3/29/2009
Sprint Source
Blaze Martin streaks to Parts Plus USCS sprint car win at Watermelon Capital Speedway
Atlanta, GA - Blaze Martin from Brandon, Florida streaked to the win in the 40-lap Parts Plus United Sprint Car Series main event on Sunday afternoon at Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, Georgia. Martin passed a former Parts Plus USCS Champion, Marshall Skinner from West Memphis, Arkanasas for the lead on lap 5 and never looked back. It was Martin's first USCS feature win and a career-first winged sprint car victory.
Martin started from the sixth position after drawing a six in the K&N Filters Pole Award drawing. His draw placed Skinner on the pole with Rookie of the Year candidate, Justin Carver from Drummonds, Tennessee outside the front row. Skinner who was in his first pavement appearance in seven years, took advantage of his field position to lead the first four laps. Martin charged to the front and led lap five before pulling out to a comfortable margin until lap twenty-four when the caution flew for a spinning Ben Fritz. On the re-start, Martin pulled to a six car length led at the end.
Past TBARA Champion, Shane Butler from Bushnell, Florida chased Martin across the finishline. Seven time USCS Champion, Terry Gray from Bartlett, Tennessee followed Butler in third place. Marshall Skinner finished fourth. Ben Fritz from Ocala, Florida rounded out the top five finishers.
Carver had a successful paved track debut in sixth place followed by Billy Boyd from Tampa, Florida who started last after changing his right rear tire. 2008 Rookie of the Year, Anthony Nicholson finshed in eighth place also in his first time on Asphalt.
Amanda Ferguson from Orlando, Florida finished ninth in her first winged pavenent race and Brad Wickham from Rutherfordton, North Carolina rounded out the top ten.
Shane Butler won the Parts Plus Power Dash for the top six qualifiers.
Blaze Martin won the Engler Machine and Tool First Heat race and Billy Boyd from Tampa, Florida won the Butlerbuilt Second Heat.
Justin Carver was the Rookie of the Race and Billy Boyd garnered the Lunati Cranks "Crank It Up" Award for his charge past ten cars in the A-Main to finish seventh.
The next Parts Plus Outlaw Thunder event is on Friday April 3rd and Saturday, April 4th at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, MS.
Submitted By: Adam Ulrey