USAR: Puryear Wins In Jennerstown
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
April 24, 2001JENNERSTOWN, PA – Stacy Puryear was able to outlast Donnie Hill for the final seven laps to win the Naturally Fresh Dressings 200 presented by Rolling Rock at Jennerstown Speedway Saturday night in front of 4,000 fans. The race was the first-ever northern division race for the United Speed Alliance Racing Hooters ProCup Series. Mike Herman, Jr. followed Hill for third; Mardy Lindley and Mart Nesbitt completed the top five.
“When the race started, our car was too tight,” said Puryear. “I had to get used to the track because we didn’t get much practice time with the rain. The USAR Hooters ProCup Series is a great series and it was fun to compete against these great drivers from the northern division. The crew never mentioned who was behind me, but I was able to get a good restart after the last caution and we finally got a break or two to go our way tonight.”
Hill, registered to compete in the northern division, enjoyed his second place finish.
“We are very happy to get this finish and leave with the lead in the northern points.” Jason McClellan finished sixth with Ron Beauchamp, Jr. seventh. Charlie Ford started from the pole and rebounded from two on-track accidents to finish eighth, while Regan Smith and Dale Delozier completed the top-10. The race was slowed 13 times by caution, highlighted by a four-car accident on lap 34 when Glenn Sullivan, Andy Carroll, Todd Wier and Travis Ayers got together in turn two.
Ford captured his first career pole award when he won the Sunoco Pole Award with a time of 19.561. Ford was passed by the defending Miller Lite Rookie of the Year in the Hooters ProCup Series Brian Vickers. Vickers set the pace early until Ford regained the top spot on lap 34. 1998 USAR Hooters ProCup Series Champion Jeff Agnew joined the pair to have the trio in front until lap 68, when Neil Cox spun in front of the leaders on the backstretch taking Vickers and Agnew out of contention for the win.
Herman, Jr. was happy with the finish in his first race of the season but wished he could have finished a little higher in the standings.
“I am a little disappointed tonight,” said Herman. “I mean, I’m very poud of this Don Sprouse team and we worked hard tonight. It’s just that we had a really strong car and felt we could have challenged for the win.”
Hill won Miller Lite Rookie of the Race honors with his runner-up finish while dirt track racing legend Bart Hartman rebounded from a crash in qualifying to finish 11 after starting 31 to win the W.J. Plemons Investments Hard Charger award. The northern division of the Series will return to action on Sunday May 6 at Thompson International Speedway in Thompson, CT.
Text Provided By Tim Southers
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