LAKE CITY, Fla. - Danny Martin, Jr. stormed to his 24th career USCS Sprint Car Series feature win in the USCS Southern Thunder Tour season opener at All-Tech Raceway, in Lake City, Florida on Friday night.
Martin, a three-time USCS National championship runner-up from Sarasota, FL, charged from the pole into the lead in turn one and left the balance of the field to fight for the runner-up spot as he drove to the victory.
Martin held off all challengers after five re-starts after caution periods to cross under the flag stand as the leader every single lap before the checkered flag fell on the 25-lap sprint car final.
Martin gave credit to his car owner and crew in victory lane.
“It’s a great night for us,” he said. “I have to thank my car owner, Doug Shaw – we couldn’t do this without him.”
Morgan Turpen chased Martin across the line in the runner-up spot, followed by Terry Gray in third. Fourteen-year-old Rookie of the Year contender Danny Sams III finished in fourth, with Nick Snyder in fifth.
Brandon McLain, Darren Orth, Brian Thomas, Shawn Murray and Jake McLain rounded out the top ten.
Turpen kicked off the evening’s racing action by winning the Hoosier Tire Speed Dash, and Martin, Jr. scored the win in the first heat. Sams III won the second head.
Martin, Jr. was the provisional pole starter after scoring the most passing points in heat race action. After a zero was rolled on the inversion, he received the K&N Filters Pole Award.
For rules and updated schedule information, visit USCSRacing.com.
USCS Sprint Car Series
All Tech Raceway – Lake City, FL
Race Results – April 1, 2016
1. #24 – Danny Martin, Jr. – Sarasota, FL
2. #10M – Morgan Turpen – Cordova, TN
3. #10 – Terry Gray – Bartlett, TN
4. #24D – Danny Sams III – Sarasota, FL
5. #116 – Nick Snyder – Marco Island, FL
6. #21B – Brandon McLain – Indian Trail, NC
7. #34 – Darren Orth – Jacksonville, FL
8. #22 – Shawn Murray – Jacksonville, FL
9. #67 – Brian Thomas – Pendergrass, GA
10. #67M – Jake McLain – Indian Trail, North Carolina
11. #99 – Tanner Witherspoon – Jacksonville, FL
12. #20 – Frank Carlsson – Oxford, FL
13. #43 – Terry Witherspoon – Jacksonville, FL
14. #83 – Bob Auld – Largo, FL
15. #0X – Clint Weiss – Jesup, GA
16. #07 Brandon Taylor – Cumming, GA
17. #3 – Tony Agin – Ft. Myers, FL
DNS: #43M J.D. Mc Clary – Jacksonville, FL
