| Kenny Adams gets "Most Important Win Ever" in USCS Prevatt Memorial "Fall Brawl" finale at East Bay | Gibsonton, FL - As Kenny Adams from Malabar, Florida, stood in victory lane emotionally accepting the victory in the final race of the USCS (United Sprint Car Series www.uscsracing.com) racing season the 35 lap Lonnie Prevatt Memorial Saturday night at East Bay Raceway Park he was holding back tears as some of the members of Donn Goodson's family were on hand to celebrate with him.
Adams said the win meant more to him than any race in his long and successful career. An emotional Kenny Adams said in victory lane," I know I was the sentimental favorite tonight , but I'm so glad we could win this race for our fallen team members. It just really means a lot. You know, our team and our crew has been cut in half. It's been a really difficult and terrible two weeks. Before the feature, I told Bryn, (crew chief, Bryn Gohn ) I've won hundreds of races in my career, but I'd trade them all to win this one race tonight." He then continued "I've never had a car that was this good at East Bay and we've won lots of races here. Tonight though, I'm not sure that I was steering the car all by myself. I am so grateful for this win and for all that this means to our team and to the Goodsons who asked me and the other Goodson Farms team mates, Terry Gray and Johnny Gilbertson to come and race this weekend and to win one for Donn".
The race was named for the late Lonnie Prevatt who was the founder and former promoter of the famed one third mile speedway located just South of Tampa, but the night belonged to Adams and to the Goodson Farms team including two members who were not there in body but definitely weighted in heavily in spirit. They were Donn Goodson who died last Wednesday and whose funeral was held at 11 a.m. Saturday morning and crew member Billy Harter who was buried exactly one week before. Donn Goodson formed the team and his Goodson Farms, Inc. was the major sponsor and Billy Harter who was one of Goodson's closest friends was an important and loyal member of the crew. Both died as a result of injuries from Goodson's helicopter crash on his farm on October 2st.
After leading the four abreast USCS fan salute position out in front of the formation leaving the "mising man" pole position open, the "Malabar Missle"Adams, bolted from his third place starting position into second place, then led the last 31 laps of the race in his Goodson Farms sponsored #4a after taking over the lead on lap four from defending USCS Champion, Terry Gray from Bartlett, Tennessee. Adams sliced and diced thru traffic clearing holes that seemingly were not there with ease, all the time using what he called his third best Don Ott motor. On lap 28 a caution for a spun car bunched the field behind him, but Adams cruised untouched right into victory lane ahead of All Star regular Greg Wilson from Benton Ridge, Ohio, Friday night's feature winner 17 year old, Danny"Hammer" Martin, Jr. from Sarasota, Florida in third , followed by Gray who clinched his third USCS National title in a row in fourth and perenial East Bay bad boy "Superman Sport Allen from Largo, Florida who won the 2003 King of 360 Winternationals rounded out the top five. . Brian Maddox from Tampa was sixth, Johhny Gilbertson from Dover was seventh, IRL Indy Car driver Jimmy Kite from Stockbridge, Georgia was eighth, Paulie Millum from Sarasota finished ninth and 1997 USCS Champion, Red Stauffer from Winter Park, Florida completed the top ten. Kenny Adams won the Airflow Research Power Dash, and Tom Winegardner, Brian Maddox and Red Stauffer won the qualifying heat races. The event's Huggins Cams "Hard charger" award went to Jimmy Kite who past nine cars in the main event. Tom Winegardner, Jr. also received the USCS/Hart Racing "top rookie" selection for the event. AFR Dash - KennyAdams, Danny Martin, Jr., Greg Wilson, Sport Allen, Paulie Millum, Terry Gray.
Heat #1 - Tom Winegardner, Jr., Shawn Stafford, Ray Bolin, Brandon Dover, Danny Jones, Neal LaRose, Tom Winegardner. Heat #2 - Brian Maddox, Johnny Gilbertson, Lee Scrape, Aubrey Black, Frank Carlsson, Jim Raptis, Jerry Jones,
Heat #3 - Red Stauffer,Jeremy Scott, Jimmy Kite, Randy Helton, Daryl Smith, Rick Byerly.
A main event (35 laps) - East Bay Raceway Park (11/01/03) WINNER = Kenny Adams, Greg Wilson, Danny Martin, Jr., Terry Gray, Sport Allen, Brian Maddox, Johnny Gilbertson, Jimmy Kite, Paulie Millum, Red Stauffer, Tom Winegardner, Jr., Jeremy Scott, Brandon Dover, Randy Helton, Jim Raptis, Rick Byerly, Shawn Stafford, Tom Winegardner, Jerry Jones, Frank Carlsson, Ray Bolin, Lee Scrape, Aubrey Black, Daryl Smith, DNS - Danny Jones DNS - Neal LaRose. . USCS info: www.uscsracing.com 770-313-3477, 770-605-5993 Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on the Message Board! or send a letter to the editor!
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