6/11/2009
Sprint Source
Sowell rides lightning to Clayhill win
Atwood, TN – June 11, 2009 - Mississippi young gun Lee Sowell from Nesbit, Mississippi charged to his first Parts Plus United Sprint Car Series feature win of the 2009 season over a talent-laden field of drivers from five states to capture the “Thursday Thunder” sprint car portion of the “Clayhill Clash” at Clayhill Motorsports on Thursday night. The victory in the rain-shortened and lightning charged mid-week affair scheduled for 30-laps was Sowell’s third Parts Plus USCS career feature win.
Sowell won the initial drag race to turn one over K&N Filters Pole Position starter Derek Hagar from Marion, Arkansas, then led every lap of the main event before the rains came on lap twenty-seven. Then, with lightning as a front stretch back drop, Derek Hagar and defending series Champion, Terry Gray from Bartlett, Tennessee chased Sowell the entire distance, but could not prevent Sowell’s charge toward a rain soaked victory lane. After a lap twenty-seven caution and ensuing re-start, the skies opened to end the final three-lap dash to the finish.
Derek Hagar crossed the finish line in the runner-up position followed by seven-time series National Champion, Terry Gray in the third and final podium position. 2008 “Clayhill Clash” Champion, Marshall Skinner from West Memphis, Arkansas followed in fourth. Two-time Midwest All-Stars Champion, Jerrod Hull from Sikeston, Missouri who won the March, 21st Parts Plus USCS feature at Malden Speedway rounded out the top five finishers.
Raymond Stull from Independence, Mississippi provided the fans with some excitement by charging from twelfth place to finish sixth in the main event. Current rookie point’s leader Justin Carver from Drummonds, Tennessee finished seventh. 2008 Midwest All-Stars sprint series Rookie of the Year, sixteen year-old Brad Greer from Coulterville, Illinois finished in the eighth position in the main event. The 2007 United Sprint Car Series Mid-South Thunder regional series Rookie of the Year, Chris Williams from Cordova, Tennessee charged through the field past six cars to collect the ninth place pay envelope and Wade Oliver from Southaven, Mississippi rounded out the top ten.
Terry Gray kicked off the evening with a hard fought win over Raymond Stull in the six cars, six laps Parts Plus Power Dash. Jerrod Hull won the Engler Machine and Tool First Heat. Defending National Champion Terry Gray charged to the win in the Butlerbuilt Second Heat. Eventual feature winner Lee Sowell raced to victory lane in the 10-lap Bar’s Leaks Third Heat. K&N Filters Pole Award honors went to Derek Hagar. The eighteen year-old Hagar also garnered the Hoosier Tire Young Gun of the Race honors for his runner-up efforts.
Raymond Stull garnered the Lunati “Crank It Up” Award for his charge past six cars from twelfth starting position into sixth place at the finish of the main event. The RE Technologies Rookie of Race honors went to the current rookie points leader, Justin Carver.
The next Parts Plus United Sprint Car Series racing event is on this Saturday, June 13th in the “Rumble at the River 2009” at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Arkansas.
Submitted By: Adam Ulrey