Sooner Region Tulsa results 2005-08-27

Nick Smith Scores ASCS Sooner Win at Tulsa

TULSA, Okla. (August 27, 2005) -- Nick Smith ended a two-year victory drought in American Sprint Car Series competition by scoring an impressive wire-to-wire triumph in Saturday night's 25-lap American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region feature at Tulsa Speedway.

Smith gunned into the lead at the drop of the green flag, and aside from some mid-race pressure from Sam Hafertepe, Jr., cruised to the checkered flag unabated aboard the Ostrich-powered American Materials No. 15s Eagle. The victory marked Smith's fourth career ASCS Sooner Region victory and his first since July 5, 2003.

"One more caution would have done us in, the car sputtered coming off the final corner, we were about out of fuel," Smith explained in victory lane.

Smith outgunned fellow front row starter Danny Jennings for the early lead and asserted himself in short order, racing to nearly a straightaway advantage by the time the race's first caution flew after eight rounds for debris in turn four.

On the ensuing restart, Hafertepe made a quick move around Jennings and Brian McClelland to advance from fourth to second. Hafertepe then challenged Smith for the lead for several laps until a pair of mid-race cautions slowed the pace.

Smith took off at the midway point and was never challenged the rest of the way, leaving Hafertepe to fend off seventh-starter Zach Chappell for the runner-up slot. Chappell worked high and low, but Hafertepe held on to second, with Chappell settling for the show position.

Foster Landon crossed the stripe fourth, with current ASCS Sooner Region point leader Sean McClelland rounding out the top five. Mike Peters claimed sixth, with Jennings, Cody Branchcomb, Andy Shouse and Earl McDoulett, Jr., completing the top ten.

Brian McClelland held fourth position until lap 20 contact with big brother Sean McClelland forced Brian pitside.

Jamie Passmore, Jennings and Brian McClelland topped heat race action, with Branchcomb winning the 12-lap "B" Main.

Results:

First Heat (8 Laps): 1. Jamie Passmore, 2. Nick Smith, 3. Rafe Essary, 4. Terry Henry, 5. Andy Shouse, 6. Cody Branchcomb, 7. Koby Barksdale, 8. Burt Davis.

Second Heat (8 Laps): 1. Danny Jennings, 2. Foster Landon, 3. Mike Peters, 4. Earl McDoulett, Jr., 5. Dex Eaton, 6. Derek Cottrell, 7. J.P. Bailey, 8. Earnest Jennings.

Third Heat (8 Laps): 1. Brian McClelland, 2. Sam Hafertepe, Jr., 3. Zach Chappell, 4. Sean McClelland, 5. David Stephenson, 6. Jasiel Randolph, 7. Abe Sherwood, 8. Tom Cummings.

B Feature (12 Laps): 1. Cody Branchcomb, 2. J.P. Bailey, 3. Jasiel Randolph, 4. Derek Cottrell, 5. Earnest Jennings, 6. Koby Barksdale, 7. David Stephenson, 8. Abe Sherwood, 9. Burt Davis, 10. Tom Cummings.

A Feature (25 Laps): 1. Nick Smith, 2. Sam Hafertepe, Jr., 3. Zach Chappell, 4. Foster Landon, 5. Sean McCelland, 6. Mike Peters, 7. Danny Jennings, 8. Cody Branchcomb, 9. Andy Shouse, 10. Earl McDoulett, Jr., 11. Derek Cottrell, 12. Jasiel Randolph, 13. Terry Henry, 14. Koby Barksdale, 15. Jamie Passmore, 16. Rafe Essary, 17. Brian McClelland, 18. Dex Eaton, 19. Earnest Jennings, 20. J.P. Bailey.

American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Sean McClelland 2,296, 2. Danny Jennings 2,252, 3. Cody Branchcomb 2,060, 4. Brian McClelland 1,957, 5. Kerry McAlister 1,924, 6. Foster Landon 1,863, 7. J.P. Bailey 1,727, 8. Derek Cottrell 1,715, 9. Dex Eaton 1,553, 10. Earnest Jennings 1,476.

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