USAR Post Race Story from USA International Speedway

For Immediate Release
 

 

Tim Southers

USAR Media Relations 

(770) 719-0204

usar@bellsouth.net

www.usarprocup.com

 

 
Sarvis Makes It Two In a Row at USA International
 

            Lakeland, FL - For the second consecutive time Jason Sarvis has won at USA International Speedway - even if he thought he wouldn't see victory lane while running third with less than 10 laps to go in the Miller Lite 250 presented by Discount Auto Parts Saturday night.

            Sarvis held off teammate Hal Goodson during a green, white, checkered finish that ended a USAR Hooters ProCup Series race that featured fireworks on the track late in the race. 

            "We are glad to get the win but I know Bobby (Gill) and Steve (Christian) are great racers and I hate they had problems," said Sarvis. "I saw them make contact and I knew something else was going to happen so we just took advantage of our opportunity."

            Sarvis was talking about the fact that Christian and Gill made contact several times before the two made hard contact on lap 248 sending Christian spinning in turn four while leading. Gill was penalized a stop and go penalty for rough driving and Christian was later penalized one lap for making contact with Gill under caution.

            The two veteran drivers were racing hard when Christian and Gill made contact in turn two on lap 238. The contact made Gill lift on the accelerator and out of the groove giving Christian a chance to move under Gill and take the lead on lap 239. Christian remained in front until the two drivers got together on lap 248, effectively ending any chance to get a win for both drivers.

            Toby Robertson finished third and Mart Nesbitt was fourth with Gill rebounding to complete the top five. The race was delayed by 1:41 by rain and forced the red flag given to the field on lap 26.

            The race restarted with Shane Huffman leading the first 82 laps before Sarvis claimed the top spot on lap 83. Gill claimed the top spot and remained out front until lap 127 when Derrick Kelley assumed the lead under caution. Sarvis reclaimed the top spot on lap 138 and led all but two of the next 40 laps when Huffman held the top spot on laps 148-149.

            Gill passed for the lead and remained out front for the next 50 laps until he and Christian made contact on lap 238. The win was the second career victory in the Series for Sarvis who also won the Buffalo Nickel Pole Award for his fourth pole out of the last five races at USA International Speedway. Gill led at lap 125 to collect the Lucas Oil Products Halfway Leader Award and Huffman led 84 laps total to win the Southern Pride Lap Leader Award.

            Andrew Medlin enjoyed his return to his home state winning Miller Lite Rookie of the Race honors and Royce Johnston advanced 14 positions throughout the race to win the W.J. Plemons Investments Hard Charger Award.

            The USAR Hooters ProCup Series Southern Division will conclude its regular season portion of the schedule in two weeks when Concord Motorsport Park hosts the Jackaroo Sauces 250 presented by Jennie-O Turkey Store on Saturday, September 14th.  

 

-30-