GIBSONTON, FL (Nov. 4, 2000) — Sport Allen from Pinellas Park, Florida, driving Taylor Andrew's # 88, caught pole sitter Mike Woodring from Eden, New York, in traffic on lap 32 and drove by low in turn one to lead the last 3 laps of the inaugural United Sprint Car Series (USCS) 360 Fall Nationals main event at East Bay Raceway, Saturday night. It was the 1999 East Bay Raceway champion's biggest payday ever as he pocketed over $5,000 for his efforts in cash and merchandise awards.

Woodring who qualified eighth but started from the pole after the inversion draw, stretched out to a big lead several times in spite of two yellow flags and a red flag bringing the field back up on his rear bumper.

A lap 10 red flag saw Olive Branch, Mississippi's Michael Craddock have his car catch fire when involved in a five car pileup, but extremely quick work by the East Bay safety crew kept Craddock from injury and prevented major damage to his car.

The last yellow flag waved on lap 20 when East Bay regular, 14 year old rookie, Brandon Dover lost a motor and locked up in front of John Bankston who was running in second and closing on Woodring. Bankston exited with a broke front axle and Woodring continued to lead comfortably until lap traffic came into play.

On lap 22 Allen moved into second place past Benton Ridge, Ohio's Greg Wilson who had been no further back than third in the race. Allen chased Woodring, who was having trouble in lapped traffic because of a tight race car, until lap 32 when he raced by to the loud cheers of his hometown crowd and held on for the popular victory.

Woodring held on for second and Greg Wilson was third followed home by 2000 USCS National champion, Kenny Adams, from Malabar, Florida, in fourth. Riverview, Florida's Michael Smith, was fifth, sixth went to, 18 year old, Greg Leonard, also an East Bay regular, in seventh place was Fayetteville, Pennsylvania's Lance Dewease, Red Stauffer, from Winter Park, Florida, finished eighth, then Amite, Louisiana's Michael Dupuy followed in ninth, and 15 year old East Bay rookie sensation, Casey Johnson rounded out the top ten.

Open Wheel magazine editor, Doug Auld, was the honorary starter (a career first) for the strong 27 car main event field. Auld saw the first two starts take out two of the evening's heat race winners, East Bay hotshoe and USCS part-timer Robbie Smith and USCS regular, Jim Raptis plus the cars of Randy Helton, Randy Carr and Shane Morgan. On the third attempt, proving the third time's a charm theory still work's, everyone got it right and Auld appeared to breathe a sigh of relief.

Thirty-six cars from 12 states signed in to qualify for Saturday night's finale. National champion, Kenny Adams, who won Friday night's preliminary main event set quick time Saturday night with a lap of 13.225.

Blue Ribbon Farms heat race winners were Texan John Bankston, Jason Sides, from Bartlett, Tennessee, Robbie Smith, of Tampa, Florida and Jim Raptis, of Marietta, Georgia. Michael Dupuy of Amite, Louisiana won the 12 lap B-main and the Mystery Dash for cash was won by 1999 USCS Dirt Champion, Marshall Skinner of West Memphis, Arkansas.

The Huggins Cams "Hard Charger" award went to Michael Dupuy and the evening's All Star Motorsports / Hart Racing top rookie was Casey Johnson, who also got the Weld Racing top 10 award. C&R Racing Radiators awards went to Lance Dewease and Marshall Skinner. Sport Allen collected $500 from Shaw Racing Products and Mike Woodring got a certificate for $250 from Shaw.

RESULTS

A-main (35 laps):
1. Sport Allen, Pinellas Park, FL
2. Mike Woodring, Eden, NY
3. Greg Wilson, Benton Ridge, OH
4. Kenny Adams, Malabar, FL
5. Michael Smith, Gibsonton, FL
6. Greg Leonard, Appolo Beach, FL
7. Lance Deweese, Fayetteville, PA
8. Red Stauffer, Winter Park, FL
9. Michael Dupuy, Amite, LA
10. Casey Johnson, Sarasota, FL
11. Chris Rogers, Winston, GA
12. Brady Alvis, St. Petersburg, FL
13. Marshall Skinner, West Memphis, AR
14. Jason Sides, Bartlett, TN
15. John Bankston, Beaumont, TX
16. Brian Thomas, Auburn, GA
17. Brandon Dover, Venice, FL
18. Jessie Fordyce, Port Charlotte, FL
19. Michael Craddock, Olive Branch, MS
20. Gene Lasker, Tampa, FL
21. Bubba Clem, Triverty, FL
22. Dick Byerly, Mansfield, OH
23. Randy Helton, Palmetto, GA
24. Robbie Smith, Tampa, FL
25. Shane Morgan, Biloxi, MS
26. Jim Raptis, Marietta, GA
27. Randy Carr, Dover, FL

Blue Ribbon Farms heat winners: 1st-John Bankston, 2nd-Jason Sides, 3rd-Robbie Smith, 4th-Jim Raptis.

B-Main winner: Michael Dupuy.

Mystery dash winner: Marshall Skinner.

Huggins Cams Hard Charger Award - Michael Dupuy.
Weld Racing Top 10 Award - Casey Johnson.
All Star Motorsports Top Rookie - Casey Johnson.
C & R Racing Radiator Awards - Lance Deweese, Marshall Skinner.
$500 Shaw Racing Award - Sport Allen.
$250 Shaw Racing Award - Mike Woodring.

LIMITED LATE MODELS

Main - Forrest Gough, Jeff Mathews, Don Gansner, Jamie Burrows, William Pugh.


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