, Largo, Florida
12. 28 Jeff Willingham, Ripley, MS
13. 33 Joe Larkin, Suwanee, GA
14. 10m Morgan Turpen, Cordova, TN
15. 96d Nick DeFeo, Woodstock, GA
16. 29k Kyle Amerson, Matthews, AL
USCS Outlaw Thunder Tour Race Awards:
Hoosier USCS Sprint Speed Dash: 10m Morgan Turpen
Engler Machine and Tool First Heat: 88 Tim Crawley
Butlerbuilt Second Heat Award: 10 Terry Gray
K&N Filters Pole Award: 13 Todd Fayard
JE Pistons Top Guns Award: 88 Tim Crawley (5th place)
K&N Filters Podium (3rd place) Award: 10 Terry Gray
Wilwood Disc Brakes Hardcharger Award: 9Jr. Derek Hagar
Keizer Aluminum Wheels Top Five Award: 16 Anthony Nicholson
DMI/Bulldog rear Ends top Ten Award: 10p Jim Perricone