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USAR: Ritch wins Miller Lite 250

24 March 1999

Passes Bobby Gill in the final laps

Irvington, AL - Mounting a furious rally in the closing laps of the Miller Lite 250, High Point, NC driver Michael Ritch passed race leader Bobby Gill on the 199 circuit and sped away to an eight-car length victory at Mobile International Speedway, winning his first Hooters ProCup Series race of the year.

At age 26, the former Mid-Atlantic Region Winston Racing Series Champion has won eight races in his 21 Hooters ProCup Series starts. Driving the Jackaroo Sauces Chevrolet Monte Carlo of car owner Harold Hopper, Ritch earned the Discount Auto Parts Pole Position then watched as Mario Gosselin took the initial lead of the grueling 250-lap race in his W.J.Plemons Chevrolet. Ritch spent the first eight laps measuring the 1997 Series champions groove before taking his first lead of the race on lap nine.

Ritch led the next 141 laps before pitting for four tires and gas. Although his pit stop proved to be the best of the day he found himself 10th with 100 laps remaining. Gliding through lapped traffic, while picking off his adversaries car-by-car, Ritch finally caught and passed Gills AquaTech Chevrolet in turn three and never looked back.

The win was his second consecutive at the slippery 1/2-mile and was worth $8,000. Ritch also won the Lucas Oil Products Halfway Leader Award. He survived 12 caution periods for 85 laps and led 193 laps. Thirty-three drivers started the race.

Mike Laughlin, Jr. of Simpsonville, SC gunned down Gill on the final lap to take second by a scant 18 inches in his Valenite Tool Ford Taurus. Gills third place finish will keep the Dalton, GA veteran in the Series points lead worth $200,000 at seasons end.

Durham, NC driver Jay Fogleman came from the 27th position to finish fourth in his JFCO Motorsports Ford Thunderbird. Fogleman earned the W.J.Plemons Hard Charger Award.

Derrick Kelley, Auburndale, FL was fifth in the Discount Auto Parts Chevrolet. Finishing sixth through 10th; Johnny Rumley, Jeff Agnew, Scott Wimmer, Toby Porter and Chuck Walls who earned the Miller Beer Rookie of the Race Award as the highest finishing rookie.

The race can be seen tape-delayed Sunday, March 28 at 8 pm on the Speedvision Network. The next Hooters ProCup race is Saturday, April 3 at St. Augustine Speedway. For information concerning the Discount Auto Parts 250 call 800-852-7223.