ERIC RIGGINS JR WINS URC/USCS SOUTHERN THUNDER TOUR SPRINT FEATURE FRIDAY NIGHT AT CAROLINA SPEEDWAY
GASTONIA, NC . . . . . Opening night of the 2013 URC/USCS Southern Thunder Sprint Tour was a huge success with a big crowd turning out to see a thirty-one car field battle for the bragging rights and the $2,000 first place prize in the thirty lap sprint feature. Eric Riggins Jr of nearby Charlotte, NC took the lead on lap eleven then ran un challenged to his fourth USCS 360 sprint victory. This event was a full point race for the Rislone URC Sprint Series with point leader earning a solid third place finish with just two point race events still remaining in the season long battle. The URC/USCS Southern Thunder Sprint Tour will return to action on Saturday night at the Cherokee Speedway in Gafney, SC.
Four heat race events were required to qualify the thirty-one car field with heat race victories going to Eric Riggins Jr., JJ Grasso, Billy Pauch Jr and Chandler Leiby. The twelve lap “B” main was won by Morgan Turpen.
A field of twenty-four cars took the green flag in the thirty lap feature with Johnny Bridges setting the early pace followed by Jonathan Swanson with Riggins already in third by lap two. As the field completed lap two, Boyertown, PA driver Randy West tangled with another car as the Fred Kennedy owned sprint car flipped entering turn one. West did walk away from the accident uninjured.
At the restart, Bridges remained the race leader followed by Chandler Leiby and Rigginss. Also on a charge to the front was Josh Weller who was now running fourth. The race leaders were quickly approaching slower traffic and the race for the lead was now up for grabs between Bridges, Riggins, Weller and Leiby.
The turning point of the race came on lap eleven when slower traffic brought the top six together. Riggins came out on top followed by Weller and Swanson.
As the field passed for the half way mark, Riggins was the race leader followed by Weller, JJ Grasso, Jonathan Swanson and Billy Pauch Jr. Weller made numerous attempts to reel in the race leader but as the race went on, Weller had to contend with JJ Grasso who was closing ground on Grasso to challenge for second. Billy Pauch Jr moved into fourth on lap twenty-six.
With the checker flag waiving, Eric Riggins took the victory over Josh Weller, JJ Grasso, Billy Pauch Jr., Morgan Turpen and Jonathan Swanson.
FEATURE FINISH: Eric Riggins Jr., Josh Weller, JJ Grasso, Billy Pauch Jr., Morgan Turpen, Jonathan Swanson, Keith Prutzman, Terry Gray, Troy Betts, Dan Mazy, Tanner Witherspoon, Curt Terrell, Chandler Leiby, Taylor Tiddore, Scott Lutz, Tony Agin, Johnny Bridges, JR Berry, Ed Aiken, Ray Bugg, David Swanson, Randy West, Johnny Petrozelle, Derrick Hager. DNQ: Darren Hasty, Mike Leraas, Robbie Stillwaggon, Lance Moss, George Blaney, Brandon McLain, Bob Auld.
REMAINING EVENTS:
| OCT | 5 | Cherokee, Gafney, SC | $2,000 To Win |
| OCT | 19 | Grandview Full Points | $2,000 To Win |
| END |
No comments:
Post a Comment