USAR: Goodson does it again

Midland, NC – For the second consecutive week Hal Goodson has taken his magic 
carpet ride courtesy of Bill Plemons, Jr. all the way to the bank and now 
stands to leave the “bank” empty next month.
       Goodson outlasted Mardy Lindley by .464 of a second to win the Dan 
Duncan Memorial Hooters 250 Saturday night at a very cold Concord Motorsport 
Park. Brian Vickers rebounded from two sub-par performances for him to finish 
third and Chad Mullis collected his first top five finish since the 
season-opener back in February.
       Toby Robertson completed the top-five and finished as the Miller Lite 
Rookie of the Race. Robertson enters next month’s race at USA International 
Speedway with a commanding lead in the chase for the Miller Lite Rookie of 
the Year Award.
       “I tell you a man can do a lot when he has got to feed his family,” 
added Goodson. “I can’t thank Bill enough and all of the guys on the crew 
who have stuck with me through thick and thin. I can’t believe how things 
have worked out for us.”
Goodson took the lead from Robertson when Robertson pitted under caution and 
never looked back, although there were challenges.
       “Mardy was coming on there for a while and I knew Bobby (Gill) would 
be right there at the end,” added Goodson. “This car was a new Childress car 
and it has done a great job for us tonight.”
       Gill finished sixth and Mike Laughlin, Jr. rebounded from an 
early-race accident to finish seventh. Jeff Agnew was eighth and John Kinder 
collected his second consecutive top-10 finish coming home in ninth. Kertus 
Davis rebounded from a tough night at Myrtle Beach to collect a top-10 in 
tenth.
       “We had a good car and needed a good finish tonight and we got it,” 
said Lindley. “I gave it everything I could but we run good at Lakeland (USA 
International) and hopefully we will be able to finish the season strong.”
       Shane Huffman entered the weekend with a one-point lead over Gill in 
the chase for the championship and began the day with his third consecutive 
top spot in qualifying. Huffman set a new track record at CMS for the USAR 
Hooters ProCup Series with a time of 16.342 (110.146 mph), and led the first 
84 laps before Lindley got around for one lap and Huffman regained the top 
spot on lap 86. Huffman collected the Lance Snacks Pole Award and the $1,000 
award. 
       Robertson took the lead under caution when Huffman and many of the 
leaders pitted on lap 95 and remained out front until Gill took the lead for 
the first time in the Four Champions Championship Series. 
       Robertson and Mike Herman, Jr. got together in turn two when Herman 
worked to get his lap back. Robertson was forced to back of the gas and this 
allowed Gill to take the lead on lap 119.
Gill led until lap 147 when Goodson passed for the lead and never looked 
back. Goodson led a total of 84 laps during the race.
       The race was slowed 12 times by caution for 74 laps with a four-car 
accident on lap 92 when Vickers, Herman and Jason Sarvis, who were running in 
the top-10 at the time, were collected with Lonnie Rush in turn three. All 
four drivers were able to continue after the incident.
Gill collected the Lucas Oil Products Halfway Leader Bonus of $1,250 while 
Mullis used his top-five finish to collect the W.J. Plemons Investments Hard 
Charger Award. 
            Goodson has now taken the lead in the battle for the $250,000 
2001 USAR National Championship by 19 points over Gill (583-564). Huffman now 
sits in third with 555 points. Lindley is fourth with 533 points and Vickers 
sits just five points behind in fifth-place with 528.
            The win by Goodson Saturday night guarantees him at least a bonus 
of $10,000 by winning two of the four championship series events. Goodson can 
increase the Naturally Fresh Dressings Four Champions Challenge Bonus 
courtesy of Eastern Foods Incorporated to $25,000 if he can win the 
season-ending race on November 24th at USA International Speedway.