USAR Myrtle Beach Post-Race Story

For Immediate Release

 

 

Tim Southers

USAR Media Relations

(770) 719-0204

usar@bellsouth.net

www.usarprocup.com

 

 

Gill Edges Sarvis To Win Bi-Lo 250 presented by Black's Tire Service
 

 

Myrtle Beach, SC (June 16, 2002) -- Bobby Gill won Saturday night - just barely. Gill edged Jason Sarvis by about six feet to win the Bi-Lo 250 presented by Black's Tire Service Saturday night at Myrtle Beach Speedway. Gill battled Jason Sarvis after a late-race caution to win his seventh race in eight starts so far this season. The only other driver to visit victory lane in the Southern Division has been Sarvis two weeks ago at USA International Speedway.

The pair of drivers were the only drivers to lead the race and exchanged the lead five times during the night and battled to a fender rubbing finish on a green, white, checkered ending as Gill and Sarvis challenged for the win on the final lap.

            The win was the 25th for Gill in the USAR Hooters ProCup Series. Joe Gaita finished third in just his second start of the season and Jay Fogleman finished fourth with Stacy Puryear completing the top five.

            "We knew Jason was there on the restart," said Gill. "We were tight going into the turns and loose coming out of the turns. The second set of tires was not as good as the first but we were able to hold on. It was a good night for us."

            Sarvis, who finished second to Gill in the same race last spring at Myrtle Beach, gave it all he had on the final sprint to the finish.

            "We couldn't get off the corners with Bobby, " said Sarvis. "There at the end (of the race) we got together and I tried to get him a little loose. This track is slick and we traded some paint but that is short track racing. Bobby is a great driver and he held on after we got together a little."

            Gaita qualified on the front row in just his second start of the season in the Series and held on to finish third almost making it three wide at the finish line.

            "We were just waiting to see what Jason and Bobby were going to do," said Gaita. "They made some contact and Bobby got really loose out of turn four and I was able to make a run under Jason at the line. It was a lot of fun out there tonight and hopefully we will be able to challenge for the win soon."

            The race was slowed nine times by caution with a multi-car accident on lap 88 taking out local favorite Hal Goodson from contention. Neil Cox, Mike Laughlin, Jr. and Ray Peele were unable to continue after the accident.

            Keith Roggen returned to the Series and finished a solid sixth on the lead lap after being involved in an earlier accident with Andrew Medlin on lap 16. Kertus Davis was seventh and Shane Huffman finished eighth. Myrtle Beach Speedway regular Stuart Ricks finished ninth and Toby Robertson completed the top-10.

            Sarvis won the Buffalo Nickel Buffalo Burgers Pole Award and Gaita collected Miller Lite rookie of the Race honors. Gill won the Lucas Oil Products halfway Leader Award bonus and the Southern pride Lap Leader Award. Ricks and Series veteran Jabe Jones shared the W.J. Plemons Investments Hard Charger Award.

            Gill remains in the lead in the USAR Hooters ProCup Series Southern Division point standings while Sarvis moved into second place 274-points behind. Goodson is third and Steve Christian and Huffman round out the top-five.

-30-