USAR Race Story

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

 

Tim Southers

USAR Media Relations

770-719-0204

usar@bellsouth.net

www.usarprocup.com

 

 

Gosselin Grabs First Win of the Season
 

HICKORY, NC (Aug. 5th) -    Mario Gosselin passed Stony Point-native Jon Kerley on lap 188 and held off a hard-charging Mike Laughlin, Jr. to win the Naturally Fresh Dressings 250 Saturday night in front of a near-capacity crowd at Hickory Motor Speedway.

            Gosselin, the 1997 United Speed Alliance Racing Hooters ProCup Series champion, was happy to collect his first win of 2001 after a nine-month absence from victory lane.

            "I can't thank Web Carter and everyone at Carter-Grandle enough," said Gosselin. "We had a fast car in qualifying and I really appreciate Lance Snacks and all their support with the pole award. We didn't want to see that last restart but luckily we had enough to hold Mike off there at the end. We thought we would have been here (victory lane) before now, but it still feels great anytime you win."

            Gosselin, who last visited victory lane at St. Augustine Speedway in November, broke a tie held with Bobby Gill for all-time wins in the Series with his 17th triumph in the steel-bodied stock-car division. Gosselin, by winning additional awards, collected $12,000 with the win.

            The race was slowed eight times for caution with the final caution flag given to the field on lap 223 when Hickory Motor Speedway regular Mark Setzer spun in turn one while Bill Plemons, Jr. spun at the same time in turn four. The spin for Plemons was costly, since he was running second at the time.

            Gill, current points leader and defending race winner at Hickory Motor Speedway, finished third with Hal Goodson and Kerley completing the top-five.

            Jay Fogleman finished sixth and former NASCAR Busch Series champion Chuck Bown finished seventh. Stacy Puryear was eighth and Plemons rebounded from a spin to finish ninth. Jimmy McClain collected his first top-10 of the season to complete the top-10.

            Gosselin led the first 76 laps of the race until Jason Sarvis passed for the lead and remained out front until lap 111. Gosselin reclaimed the top spot after a restart on lap 112.

            "We had good restarts tonight but it was tough to hold off Jason," added Gosselin. "We didn't want to see that red flag but we were able to keep the momentum going."

            The red flag was given to the field when Huffman and Scott Hall got together on the backstretch on lap 155 after debris had fallen on the track.

            "I hate me and Shane got together," said Hall. "It was just one of those racing deals on a tight short track like Hickory." Huffman and Hall were both able to continue. Huffman finished 24th and Hall 26th.

            Gosselin led at lap 125 to win the Lucas Oil Halfway bonus with Laughlin claiming the W.J. Plemons Investments Hard-Charger Award for advancing 22 positions during the race.

            "We had to really work on this car to get it fast today," said Laughlin. "We just didn't have enough for Mario; but this team needed a good run and we got that tonight."

            Several other local drivers made the race in addition to Huffman, Kerley, McClain and Setzer, who finished a solid 17th. Ashley Huffman qualified 26th and finished a respectable 18th in his first-ever start in the Series. Former Tri-County Speedway track champion Toby Robertson finished 13th and Mart Nesbitt had a top-10 run going before he made contact with the wall to finish 25th.

            The USAR Hooters ProCup Series Southern Division returns to action in two weeks at South Boston Speedway.

 

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