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USA

USAR: USA-Lakeland: Jeff Oakley race report

Lakeland, FL - Jeff Oakley, driver of the ...

Lakeland, FL - Jeff Oakley, driver of the #16 Don Sprouse Motorsports Ford entered the Lucas Oil 250 presented by Jennie-O Turkey Store at the USA International Speedway in Lakeland, Florida as a practice session in preparation to make his assault on the USAR Hooters ProCup Series Northern division. In his first ever running on the countries' premier short track racing series, he qualified 25th out of a field of 44.

From the start, Oakley's Ford appeared to have the strength to make it to the front. Early in the race, the Don Sprouse team decided to make adjustments and change right side tires. With new tires, Oakley was now in 28th place. By Lap 75 Oakley was in 10th place and by lap 125 he had moved up to leading the race, and collected the Lucas Oil Products ½ leader of the race award. "We were on a roll. We were headed to the front, fast. As I talked to Don Sprouse on the radio, I said, it feels like a rocket when I give it the gas. After a minor incident, where I lost aerodynamics, it slowed me down a bit." Oakley finished the race in 12th place.

Oakley claimed the Miller Lite Rookie of the Race honors being the highest finishing rookie in the field, also a thousand dollar bonus, he also lead seven laps, and collected another thousand dollar bonus for leading at the halfway mark, which was not bad for a practice session. He didn't expect to mix it up with the leaders, but with that practice session going so well, Oakley said "I can't wait until we get to the first opening race for the Northern Division at Jennerstown, PA in April."

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