IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

February 4, 2004 FSCR Saldana wins USCS season opener at Volusia by Pete Walton BARBERVILLE, Fla. -- Joey Saldana won Tuesday night's 20 lap United Sprint Car Series season opener on night one of the two night USCS "Thunder Thaw" 2004 at Dick Murphy's Volusia Speedway Park. Saldana from Brownsburg, Indiana, who races regularly with the World of Outlaws used a determined driving style to race from his sixth starting position into the lead on lap 8 past early race leader, Greg Wilson from Benton Ridge, Ohio who started outside the front row. A series of cautions and then an wild crash involving defending USCS Champion, Terry Gray and two USCS regulars Jim Raptis and Aubrey Black brought the field to a stop on lap 9 with Saladana still on the point. When the race restarted Saldana was in control, with Wilson in second, Curt Michael in third, Chad Kemenah, Jason Sides and 2002 Winston Cup champion, Tony Stewart in pursuit. Action slowed again on lap 16 when Sides broke a steering part and collided with Tony Stewart who ended up spun out. When the race resumed Saldana led the next two laps until the red came out again on lap18 for a nasty wreck involving Gene Lasker who was running in the top ten. When the race restarted it was a two lap dash to the checkers and Saldana held off Greg Wilson, East Coast hot shoe Curt Michael, 2003 All Star champion, Chad Kemenah and 2003 Knoxville Raceway champion, Terry McCarl for the $2000 win. 2001 East Bay Raceway champion, Sport Allen from Largo, Florida finished sixth, followed by East Bay young gun 18 year old Danny "Hammer"Martin, Jr.who was seventh after starting twenty third. Canadian Glenn Styres finished eighth, Brice Wrenn from Lexington, South Carolina who started twenty second was ninth and 2003 USCS Asphalt Series champion, Kenny Adams from Malabar, Florida rounded out the top ten. World of Outlaws 2003 rookie of the year Jason Sides from Bartlett, Tennessee had fast time around the half mile oval at 14.866 seconds. Sides also captured the Airflow Research 5 lap Power Dash. Heat races were won by Kenny Adams, Tony Stewart, Brad Pake and Shane Stewart. The first B Main was won by Terry Gray and Zach Chappell won the second. Danny Martin, Jr. passed 16 cars in the A main finishing in the seventh position to receive the evening's Huggins Cams "Hardcharger" award. Fans don't have to wait long for the next USCS event as the action continues tonight (Wednesday at Volusia) The top six cars from Tuesday night's points will invert on the front of Wednesday night's main event. This alignment will place Canadian race track owner Glenn Styres on the pole with 2002 Winston Cup champion Tony Stewart on the outside front row. All Star regular, Greg Wilson will start third with Curt Michael in fourth and All Star champion Chad Kemenah and Tuesday night winner Joey Saldana on the third row. The track phone number is 386-985-4402. RESULTS Volusia Speedway Park 2/3/04 USCS A main event (20 laps) Winner = Joey Saldana , Greg Wilson, Curt Michael, Chad Kemenah, Terry McCarl, Sport Allen, Danny Martin, Jr., Glenn Styres, Brice Wrenn, Kenny Adams, Shane Stewart, Tony Stewart, Red Stauffer, Marshall Skinner, Cody Geldart, Tom Winegardner, Jr., Brad Pake, Gene Lasker, John Hawk, Jason Sides, Zach Chappell, Terry Gray, Jim Raptis, Aubrey Black, Roger Rager, Jeff Shepard. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! news@karnac.org or send a letter to the editor!