TRAVELER'S REST, S.C. - Once in a while it only takes a single statement victory to make a young driver’s career. Friday night at Traveler’s Rest Speedway in Traveler’s Rest, S.C., 16-year-old USCS Rookie of the Year candidate Nick Snyder found out how true that statement can be.
Snyder, from Marco Island, Fla., used a well-timed run to the inside of Morgan Turpen in turn three of the opening lap to take the lead, a position he would never relinquish en route to his first-career United Sprint Car Series (USCS) Outlaw Thunder Tour victory, his first win ever in a winged Sprint Car.
But it didn’t com easy. Snyder had to work through lapped traffic, as well as hold off a determined run by Terry Gray in the final five laps, before scoring the wire-to-wire victory.
“I saw him (show his nose) there a couple of times, and I knew I had to drive it in deep to chop him off a little bit and kill his momentum,” Snyder said in victory lane. “I got nervous there in lapped traffic coming to the white (flag). Terry got a run on me and I thought we were done at that point, but somehow I managed to use a lapped car in turn three to get back through on the high side.
“I’m thrilled that I’m standing here right now. This is a surreal feeling in our first full-time season. We’ve had so much bad luck before now that to have done this is a moment I’ll never forget.”
Gray finished second after his final run to the line came up about two feet short, but said he had another opportunity in traffic earlier in the race that he just couldn’t capitalize on.
“We were working through the field there about halfway, and he and I went three-wide on the 6T (Brad Wickham) and both Brad and I just got loose and made contact,” Gray said. “For a while, I actually thought I had a right rear tire going flat, but once I figured out we were good there I was able to make one last run and it just wasn’t quite enough. Hey, I’m not making excuses tonight, I got outdrove and that kid deserves this win. He drove a great race.”
Turpen, who is graduating with honors at the University of Memphis and missed her college graduation ceremony to compete this weekend, crossed the line in third place. C.J. Miller finished fourth after a scary flip in hot laps that nearly demolished his No. 9 entry. Lance Moss finished in fifth.
The event ran caution-free and took just over seven minutes to complete.
Eric Riggins, Jr., Johnny Petrozelle, Johnny Bridges, Brandon McLain and Jay Dunham rounded out the top ten.
Terry Gray kicked off the evening’s racing action by winning the Hoosier Tire Speed Dash, and Lance Moss scored the win in the first heat. Gray then followed up his dash win with a victory in the second heat.
Moss was the provisional pole-starter after scoring the most passing points in heat race action, but after he drew a six in the K&N Filters Inversion Draw, Turpen received the K&N Filters Pole Award and position.
For more info on the USCS Sprint Car Outlaw Thunder Tour, visit USCSRacing.com.
USCS Sprint Car Series
Traveler’s Rest Speedway – Traveler’s Rest, SC
Race Results – May 8, 2015
1. #116 – Nick Snyder – Marco Island, FL
2. #10 – Terry Gray – Bartlett, TN
3. #10M – Morgan Turpen – Cordova, TN
4. #9 – C.J. Miller – Mooresville, NC
5. #23 – Lance Moss – Cherryville, NC
6. #47 – Eric Riggins, Jr. – Charlotte, NC
7. #59III – Johnny Petrozelle – Denton, NC
8. #07 – Johnny Bridges – Cherryville, NC
9. #21B – Brandon McLain – Indian Trail, NC
10. #51 – Jay Dunham – Grovetown, GA
11. #6T – Brad Wickham – Rutherfordton, NC
12. #83 – Bob Auld – Largo, FL
13. #28 – Jeff Willingham – Ripley, MS
14. #33 – Joe Larkin – Suwannee, GA
DNS: #5S – Sonny Stroud, Marietta, SC
DNS: #44 – Gary Troutman, Vale, NC
DNS: #17 – Bobby Komisarski, Lake Wylie, SC
