Lake City, FL - Two time O'Reilly Auto Parts United Sprint Car Series Champion , Kenny Adams from Malabar, Florida won the 25-lap 1st Annual O'Reilly USCS North Florida Winternationals round one season opener at North Florida Speedway n Lake City, Florida on Friday night. It was Adams ninety-eighth career win in the O'Reilly USCS.
K&N Filters Pole starter Justin Barger from New York led the first nine laps of the high-speed charge around the racy 4/10 mile oval with
two-time series Champion, Adams and defending Champion, Terry Gray from Bartlett, Tennessee in tow for the first nine laps. Adams made the winning move past Barger on lap ten. Barger chased Adams until lap twenty-three through lapped traffic, but faded to third after Texan Gary Wright from Hooks, Texas slide underneath for the runner-up spot. Barger held on for a podium finish in third. Five-time O'Reilly USCS champion, Terry Gray from Bartlett, Tennessee followed in fourth and CnB Mushroom Farms fast qualifier, Wayne Johnson from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma rounded out the top five.
Travis Rilat from Forney, Texas who started fourth finished in sixth place. Canadian, Chris Schmelzle from Victoria, BC hustled from ninth to seventh. The 2006 O'Reilly USCS Most improved driver, T.J. Winegardner from Pierson, Florida finished in eighth place after starting thirteenth. The 2004 O'Reilly USCS Rookie of the Year, R.J. Johnson from Decatur, Tennessee was ninth and Oklahoman, Brad Best rounded out the top ten.
Kenny Adams kicked off the evening by winning the six-lap Lucas Oil Power Dash comprised of the top six cars from time trial qualifying. Ohio traveler, Luke Hall was the winner in the Engler Tool and Machine First Heat. Brad Best captured the Butlerbuilt Second Heat race. R.J. Johnson won the FSR Racing Products Third Heat.
Wayne Johnson set fast time and a new track record of 15.72 seconds around the 4/10 mile clay oval. Justin Barger won the K&N Filters Pole Award after being drawn to the pole with a six-inversion draw. Adams also received the evenings JE Pistons Top Guns Award for his win. T.J. Winegardner garnered the events Huggins Cams Hard Charger award after starting 13th and passing five cars. Justin Barger was recognized as the Hoosier Tire Young Gun of the Race, which is awarded to the top-finishing driver under twenty-five years old. The Weld Racing Hard Luck award went to Matt Tiffany.
- administrator on Mar 13, 2020
- Article Date: 2/2/2007