3/31/2007
Sprint Source
Phenomenal Robb scores first O'Reilly USCS win at Five Flags
Pensacola, FL - March 30, 2007 - Truly phenomenal fourteen year-old Trey Robb from Newcastle, Oklahoma became the youngest driver to ever win an O'Reilly United Sprint Car Series www.uscsracing.com feature race Friday night at the historic Five Flags Speedway. The slightly built, but hugely talented teenager with a lead foot passed five-time National O'Reilly USCS Champion, Terry Gray from Bartlett, Tennessee on the final lap to win the 30-Lap O'Reilly USCS Asphalt Thunder Tour National points event before a capacity crowd at the track known Worldwide home of the Snow Ball Derby held annually in December.
Troy Lowery from Martin, Tennessee who started outside of the K&N Pole Award recipient Charles Ladner from Tampa, Florida lead the first lap around the high-banked half-mile before Robb raced into the lead with a pass in turn one on the second lap. Robb then charged hard to build a slight advantage over the night's C&B Mushroom Farms fast qualifier, Kenny Adams from Malabar, Florida. Adams while chasing Robb, was also chasing his 100th series career win on this night. Adams followed the teenager in the runner-up spot until lap eight when Terry Gray pulled past Adams into the runner-up spot and started to reel in the streaking teenager who seemed to be quickly using up his tires. On lap thirteen Gray took the lead from Robb and pulled to a slight advantage for the next several laps before Robb utilized lapped traffic to close the gap and come fighting back.
As the veteran and the talented teen raced through lapped traffic, Robb smartly tucked in behind Gray and appeared to save his tires. The final five laps Robb challenged Gray several times and was able to take advantage of lap traffic and the fact that Gray seemed to have run out of rubber and was pretty loose. Entering turn one of the final lap Robb went low and raced under Gray exiting turn two and lead the final lap at the checked flag for his first career sprint car pavement win in only his second attempt. After the exciting finish, Robb was welcomed into victory lane with a standing ovation by the entire crowd.
Kenny Adams crossed the finish line in third place with his team-mate 2005 O'Reilly USCS Rookie of the Year Bryn Gohn from Malabar, Florida in fourth place. Troy Lowery got his career best O'Reilly USCS finish in fifth place.
Ryan Myers from Eaton, Ohio, who started last in the A-Main after having a major crash in his heat race finished sixth followed by Charles Ladner in seventh place. Veteran Michael Craddock from Olive Branch, Mississippi was eighth after running well all evening in his 2007 pavement debut. Dan Statter from Deltona, Florida finished in the ninth position and Mike Blake from Indianapolis, Indiana rounded out the top ten.
Ryan Myers from Eaton, Ohio kicked off the evening by winning the six car, six lap Lucas Oil Power Dash. Trey Robb won the Engler Machine and Tool First Heat Race and the series defending National Champion, Terry Gray won the Butlerbuilt Second Heat Race. Ryan Myers garnered the Huggins Cams Hardcharger Award after starting last and finishing in sixth place. Charles Ladner received the K&N Pole award. The JE Pistons Top Guns Award went to the veteran Gray. Trey Robb was awarded the Hoosier Tire Young Gun of the Race (for the highest finishing driver under 25 years old.).
The O'Reilly USCS www.uscsracing.com returns to action on Saturday, March 31st at Mobile International Speedway in Mobile, Alabama for Round two of the three-race Gulf Coast Challenge event. The third event will be held at Southern Raceway in Milton, Florida on Saturday April 7th. If the same driver wins Race One and Race Two at Five Flags and Mobile they will be eligible to start last at Southern Raceway and win $10,000 for the feature that night. If two different drivers win at Five Flags and Mobile, both drivers may start in the last row and if either one wins the event it will pay them $7500 to win.
Submitted By: Adam Ulrey
