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| Thunder Roadsters At Columbia | David Ragan, from Concord,
North Carolina started the evening off by setting
quick time around Columbia Motorsports Park's banked
half mile paved oval. The former Legends car champion
who just turned 16 years old, then placed himself on
the pole of the main event when he drew a zero in the
inversion for the lineup. Ragan, the youngest
competitor, then showed the balance of the field, from
six states, just how well he was going to adapt to
the bigger Thunder Roadster cars by leading all twenty
laps of the USCS-INEX Thunder Roadster main event and
capturing the points lead in the King of the Ovals
Challenge series.
Ragan's victory didn't come easy though as he had to
hold off first #20 Ryan Zeck for the initial 6 laps
before he brought out the caution with a spin sending
him to the infield. On the restart eighteen year old
Nick Hutchins from Columbia, South Carolina, took up
the chase until the caution flag flew again on lap
ten for Hutchins and the #2 of Dale Akridge. Both
cars went to the infield.
When the green flag flew again for the last ten laps,
Ragan was holding off 2001 Legends Road Race Nationals
champ D. J. Krentz, a Concord, North Carolina resident
recently transplanted from Denver and Indiana sprint
car veteran, Larry Fritz from Carmel, Indiana. Ragan
kept his cool and raced across for the checkers in
front followed by the crafty Fritz who past Krentz
with two laps to go.
At the finish wich saw only two cars off the lead lap
as there was nothing but nose to tail and side by side
racing action thru out the top ten positions. Mike
Ferre from Concord, North Carolina finished in fourth
behind Krentz and Roger Neale also from Ferre's home-
town of Concord rounded out the top five.
USCS President Pete Walton said, "This was actually my
first Thunder Roadster race to see and I was totally
impressed with the drivers and the racing. These guys
are really great to work with and it was fun racing
to watch," concluded Walton.
Heat races were won by Ragan and Nick Hutchins. Larry
Fritz captured the trophy dash. Car #81 driven by
Gary Tinker from New Port Richie, Florida garnered
the USCS/600 Racing, Inc. "Hardcharger" award for
advancing the most positions in the main event.
Track owner Bert Ashelman said, "I was really impressed
with the close wheel to wheel racing show those guys
put on. Igt was really neat watching these cars.
They remind me so much of the front engine heyday
of Indy and the cars actually sound alot like the
Offies that powered the Watson roadsters of that
era. It's a neat show."
Fast Time - David Ragan - 19.916 (track record)
Main event (20 laps) David Ragan, Larry Fritz, D.J.
Krentz, Mike Ferre, Roger Neale, Dana Norman, Larry
Friddle, Gary Tinker, Don Snyder, Rick Fergusson,
Fred Yelnick, Fred Watson, Nick Hutchins, Dale
Akridge, and Ryan Zeck.
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