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USAR: Kelley wins $25,000 bonus in Alan Kulwicki Memorial Hooters 300 at USA International Speedway

30 November 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Text provided by Gene Crane

- Second win of the season nets '99 record $33,500 payoff

LAKELAND, FL
Although it was a night to commemorate the memory of Alan Kulwicki and the "Four Champions Challenge", it was Derrick Kelley's night under the lights in the season finale Hooters 300 at USA International Speedway. Kelley overcame a two-lap deficit to collect the $25,000 bonus for winning two of the "Four Champions Challenge" races.

For the last two United Speed Alliance Racing Hooters ProCup Series events Derrick Kelley had finished runner-up or as Kelley said at St. Augustine Speedway "the first loser." This time he put the No. 21 Discount Auto Parts Chevrolet Monte Carlo in victory lane when it counted the most.

"What a way to cap off the season," Kelley said. "This Discount Auto Parts team has had some highs and lows over the year. I'm just glad that we were able to finish off the 1999 season on a really high note. We like to win wherever, but because of the Alan Kulwicki Memorial and winning in Lakeland, being that it's so close to home, makes it extra special."

Kelley appeared to have a strong car during early practice sessions but qualified 26th. He then began charging to the front from the drop of the green flag. The Auburndale, FL, resident nearly saw his chances for his second victory and the "Four Champions Challenge" bounty dashed when Kelley's Discount Auto Parts Chevy slowed on the track and fell out of the top-10 after running out of fuel just before the halfway point of the race, causing Kelly to lose two laps in the process of pitting.

"I can't describe the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach when the car began to sputter," said Kelley. "I knew that our car was strong enough to overcome the lost ground, but we had trouble getting the car to restart. We were two laps down and I told the guys we'd get as much of it back as we could. We did."

Central Florida race fans jumped to their feet as Kelley charged back through the field regaining positions and getting his laps back as the race to the checkered flag seem to be looming larger and larger. On lap 260, every fan in the house was on their feet and the cheers could be heard over the roar of the cars as Kelley took the lead from Andy Thurman for the last 45 circuits of the 304-lap event that resulted in a green, white, checkered finish.

Kelley finished the race with a 1.83-seconds margin of victory over runner-up Mardy Lindley in the No. 05 Aloe Lu-Ya Ford Taurus in a race which slowed for 16 cautions for 93 laps with eight lead changes among seven drivers.

Kelley was awarded the $500 W.J. Plemons Hard Charger Award bringing his earnings for the Alan Kulwicki Memorial Hooters 300 to more than $33,500 in purse and posted awards.

Lindley collected the $1,000 Miller Lite Rookie of the Race Award for his efforts in the Hooters 300. The Aloe Lu-Ya started 15th and ran in the top-10 for most of the event.

The 1999 USAR Hooters ProCup Champion Bobby Gill came to USA International Speedway looking to improve his season and career stats with another trip to victory lane. He collected his second $1,000 Discount Auto Parts Pole Award and lead for a total of 96 laps.

Gill's stellar performance on the track during the 1999 season earned him the title of Champion but his run of good luck ran dry at the .750-mile banked oval. A brush with the lapped car of Lyndon Amick sent Gill into the turn two wall with minor damage to the No. 5 Naturally Fresh Dressings and Dips/PGT Ford Taurus. It was hard contact with the outside retaining wall after breaking a panhard bar in turn three that put Gill out of the race.

Thurman, driving the No. 47 Naturally Fresh Mountain Spring Water Ford Thunderbird, continued his strong second-half of the season up the points ladder, leading the Hooters 300 for 74 laps and posting a career best third-place finish -- moving him to ninth in the overall points.

The Alan Kulwicki Memorial Hooters 300 from USA International Speedway in Lakeland, FL will be televised on Friday December 3 at 9 p.m. and re-aired Saturday, December 4 at Midnight and again on Monday December 6 at noon. Be sure to catch the season-finale of the USAR Hooters ProCup Series on Speedvision.

The next event for the USAR Hooters ProCup Series will be January 8 when the stars and cars dress in their finest to celebrate the 1999 season at the year-end banquet. The rumble of stock-cars will fill the night air at USA International Speedway for the first of 20 events in 2000 on February 26.

USAR Hooters ProCup Series Officials, Drivers and Teams hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday Season.

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.