October 25, 2004 Kenny Adams Crowned State Sprint Champion By Roby Helm BARBERVILLE, FL - Kenny Adams of Malabar, FL won the 5th Annual Florida State Championship Race for the United Sprint Car Series Saturday night at Volusia Speedway Park driving the Goodson Farms Shaw/Ott. Adams took the lead on lap 11, and led the rest of the way in the 25-lap main event. With the A-Main victory, Adams made it a "clean sweep" for the evening. The "Malabar Missile" was the fast qualifier among the 31 entrants with a lap around the -mile clay oval in 14.360 seconds for an average speed of 125.348 miles per hour. Adams then won the six-lap Air Flow Research Power Dash, and the eight-lap Koolbeans Trophies first heat race. Danny Martin Jr. of Sarasota, FL took the second spot in the Martin Structures, Inc. Schnee/ZRE, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. of Olive Branch, MS was third in the Country Ford/South Tire J&J/Dynotech. Terry Gray of Bartlett, TN finished fourth in the Goodson Farms/Wendy's Maxim/Wesmar, and clinched his fourth straight USCS National Championship. Gray also won the third eight-lap heat race. Brice Wrenn of Lexington, SC won the 12-lap B-Main, started 16th in the A-Main, and finished fifth in the Stainless Fabricators Hench/Gaerte. Wrenn won the Huggins Race Cams Hard Charger of the Race Award. Mike Brecht of Deshler, OH finished sixth in the Tim Hogan's Carpets Maxim/Hampshire. The top six finishers are locked into the Sunday night 25-lap A-Main for USCS at Volusia Speedway Park. Second eight-lap heat race winner Tom Winegardner Jr. of Pierson, FL was seventh in the Snap On Tools J&J/WRP, and Brian Thomas of Auburn, GA took the eighth spot in the Main Auto Parts Avenger/Broome Performance. Tommy Denton of Jacksonville, FL drove the McQuaig Motorsports Eagle/Witherspoon to a ninth-place finish, and Tighe Schloss of Jacksonville, FL rounded out the top ten in the Kerns Heating and Air Maxim/Scott. Greg Leonard of Tampa, FL grabbed the lead at the drop of the green flag from the outside front row starting hole in the Snap On Tools J&J/Hampshire followed by polesitter Stenhouse, Martin, Adams and Gray. Doug Day of Winder, GA spun the Gotta Race Eagle/Dingler in turn two on lap three to bring out the first of five caution flags. Leonard held on to the lead on the restart, while Martin got around Stenhouse to take over the second spot. Adams passed Stenhouse for third on lap five, and then shot past Martin for the second position on lap six. Adams then chased down Leonard to battle for the lead on lap nine, and made the winning pass on lap 11. At the halfway point, it was Adams slicing through lapped traffic on the point followed by Leonard, Martin, Stenhouse, and Gray. Neil LaRose of Safety Harbor, FL spun his Pro-X Schnee/LP on lap 13 to bring out the second caution flag. After the restart, Adams set sail, while Leonard, Martin, and Stenhouse battled for the second spot. Daryl Smith of Riverview, FL stalled the Buddy's Home Furnishings Beaberbuilt/Gaerte in turn four to light up the caution bulb for the third time on lap 16. Adams pulled away once again on the restart, but Wrenn was charging through the top ten from his 16th starting position. Wrenn restarted in tenth, and was up to seventh by lap 20. LaRose stalled in turn four on lap 21 for the fourth caution flag. Adams brought the field down for the restart followed by Leonard, Martin, Stenhouse, Gray, Brecht, Wrenn, Winegardner, Denton, and Thomas. Martin got by Leonard for second on lap 22, and Stenhouse moved up to battle Leonard for the third spot. Going into the first turn on lap 23, Leonard and Stenhouse got together, and Leonard spun to bring out the final caution flag of the race. Adams had no problems in the final two tours to the checkered flag, while Martin, Stenhouse and Gray followed. Wrenn passed Brecht for sixth on lap 22, and moved up to fifth when Leonard spun. OFFICIAL RESULTS: Kenny Adams Malabar, FL Danny Martin Jr. Sarasota, FL Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Olive Branch, MS Terry Gray Bartlett, TN Brice Wrenn Lexington, SC Mike Brecht Deshler, OH Tom Winegardner Jr. Pierson, FL Brian Thomas Auburn, GA Tommy Denton Jacksonville, FL Tighe Schloss Jacksonville, FL Bryn Gohn Malabar, FL R.J. Johnson (R) Decatur, TN Greg Leonard Tampa, FL Jerry Jones Clermont, FL Chad Allum Kannapolis, NC Stephen Darvalics Venice, FL Red Stauffer Winter Park, FL Bruce Cline Apex, NC Michael Miller Ocean View, MS Mike Schroeder Southwest Ranches, FL Daryl Smith Riverview, FL Neil LaRose Safety Harbor, FL Doug Day Winder, GA Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! <news@karnac.org>or send a letter to the editor!