SWS: Season opener El Centro race report

Rosevear captures Southwest Sprint opener at El Centro.

Kent Rosevear of Yuma, Ariz., a former IMCA Modified Champion, captured the 2003 USAC Southwest Sprint Car Series opener Saturday night at Imperial Valley Speedway in El Centro, Calif. The race was his first under USAC sanction!

Rosevear caught early leader Steve Stone on the 27th lap and led the final four laps in his Pro-Tech Automotive Buckley/RPM. Stone finished second and emerged as the series point leader going into an April 26 race at Hollywood Hills Speedway in San Felipe Pueblo, N.M.

Saturday night's program featured four flips, including defending series champion Mike Boat, who won his heat race, then flipped on the 20th lap of the feature. Fast qualifier Rick Ziehl was also involved in a feature crash but all drivers escaped injury.

Trailing Rosevear and Stone in the 30-lap feature event on the 3/8-mile dirt track were Brandon Lane, Mike Martin and Ron Clark.

USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1. Steve Stone 62
2. Brandon Lane 56
3. Mike Martin 56
4. Ron Clark 55
5. Bruce St. James 47
6. Ron Kratz 47
7. Kaylene Verville 44
8. Shon Deskins 42
9. Rick Ziehl 39
10. James Aragon 37

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