| Monday, September 8, 2003 | | | Adams is simply "AMAZING" in USCS "BAMA" Nationals finale | Maybe, the "Malabar Missle", Kenny Adams from Malabar, Florida, earned a nickname change Saturday night at Green Valley Speedway after his win in the 4th annual United Sprint Car Series "BAMA" Sprint Car Nationals.
After leaving the fans and everyone in attendance at least "awed' , if not "shocked", by his amazing display of speed, daring and unbelievable driving talent, maybe the "Malabar Madman" might better fit Adams.
Adams blew up his "good' motor in his Goodson Farms/Putnam County Speedway/got Milk?/ Hodgetel/ C&B Mushrooms #4a Shaw Racing car on Friday night in the 20 lap preliminary and had to start eighth in this race. He totally dominated Saturday night's 26 car field from seven states for his fifteenth USCS win and twenty first feature win of the 2003 season.
Adams started in row four and raced into second spot on lap two, but a caution for Tom Winegardner's, Jr. contact with the backstretch wall moved him back to third in the restart order. On the restart, Adams took the top groove and raced by his former team mate, 1997 USCS Champion Red Stuaffer into the lead.
Adams then proceeded to look like a pinball flying around the playfield careening from top to bottom, banking off the wall in the corners and down the straightaways, slicing and diving thru the field in what appeared to be mad fashion.
Stauffer who started on the pole and maintained second place while Adams raced away. Stauffer maintained a slim margin over the rest of the field with the balance of the top ten bunched behind him fighting for every spot and did not see Adams again until lap 25 when the "Madman" did something no other driver has ever done in USCS history, he lapped the field. On lap 28 the previous night's winner, Defending USCS Champion Terry Gray from Bartlett, Tennessee, had a flat tire, almost simultaniously, so did Adams. Both driver's crews worked quickly and changed their tires and returned to the track before the restart. Adams restarted at the rear a lap ahead of everyone and continued to fly toward victory lane, Gray recovered to tenth.
Stauffer from Winter Park, Florida owned the runnerup spot, followed by Ohio travelers, Scott Cramer in third and rookie sensation Ryan Myers in fourth.
2000 East Bay Raceway champion, Johnny Gilbertson from Dover, Florida rounded out the top five. Jeremy Scott from Franklin, Georgia rallied from his 13th starting position to finish 6th. Jim Raptis from Marietta, Georgia finished in 7th, followed by Chris Hill in eighth and Roland Johnson from Zephyrhills, Florida and Gray completed the top ten.
Adams and Tom Winegardner, Jr from Pierson, Florida won the qualifying heats. Chris Hill from Wedowee, Alabama dominated the Airflow Research Power Dash.
Veteran USCS regular, David Thorman from Greenville, South Carolina aced the 10 lap B-Main. Shawn Stafford from Gainesville, Georgia garnered the Huggins Cams "Hardcharger" award passing the most cars in the A main from his last place start, to finish 13th after starting last in the B main to get there. Jeremy Scott earned the KSE "Outstanding Driving Performance" Award for his efforts. Ryan Myers again was the races USCS/Hart Racing top rookie.
Heat #1 - winner = Tom Winegardner, Jr., Danny Martin, Jr. , Tom Winegardner, Jeremy Scott, Aubrey Black, Jimmy Taylor, Doug Fitzwater, Buster Dickerson, Kenny Hart, Randy Helton.
Heat #2 - winner = Kenny Adams, Chris Hill, Jerry Kobza, Skip Andrews, Roland Johnson, David Thorman, Scott Young, Shawn Stafford, RJ Johnson, Michael Craddock. . . "Bama" Sprint Car Nationals Finals - A main event 30 laps. Winner = Kenny Adams, Red Stauffer, Scott Cramer, Ryan Myers, Johnny Gilbertson, Jeremy Scott, Jim Raptis, Chris Hill, Roland Johnson, Terry Gray, Tom Winegardner, Danny Martin, Jr., Shawn Stafford, Skip Andrews, RJ Johnson, Scott Young, Aubrey Black, David Thorman, Jerry Kobza, Tom Winegardner, Jr., Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on the Message Board! or send a letter to the editor!
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