Fw: USAR Race Story from Jennerstown
----- Original Message ----- From: Tim Southers To: Tim Southers Sent: Monday, June 10, 2002 12:49 AM Subject: USAR Race Story from Jennerstown FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mike Milliron USAR Media Relations usar@bellsouth.net www.usarprocup.com JEFF AGNEW CLAIMS SECOND USAR WIN AT JENNERSTOWN SPEEDWAY Jennerstown, PA -- June 8, 2002 -- Jeff Agnew scored his second race win at Jennerstown Speedway Saturday night, as the USAR Hooters ProCup Series returned to the Laurel Highlands Oval to present the Naturally Fresh Foods 250 presented by Coke-Cola. The win marked Agnew's second trip to victory lane in as many weeks, with his other win coming at the Holland Speedway. Other finishers in order through the top five included Mardy Lindley, Brian Ross, Eric Corbett, and Charlie Ford. Mardy Lindley captured the Sunoco Pole Award and started the race from the point position, with Brian Ross heading up the outside row of competitors, while Jeff Agnew and Sam Fullone filled out the second row. When Honorary Race Starter and the National Football League 2001 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Kendrell Bell of the Pittsburgh Steelers waved the green flag, it was Lindley taking the front position, with Ross falling into line a very close second. Agnew took over the third place position, while Fullone began a battle with Eric Corbett for the fourth and fifth positions. Lindley maintained the top position from the drop of the green flag until lap 77, when rookie sensation Brian Ross made a dramatic outside pass for the lead, as the top two cars maneuvered through race traffic. Ross held Lindley at bay through lap 125, to claim the Lucas Oil Halfway Leader bonus, up until a caution on lap 133 which allowed the front runners to make their mandatory pit stops. Forrest Urban inherited the lead by staying out on the track, while Lindley, Ross, and Agnew's pit crews took over the battle on a tight pit road, as the top three starters occupied the first three stalls in that order. When the leaders entered pit road, it was Ross in first, Lindley in second, and Agnew in third. This order played out to an interesting conclusion as the race leader, Ross came into his pit box first, with Lindley darting into his space just ahead of Ross, and Agnew hitting his mark directly behind Ross. The three crews were a concentrated flurry of activity working right alongside each other, as tires and fuel were being added with lightning precision. Agnew's crew accomplished a fantastic pit stop, finishing their service just about the same time as the Ross team. Due to their pit placement behind the other top two teams, Agnew was able to maneuver around Ross to exit pit road first, as Lindley's crew continued their pit stop. This forced Ross to wait on Agnew's departure, since Lindley had effectively blocked him in, leaving Ross with nowhere to go but into reverse to open up enough room to exit. With the top three cars staying so equal throughout the 250-lap event, this could well be described as one of the winning moves of the race. Within a handful of laps from the race restart, Jeff Agnew used his fresher tires to his advantage in making his move for the race lead, taking over the top spot from Urban on lap 142. Lindley and Ross also got by, with Lindley taking over the lead for two circuits on laps 169-170. As the sun went down and the race track temperature continued to cool, it appeared that Agnew and his crew had hit upon the right combination, as the Floyd, Virginia native regained and maintained his lead over his two closest challengers. During the final stages of the race Lindley would not be able to mount a competitive challenge for the lead, as he found himself busy fending off a serious challenge for his second place position from Ross, which gave Agnew a much needed break as he watched the two-car battle in his rear view mirror all the way to the checkered flag finish. Finishing behind the top five in sixth through tenth place were Philip Rondeau, Roger Blackstock, Forrest Urban Jr., Sam Fullone, and Robby Marhefka. Along with the victory, Agnew also received the Southern Pride Lap Leader Award, and the #73 NGA Hooters Golf Tour Chevrolet team picked up the CV Products Engine Builder of the Race award. Rondeau, picked up the W.J. Plemons Investment Hard Charger award. Northern Division point leader, Brian Ross also picked up the Miller Lite Rookie of the Race award. The next race for the USAR Hooters ProCup Northern Division will be on Saturday, June 22 at Indianapolis Raceway Park, for the running of the Kroger 250 presented by Lucas Oil. The next stop for the southern division will be Saturday, June 15 at Myrtle Beach Speedway, for the running of the Jackaroo Sauces 250 presented by Black's Tire Service. ### For more information contact: Timmy Hutson USAR Media Relations (770) 719-0204 usar@bellsouth.net www.usarprocup.com