Crawley wins Glen Francis Memorial at Crowleys Ridge

PARAGOULD, AR - Two weeks ago, Tim Crawley was 0-for-the 2014 season in wins for the Georgia based USCS Sprint Car Series. Since then, he's two-for-two. Crawley, the Benton, Arkansas native driving for renowned team owner Mike Ward, started on the K&N Filters Pole Position and sprinted away from Marshall Skinner following a restart at the halfway point of Thursday night's United Sprint Car Series Francis Memorial Cup 30-lap A-main at Crowley's Ridge Raceway in Paragould, AR.<br /> <br /> He never looking back en route to a wire-to-wire win and trip to victory lane ahead of fellow Arkansas native Zach Pringle. The triumph was Crawley's second straight USCS sprint car victory, and 67th career series win.<br /> <br /> "I'll tell you, this is redemption after how the first half of our season went," said Crawley, who also won the Glen Francis Memorial Cup during its inaugural running in 2012. "We've got a lot of great people behind us, Mike Ward, all these guys on the crew, it feels really good to get them a win tonight.<br /> <br /> "The track took a lot of rubber in the second half of the race. It could almost pass for asphalt now, and everyone knows I hate running asphalt. But this was a good track tonight and I'm grateful to have our season back on track."<br /> <br /> The event was slowed by caution five times over the course of the 30 laps, with the first yellow flying at lap 7 when Cody Gardner jumped the cushion in turn four and ended up coming to a stop on top of the hill overlooking the race track. He was able to continue. The second caution flew three laps later when Terry Gray came to a stop in turn four along with the No. 22 of Cody Howard, whose night was ended by a bent right-front axle.<br /> <br /> The race's final three cautions all occurred in a two-lap span just before halfway, with a two car spin on the backstretch and a subsequent spin in turn four by Joe B. Miller drawing consecutive yellows on lap 13, and then a spin by the No. 99 of Blake Jenkins slowing the pace for the final time on lap 14, setting up the second half sprint to the finish.<br /> <br /> Behind Crawley and Pringle, Marshall Skinner completed the podium in third after running second to Crawley most of the night. Brad Bowden finished fourth and Anthony Nicholson.<br /> <br /> Howard Moore sailed home in the sixth position, with female hotshoe Morgan Turpen finishing seventh. A.G. Rains held down the eighth spot at the checkered flag, Justin Webb ended the night in ninth, and Curt Terrell completed the top ten.<br /> <br /> Crawley kicked off the evening's racing action by winning the Hoosier Tire Speed Dash, and followed that up with a win in the first heat. Marshall Skinner rolled to the victory in the secong heat and Pringle netted the third heat win. Brad Bowden grabbed the checkered flag in the fourth heat. After the inversion draw, Crawley received the K&N Filters Pole Award, with Jordon Mallett taking the win in the 12-lap B-main.<br /> <br /> <strong>USCS Sprint Car Series</strong><br /> <strong> Crowley's Ridge Raceway - Paragould, AR</strong><br /> <strong> Glen Francis Memorial Cup - July 3, 2014</strong><br /> <br /> 1. #88

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