PARAGOULD, Ark. - Marshall Skinner outran his protégé Derek Hagar to pick up his first USCS Sprint Car Series victory of the 2016 season Friday night at Crowley’s Ridge Raceway in Paragould, Ark.
Skinner battled early and often for the lead with Brad Bowdon before taking the lead in lapped traffic on lap 24 with an inside move. Hagar charged from the eighth starting spot to follow into the second spot.
A late-race caution in the 30-lap feature race set up a close finish, as Skinner got off the inside and sailed around the top on the restart. Hagar tried to throw the slider in an effort to take the lead, but to no avail.
“It seems like I’ve finished second to him (Hagar) a lot this season, so it feels good to win one,” Skinner said. “The bottom was good early and we got by Bowdon to take the lead in lapped traffic. There’s nothing better than a black dirt track, and Crowley’s Ridge is now my favorite race track. I love this place.”
Skinner took to the low line from the pole to take the lead at the drop of the green flag to start the race. Bowdon worked the high line from his outside front row starting spot. The lead duo swapped the point several times each lap.
Bowdon took the lead on lap six, and kept Skinner behind him for the next 16 laps. In the meantime, Hagar made moved up to the third spot, and he followed Bowdon and Skinner into heavy lapped traffic on lap 24. Skinner took over the lead, and brought Hagar with him up to the second spot.
The caution flag came out on lap 27 for a multi-car tangle in turn two, which set up a three-lap dash to the finish. When the green came out, everyone expected Skinner to hug the bottom groove. As Hagar tried to set up for an outside move, Skinner didn’t budge from the high side.
Hagar then changed direction and dove for the bottom to try a slide job pass that came up short. Skinner held on to the lead for three more laps to take the win.
Skinner became the ninth different series winner this season.
Zach Pringle finished in third, with Morgan Turpen in fourth and Andy McElhannon in fifth.
A.G. Raines, Joe B. Miller, Jordan Mallett, Bowdon and Anthony Nicholson rounded out the top ten.
In preliminary action, Turpen won the six-lap Hoosier Tire Speed Dash. Cody Gardner, McElhannon, Skinner and Tim Crawley scored the heat race wins.
For more information about the USCS Sprint Car Series, visit USCSRacing.com.
USCS Sprint Car Series
Crowley’s Ridge Raceway – Paragould, AR
Race Results – June 1, 2016
POS START CAR # DRIVER
1. 1 26 Marshall Skinner Marion, AR
2. 8 9jr Derek Hagar Marion, AR
3. 17 8z Zach Pringle Bryant, AR
4. 5 10m Morgan Turpen Cordova, TN
5. 3 42 Andy McElhannon Hernando, MS
6. 11 3 A.G. Raines West Memphis, AR
7. 16 51b Joe Miller
8. 4 14 Jordan Mallett Greenbrier, AR
9. 2 39 Brad Bowdon Hernando, MS
10. 18 40 Anthony Nicholson Millington, TN
11. 13 07 Brandon Taylor Cumming, GA
12. 14 32 Robert Richardson Pengburn, AR
13. 12 27 Curt Terrell
14. 20 44 Ronny Howard Olive Branch, MS
15. 7 88 Tim Crawley Benton, AR
16. 15 5 Joey Moughan Springfield, IL
17. 22 21 Brandon Hinkle Cabot, AR
18. 6 88r Cody Gardner Benton, AR
19. 19 28 Jeff Willingham Ripley, MS
20. 21 44t T.J. Hughes Hernando, MS
21. 10 25 Ray Bugg
22. 9 10 Terry Gray Bartlett, TN
DNS: 23 24d Danny Sams III Englewood, FL
