HOHENWALD, Tenn. – Story, audio and photo by Managing Editor Jacob Seelman for Speed77 Radio, Race Chaser Online and USCS Racing –

After a 2014 USCS season that was less-than-stellar by his own admission, Gallatin, Tenn. Hotshoe Eric Wright shook off his gremlins and swept back into www.rockauto.com Victory Lane.

Wright bested an 18-car field during Friday night’s preliminary www.rockauto.com USCS 600 Sprint Series feature at Tennessee National Raceway to notch the win in the season opener for the USCS-sanctioned micro sprint series and break a winless drought dating back to 2012.

“First one of the year, we’re glad to start the year off right,” Wright said in victory lane. “ Had a good year last year, and we’re just trying to get it ready before the big two grand to win race at Clarksville in a few weeks. A win’s a good start and we’ll just come back tomorrow night and try to make it two in a row.”

Wright took the lead from early-race leader and two-time USCS 600 Series champion Bobby Zaiontz, who paced the first ten laps, in heavy lapped traffic on lap 11 before ultimately pulling away by a half track for the victory. Zaiontz, from Columbus, Miss., had no choice but to settle for second in his No. 1 “Black Widow” mount.

2013 USCS 600 Sprint Series Southern Lightning champion Bob Trapino, from Alpharetta, Ga., completed the podium finishers in third. Bessemer, Alabama’s Chris Openshaw and Baldwyn, Mississippi’s Kyle Carpenter made up the rest of the top five.

Defending USCS 600 Southern Region champion and Winder, Ga. native Mike Magic led the next group of drivers across the finish line in sixth, followed by polesitter Remeno Loyal in seventh. Veteran racer Aubrey Black, from Lookout Mountain, Ga. was eighth, and 2015 USCS 600 rookie contender Michael Barton, hailing from Castalian Springs, Tenn. finished ninth. Joiner, Ark. pilot Dennis Tucker Sr. rounded out the top ten at the finish.

The event was slowed by six cautions in total, most notably because of two hard hits. The first was on lap 4 when Darl Parvin took a heavy lick into the outside wall in turn two, but amazingly was able to continue with no major damage. The second came with seven laps to go after Bo Barber and Dennis Tucker Sr. tangled in turn two and nearly went for a wild ride. Both drivers came away from the crash uninjured.

USCS newcomer Jimmy McClain Jr. also had a tough break during the main, with a mechanical failure causing him to slow on lap 12 while he was running second to leader Wright.

Wright kicked off the night by grabbing the win in the Engler Machine and Tool First Heat. McClain Jr. notched the win in the www.rockauto.com Second Heat.

Wright was also the provisional polesitter after scoring the most passing points in heat race action, but when a six was pulled in the K&N Inversion Draw, Remeno Loyal grabbed his first career K&N Filters Pole Position. Michael Barton passed the most cars in the main event (nine) to garner the Wilwood Disc Brakes Hard Charger Award.

The www.rockauto.com USCS 600 Sprint Car Series season continues Saturday, March 21 with night two of the Tennessee 200 at Tennessee National Raceway. Pit gates open at 3 p.m. local time, wih hot laps starting at 5:15.

For rules and updated schedule information about the www.rockauto.com USCS 600 Sprint Car series please visit www.uscsracing.com or call the series office at 770-460-7223 or 770-865-6097.

Audio with race winner Eric Wright:

RESULTS: www.rockauto.com USCS 600 Sprint Car Series @ Tennessee National Raceway; March 20, 2015 

Engler Machine and Tool First Heat: Eric Wright, Bob Trapino, Chris Openshaw, Aubrey Black Jr., Dennis Tucker Sr., Dennis Tucker Jr., Bo Barber, Hailiey Barber, Brandon Taylor.

www.rockauto.com Second Heat: Jimmy McClain Jr., Bobby Zaiontz, Remeno Loyal, Mike Magic, Kyle Carpenter, Aubrey Black Sr., Brian Nance, Darl Parvin, Michael Barton.

www.rockauto.com USCS 600 Sprint A-Main 20 laps:

1. #88 – Eric Wright, Gallatin, TN
2. #1 – Bobby Zaiontz, Columbus, MS
3. #98 – Bob Trapino, Alpharetta, GA
4. #17C – Chris Openshaw, Bessemer, AL
5. #13 – Kyle Carpenter, Baldwyn, MS
6. #5M – Mike Magic, Winder, GA
7. #2X – Remeno Loyal, Snellville, GA
8. #21 – Aubrey Black Sr., Lookout Mtn., GA
9. #21B – Michael Barton, Castalian Springs, TN
10. #9 – Dennis Tucker Sr., Joiner, AR
11. #14 – Bo Barber, Clarksville, TN
12. #D14 – Darl Parvin, Corinth, MS
13. #12 – Jimmy McClain Jr., Paris, TN
14. #39 – Brian Nance, Mayfield, KY
15. #0 – Aubrey Black Jr., Trenton, GA
16. #25 – Dennis Tucker Jr., Joiner, AR
17. #14S – Hailiey Barber, Clarksville, TN
18. #07 – Brandon Taylor, Cumming, GA

USCS 600 Sprint Race Awards:

Engler Machine and Tool First Heat:  #88 – Eric Wright
www.rockauto.com Second Heat:  #12 – Jimmy McClain Jr.
K&N Filters Pole Award:  #2X – Remeno Loyal
K&N Filters Podium (3rd place) Award:  #98 – Bob Trapino
Wilwood Disc Brakes Hard Charger Award:  #21B – Michael Barton
Keizer Aluminum Wheels Top Five Award:  #13 – Kyle Carpenter
Saldana Racing Products Super Sixth Award:  #5M – Mike Magic
DMI/Bulldog Rear Ends Top Ten Award:  #9 – Dennis Tucker Sr.