8/17/2007
Sprint Source
Crawley sets new track record and wins O'Reilly USCS Mid-South Thunder race at Malden Speedway.
Malden, MO -Tim Crawley from Benton, Arkansas won the 25-lap O'Reilly United Sprint Car Series www.uscsracing.com Mid South Thunder race Friday night at Malden Speedway in Malden, Missouri. It was only Crawley's second visit ever to the Malden Speedway, but he made the most of it by also setting a new all-time one-lap track record in time trials. Crawley drove the Ward Racing #88 around the 3/8 mile clay oval in just 13.258 seconds eclipsing the old mark of 13.336 set by Kenny Adams from Malabar, Florida on September 21, 2001.
Crawley started on the pole of the A-Main after Engler Machine and Tool First Heat winner, Jerrod Hull from Sikeston, Missouri drew a zero inversion in the K&N Filters Pole draw. This placed Crawley, on the pole with second quick qualifier and Terry Gray from Bartlett, Tennessee on the outside of the front row. Gray was carrying a two-race win streak at the track into this event. Crawley grabbed the lead exiting turn two of lap one and started his march to the pay window for the winner's share leaving Gray and the balance of the field were left to battle for the runner-up spot.
Crawley started on the pole of the A-Main after Engler Machine and Tool First Heat winner, Jerrod Hull from Sikeston, Missouri drew a zero inversion in the K&N Filters Pole draw. This placed Crawley, on the pole with second quick qualifier and Terry Gray from Bartlett, Tennessee on the outside of the front row. Gray was carrying a two-race win streak at the track into this event. Crawley grabbed the lead exiting turn two of lap one and started his march to the pay window for the winner's share leaving Gray and the balance of the field were left to battle for the runner-up spot.
Rim-riding 1999 O'Reilly USCS Champion, Marshall Skinner from West Memphis, Arkansas passed third-place starter Raymond Stull from Independence, Mississippi on lap one and made a charge at Gray for one lap before Stull slide back underneath him for the third position. On lap three sixteen year-old 2006 O'Reilly USCS Rookie of the Year, Derek Hagar from Marion, Arkansas spun bringing out the yellow flag.
After the caution period, the action continued under green for six more laps as Crawley raced away from the field. Gray, Stull, Skinner, Jerrod Hull and Brian Bell from Memphis, Tennessee fought for position in the lead pack approximately a half straightaway behind the leader for the next six laps.
On lap nine, Derek Hagar made contact with one of the large barrier tires place around the inside of the track and flipped bringing out the red flag. This bunched the field once again behind Crawley on the restart . One lap later rookie Dylan DeJournett from Essex, Missouri, who had been running in the ninth position, spun in turn three once again bringing out the caution flag and giving Gray another shot a Crawley. On the restart Crawley held the lead once again.
The race went green for the next four laps before the final caution flew on lap fourteen for DeJournett who left the racing surface of the track in turn one. The race then went caution-free the final eleven laps with Crawley leading the balance of the race and winning by a straightaway margin at the finish line. Gray built a comfortable margin over Skinner and Stull who battled for the third position the entire race with Jerrod Hull closing on them in a tight battle the last five laps for the final podium position.
At the finish line it was Tim Crawley moving into victory lane, with Terry Gray in the runner-up spot, Marshall Skinner held onto the third position followed by Raymond Stull in fourth and Jerrod Hull rounded out the top five. Brian Bell was sixth, followed by second year driver Dustin Barks from Farmington, Missouri in seventh place, Steve Short from Farmington was eighth, DeJournett was ninth and Hagar rounded out the top ten.
Terry Gray won the evening's 6-lap Lucas Oil Power Dash. Jerrod Hull won the Engler Machine and Tool First Heat Race. Marshall Skinner won the Butlerbuilt Second Heat Race. Dustin Barks garnered the events Huggins Cams Hard Charger award. DeJournett was awarded the Robison Racing Products Rookie of the Race. Crawley snagged the K&N Filters Pole Award after first heat winner, Jerrod Hull drew a zero in the K&N inversion draw. Brian Bell was recognized as the Hoosier Tire Young Gun of the Race, which is awarded to the top-finishing driver under twenty-five years old..
Submitted By: Adam Ulrey