LAVONIA, Ga. - Johnny Bridges raced to his second USCS Sprint Car Series win of 2015 during “Fast and Furious Friday” at Lavonia Speedway. It was also his first-career trip to victory lane at the Lavonia, Ga. three-eighths mile red clay oval, as he held off defending series champion Terry Gray in the process.
While many drivers were close on fuel in the closing laps, Bridges, from Cherryville, N.C., stayed cool under pressure and led all 30 laps from the K&N Filters Pole Position to score the win.
“I was real nervous with Terry behind me, and then on that last restart it just started cutting out in the corners,” Bridges said. “I was just sitting there going, ‘Come on, come on,’ and it finally picked back up off the exits of the corners.”
“This is my first-ever win at Lavonia, and (past USCS champion) Kenny Adams taught me how to get around this place – so this one’s credit to him.”
The night was plagued by two red flags and six additional cautions that made for challenging conditions for the 21-car field, with Eric Riggins, Jr. running out of fuel with four laps to go, bringing out the final yellow of the night.
The red flag was displayed twice before racing could really get established. The first came out on lap two when Kyle Amerson went flipping in turn two. The second flew on the ensuing restart when Brandon McLain went for a similar tumble at the exit of turn four. Both drivers were uninjured.
Gray chased Bridges the entire distance, but could never get close enough on any of the night’s restarts to challenge for the win. Bridges finished second and unofficially took the national points lead away from his teammate, Morgan Turpen, in the process.
Lance Moss rounded out the podium in third place. Anthony Nicholson followed in fourth, with Marshall Skinner in fifth.
Turpen, Nick Roberts, Pendergrass, Ga.’s Brian Thomas, Kevin Roberts Jr., and Shawn Murray rounded out the top 10.
Turpen kicked off the evening’s racing action by winning the Hoosier Tire Speed Dash, and Brian Thomas scored the win in the first heat. Bridges raced to victory in the second heat, while Nick Snyder took the victory in the third heat.
Bridges was the provisional pole-sitter after scoring the most passing points in heat race action, and after a zero was rolled on the inversion, he also received the K&N Filters Pole Award.
For rules and updated schedule information about the USCS Sprint Car Series, visit USCSRacing.com.
USCS Sprint Car Series
Lavonia Speedway – Lavonia, GA
Race Results – Sept. 4, 2015
1. #07 – Johnny Bridges – Cherryville, NC
2. #10 – Terry Gray – Bartlett, TN
3. #23 – Lance Moss – Cherryville, NC
4. #16 – Anthony Nicholson – Bartlett, TN
5. #26 – Marshall Skinner – Marion, AR
6. #10M – Morgan Turpen – Cordova, TN
7. #12 – Nick Roberts – Bloomingberg, OH
8. #67 – Brian Thomas – Pendergrass, GA
9. #22R – Kevin Roberts, Jr. – Washington Court House, OH
10. #22 – Shawn Murray – Jacksonville, FL
11. #34 – Darren Orth – Jacksonville, FL
12. #116 – Nick Snyder – Marco Island, FL
13. #47 – Eric Riggins, Jr. – Charlotte, NC
14. #83 – Bob Auld – Largo, FL
15. #28 – Jeff Willingham – Ripley, MS
16. #33 – Joe Larkin – Suwanee, GA
17. #43 – Terry Witherspoon – Jacksonville, FL
18. #25 – Ray Bugg – Iuka, MS
19. #21B – Brandon McLain – Indian Trail, NC
20. #3A – Kyle Amerson – Montgomery, AL
21. #43M – J.D. McClary – Jacksonville, FL
