Youth and enthusiasm overcame age and experience Friday night in the United Sprint Car Series main event Friday night at Five Flags Speedway. Fourteen year old Trey Robb of Newcastle, Oklahoma was victorious in his second-ever sprint car race on asphalt. And he had to pass 5-time USCS champion Terry Gray on the last lap to do it.
Robb, who won his first sprint car race at the age of thirteen, took the lead away from Troy Lowery on the 4th lap after starting on the outside of row 2. He was challenged immediately by Kenny Adams who was seeking his 100th USCS victory.
Adams tried an outside pass in turn two but the youngster held him off. Gray, the 30 year veteran with 13 national titles to his name, charged from his 5th starting position to 2nd place on the lap 7 and passed the young speedster for the lead five laps later.
Robb never let Gray get more than five car lengths ahead and when the two leaders encountered a lapped car on the 30th, and final, lap he made a savvy move for the lead. As they entered turn one, Robb looked outside and then sliced to the inside passing Gray as they exited the turn.
Before a very appreciative crowd, the diminutive driver said, “We worked him pretty good but the lapped car gave me the race.” After the race, Sheldon Robb, Trey’s grandfather told Gray that Trey learned a lot following behind the seasoned racer. “It doesn’t look like he needs to learn much more,” was Gray’s response. “I think I had them covered tonight but burned up my right rear (tire) running the pace that we did but I’d rather lose that way than not be up front at all.”
Kenny Adams held on for third place with his step-son Bryn Gohn a close 4th while Lowery followed in 5th. Adams, who set fast time with a 14.630 second lap, would have to wait to reach the 100-win mark in USCS competition.
Billy Melvin dominated the open wheel Modified portion of the Open Wheel Mania racing card, setting fast time, winning his heat, and capturing the 50 lap feature. Wesley Stephens led early and was able to hold off his fellow Alabama driver for ten laps before Melvin slipped by. Stephens finished several car lengths back with heat race winner Tim Martin of Amite, LA in tow.
In Pro Motorcycle racing, Pensacola’s Rob McClendon, fresh off a successful trip to Daytona’s Bike Week, won both his heat race and feature over Mobile’s veteran rider, Van Rayburn. The two put on quite a show in their heat swapping the lead back and forth, with Rayburn coming up 2-bike lengths short at the finish line.Tim Lorge finished 3rd ahead of Richard Sullivan and heat winner, Michael Hawes.
