 LITTLE
ROCK, AR (September 13-15, 2007) -- After finishing seventh in last year's
race, Jerrod Wilson (photo) was determined to do even better this year in the 2nd
Annual I-30 Speedway 600 Nationals presented by Hoosier Tire. During the 3-day
event, the Skiatook, OK driver fought his way through a 125-car field to earn a
spot in the 26-car feature. After starting second, and falling to third early
on, Wilson fought his way into the lead on lap 15 en route to winning the
30-lap feature. The win gave the Oklahoma native a $10,000 payday. Also, new
this year was a $1,500-to-win restrictor class race for the younger drivers.
The 20-lap race was won by Trent Taylor. The 600 Nationals event attracted
drivers from 19 different states including veteran sprint car driver Sammy
Swindell.
The 3-day event used a series of heat and last chance races with drivers
earning finishing and passing points which was used, in part, to set the 26-car
field for Saturday's finale. In addition to this, the top six drivers from
Friday's feature battled it out in a 6-lap Dash-for-Cash race to set the first
three rows for the $10,000-to-win feature.
On the final day of competition, there were ten heat races for the top 50
drivers in accumulated points. Winners of the 10-lap heats included; Tyson
Hall, Dusty Young, Nick Ivy, Bean Elliott, Travis Elliott, Riley Adair, Michael
McNeil, Keith McIntyre, Scott Bolden and Jake Murphy.
In the 6-lap Dash-for-Cash race which set the top six positions for the
feature race, Stan Yockey was the winner with Jerrod Wilson coming from last to
finish second and claim one of the coveted front-row starting spots for the
$10,000 feature. Scott Sawyer was third followed by last year's 600 Nationals
winner Travis Senter, Jr. to make up the second row while Jonathan Hendrick and
Derek King made up the third row after finishing fifth and sixth, respectively.
As for the remainder of the field, a series of last chance races further
whittled the field of 125 hopefuls.
There were five qualifier races which set the final 18 cars for the feature
race. Winners of the five, 12-lap qualifiers included; Montie Frey, Bobby
Zaiontz, Michael Dicely, Tyler Devault and Michael Davidson.
After three days of racing, it was finally time for the feature race.
In the first half of the 30-lap feature, there was a terrific three-way battle
for the lead between Stan Yockey, Jerrod Wilson and Travis Senter, Jr.
On lap 15, Wilson took command and drove away for the victory by half a straightaway
over last year's winner Travis Senter, Jr. Tyson Hall finished in third
followed by Scott Sawyer, Derek King, Travis Elliott, Jake Murphy Michael
Dicely, Daniel Robinson and Riley Adair in fourth through tenth, respectively.
Former World of Outlaws champion Sammy Swindell finished 11th.
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In
the Mini Sprints Restricted Class "A" race, Trent Taylor (photo) took the win
in the 20-lap feature race.
