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 BRASELTON,
GA (March 27) -- Doug Berryman will go down in the United Sprint Car
Series (USCS) history books as the first Hoosier-shod driver ever to
win on pavement in the series. Berryman took the lead on lap 20 of the
40-lap race at Lanier National Raceway en route to collecting the
historic win. The Fayetteville, GA based series features 360 c.i.
winged outlaw style cars that compete on both dirt and asphalt
surfaces that challenges the versatility of its drivers over the
course of a 48-race season.
Two-time and defending USCS Asphalt champion Kenny
Adams was fast qualifier among the 23 entrants at 11.921 seconds on
the 3/8-mile track. The Malabar, FL native was followed by Joe Rebman
at 12.066 seconds and defending USCS champion Terry Gray at 12.157
seconds.
The race began with two caution flags before the first
lap was completed. The first caution came out when front row starter
Doug Berryman jumped the start. After receiving a warning, Berryman
and Adams lined up again to take the green flag. But before the first
lap could be completed, fast qualifier Kenny Adams and Joe Rebman made
contact sending Adams into the wall ending his night.
The race was again restarted for the third time which
proved to be the charm. Doug Berryman immediately took the race lead
at the drop of the green flag. Berryman maintained the lead until lap
12, when Terry Gray made his move to the front. Gray led the next
eight circuits before giving way to Berryman who moved back into the
lead for good on lap 20. Berryman led the final 21 laps to take the
win and get his name etched into the USCS record books as the first
Hoosier-shod winner on asphalt in the history of the series.
Terry Gray finished in second place, while Ted
Williams, Brad Davis and Jim Raptis rounded out the top five. Eight of
the 22 starters finished the race on the lead lap including Joey
Aguillar in sixth followed by Joe Rebman and Frank Neill.
The USCS has a four corner Hoosier tire-rule when the
series competes on asphalt and a Hoosier-only rear drive tire-rule
when the series competes on dirt. Competitors are being allowed to use
last year's tires through the first four events of 2004 with the new
Hoosier tire-rule being fully enacted for the fifth race of the
season. The 2004 USCS season began in Barberville, Florida in February
with two dirt races as part of Florida Speedweeks.
The next event on the 48-race USCS schedule is an
April 2nd date at Riverside Speedway in Travelers Rest, SC. The series
then travels to I-20 Speedway in Batesville, SC for another program
the following day. Both events are on dirt.
The Hoosier Dealer at every USCS event is Shorty
Bearden. Shorty's phone number is 912-374-7706. Hoosier Tire
South-Dirt (865-970-3110) handles supplying tires to Shorty for dirt
races, while Hoosier Tire South-Asphalt (336-731-6100) is Shorty's
supplier for events on pavement.
To learn more about the United Sprint Car Series,
visit their website at www.uscsracing.com.
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