Thursday March 28th, 2024 3:17PM

Riggins, Jr. takes USCS victory in a Lancaster thriller

By Series PR

LANCASTER, S.C. - Eric Riggins, Jr. made the trip to Lancaster, South Carolina a worthwhile one Saturday night, as he drove to the USCS Sprint Car Series victory at Lancaster Speedway.

Riggins, from Charlotte, North Carolina, took the lead from Morgan Turpen on lap 18, and held off a strong challenge from Lance Moss over the final five laps to earn the win.

“This was tough because my car was tight early, but the track came to us,” Riggins said. “It’s been a tough year, so it’s good to finally get a win and put on a show in front of the hometown fans. I love Lancaster Speedway and I love the fans here.”

Moss could get alongside Riggins on both the inside and outside going into the corners, but Riggins was able to stay in front coming off the turns. Moss finished a close second with Turpen, who was looking for her third straight series win, finishing in third.

Terry Gray finished in fourth, with Brandon McLain in fifth.

Jake McLain, Danny Sams III, Ray Bugg, Nick Snyder and finished Brandon Taylor rounded out the top ten.

Turpen came into the race with a seven-point lead over her teammate, Gray, in the series championship battle. She was able to gain a few more markers in her search for a second straight series title.

Gray earned the K&N Filters Pole Award with Turpen on the outside of the front row. Turpen won the war into the first turn to take the lead followed by Snyder, Gray, Moss and Riggins. Gray dropped back to fifth after being overhauled by Moss and Riggins on lap two, who took over third and fourth respectively.

Moss and Riggins were never apart by more than a few inches for the entire 25 laps. Riggins made what would turn out to be a big pass for position on lap 12 when he got around Moss for the third spot.

Snyder began to chip away at Turpen’s half straightaway lead before moving in to challenge for the position at the halfway point. Snyder dove to the inside in turn three on lap 15 and took over the top spot coming off the fourth turn.

Snyder’s appearance in front of the pack was short-lived, however, as he clipped Taylor’s car trying to lap him in turn three on lap 16. Both cars spun, with Snyder’s machine turning onto its side. Both drivers were okay.

That moved Turpen back to the lead for the restart, Riggins giving chase. Riggins dove underneath Turpen in turn four to take the lead on lap 18. Moss followed Riggins under Turpen to take the second spot.

Moss tried again and again to get an outside run on Riggins to challenge for the lead over the closing laps of the race. Riggins changed his line, working to hold Moss behind him. Moss changed his line in turn, moving to the inside for the final two laps. He was able to get alongside the leader, but could not make the pass, as Riggins drove to his first series victory of the season.

In preliminary action, Gray won the six-lap Hoosier Speed Dash, with Moss and Brown winning their heat races.

The USCS Sprint Car Series returns to action on Saturday, July 30 at Greenville Speedway in Greenville, MS.

For more information, visit USCSRacing.com.

USCS Sprint Car Series
Lancaster Speedway – Lancaster, SC
Race Results – July 23, 2016

POS        STRT     CAR #   DRIVER                              HOMETOWN
1.            6             47           Eric Riggins Jr.                   Charlotte, NC
2.            5             23           Lance Moss                         Cherryville, NC
3.            2             10m       Morgan Turpen                  Cordova, TN
4.            1             10           Terry Gray                           Bartlett, TN
5.            3             21           Brandon McLain                Indian Trail, NC
6.            8             67           Jake McLain                       Indian Trail, NC
7.            7             24d        Danny Sams III                  Englewood, FL
8.            11           25           Ray Bugg                             Iuka, MS
9.            4             116        Nick Snyder                         Marco Island, FL
10.          9             07t         Brandon Taylor                 Cumming, GA
11.          12           33           Joe Larkin                           Suwanee, GA
12.          10           83           Bob Auld                             Largo, FL
13.          13           07           Johnny Bridges                  Cherryville, NC

  • Associated Categories: NASCAR News, Other Motorsports
  • Associated Tags: motorsports, Open Wheel, Auto Racing, USCS, Sprint Car, Dirt Track, Short Track
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