Jennerstown, PA – August 3, 2002 – The USAR Hooters ProCup Series hosted the Jackaroo Sauces 250 presented by Coca-Cola at Jennerstown Speedway Saturday night, and defending series champion Bobby Gill from the Southern Division pirated away the win from the remainder of the Northern Division regulars. Neil Brown capped off the race night by winning the Naturally Fresh Challenge Series “Bleu Cheese Dressings 50”, as part of the five race series.  Charles Peace of Homer City, PA who was paired-up with Brown as part of the Spectator $500 program won a total of $1,000, which included a $500 carry over from the last unclaimed Spectator $500 race.   

Northern Division sensation Brian Ross captured the Sunoco Pole Award of $1,000 dollars, but had to start the feature race from the back of the pack, as he was penalized for missing the mandatory drivers meeting. This put another Southern division driver on the front row, and Clay Rogers took full advantage of his opportunity by leading the first 120 laps of the race, before Mardy Lindley took over the front position just before the halfway point. This gave Lindley the Lucas Oil Products Halfway Leader Bonus of $1,000, but a caution on lap 126 brought all of the race leaders to pit road. 

Great pit road crew work got Series rookie Scott Baker out of the congested pit area first and into the race lead, which he held for the next eleven laps, before Bobby Gill worked his way into the lead on lap 138. Gill held onto the race lead until lap 170, when Brian Ross finally got back to the front of the pack and stayed there for four laps.  Bobby Gill would not be denied as he retook the race lead on 175, and stayed out front for the remainder of the race.  In the final laps Mardy Lindley made a hard charge towards the front, but in the end had to settle for second.  Clay Rogers came home in third, while rookie standout Eric Corbett finished fourth earning him the Miller Lite Rookie of the Race Award.  Jay Fogleman had another good race to round out the top five finishers. 

Other award winners included Jeremiah Kuntz who captured the W.J. Plemons Investment Hard Charger Award, while Clay Rogers garnered the Southern Pride Lap Leader Award. 

 The Naturally Fresh Late Model Challenge Series, saw pole sitter Neil Brown capture his first win in round three of the five race series, but not without a fight.  Brown used his win in the five lap Dash for Cash to claim the pole position in the “Bleu Cheese Dressings 50”, but saw his advantage slip away as outside front row starter Barry Awtey took control early in the race.  Mark Smith moved from his fifth place starting position into the lead on lap nine, which he led until lap 27.  That’s when he and second place runner Neil Brown came upon a lap car, with Smith moving to the inside and Brown going to the outside to complete the maneuver.  As the leaders completed the pass and headed side-by-side into turn three, Smith’s car spun, bringing out the caution.  After the final restart of the race, a battle ensued for second and third positions between Barry Awtey and Bobby Henry, which allowed Brown the chance to extend his race lead all the way to the checkered flag.  Bobby Henry won the two-car duel to finish in second, while Barry Awtey finished in third.  Mark Cottone came home in fourth to score another top five finish, and maintained his points lead in the Naturally Fresh Late Model Challenge Series.  Snooky Williams made a last lap pass on Rick Miller to capture a top five finish. 

 Mark Smith earned the R & M Trucking / Jennerstown Speedway Fast Time Award with a lap time of 19.42 seconds, equally out to a speed of 96.87 m.p.h. to earn him the $625 prize. 

Naturally Fresh Late Model Challenge Series Race # 3  Results

USAR ProCup Results