April 13, 2014 — Audio, story and photo by Managing Editor Jacob Seelman for Speed77 Radio, Race Chaser Online and USCS Racing — LANCASTER, S.C. — He came. He saw. And after nearly a decade of trying, Lance Moss finally conquered the United Sprint Car Series filtercharged by K&N.
Moss, out of Cherryville, North Carolina, held off his cousin Johnny Bridges, also out of Cherryville, for his first career sprint car victory of any kind in the USCS vs. URC North/South Shootout “Spring Speed Xplosion” finale at Lancaster Speedway after he assumed the lead from Eric Riggins Jr. with six laps remaining in the 25-lap event.
“I can’t believe it,” a speechless Moss said in Rockauto.com Victory Lane. “I hate it for Eric; I don’t really know what happened, but he had us all beat. I’ll take it, though. This has been a long time coming though, a long, long time coming. I finally got the monkey off my back. This means everything, man. Everything.”
The finish was a reversal of the previous night’s feature at Carolina Speedway in Gastonia, North Carolina, when Bridges got the better of Moss on a late-race restart and took the win. This time though, with Bridges behind him on a late-race restart, Moss was unfazed and unchallenged.
“I knew how he had gotten by me the last time,” Moss explained. “I wasn’t about to let that happen again.”
The two drivers are affectionately known as the “Cherryville Mafia” in USCS sprint car circles for their often wild and aggressive driving style. The weekend was the first time they’ve ever finished one-two in successive events, and showcased them more for their domination then their sometimes-fiery tempers.
“I mean, it’s almost funny,” Bridges laughed. “We ain’t gotten in that much trouble over the years. But I sure guess it’s a compliment.”
Behind Moss and Bridges, 2012 URC Rislone Sprint Series Champion Robbie Stillwaggon, out of Burlington, New Jersey, completed the podium. 2011 Rookie of the Year Troy Betts finished in fourth and the “Female Phenom”, Morgan Turpen, rounded out the top five at the checkered flag.
Riggins appeared destined to cruise to victory lane, leading by nearly a half track with seven laps to go after taking the lead at Lap 7 from Moss, who started on the K&N Filters pole position, but the Fast 47 snapped out of gear coming off of Turn 2 on Lap 18 and Riggins slowed to a stop on the frontstretch, bringing out the final caution flag of the night and ending Riggins’ chance at the victory.
The 18-year-old out of Charlotte, North Carolina, who swept the most recent USCS vs. URC challenge series in October of 2013, managed to get the car refired with the help of a push truck, but was only able to rebound to seventh at the checkered flag.
“I think we had the car to beat tonight, and I hate it for this team,” Riggins lamented post-race. “I guess you can’t help it when this stuff happens, but it’s still a good start to the season for us. Hopefully we can take this speed up north next week and go from there.”
Riggins will be contesting the full URC Rislone Sprint Series schedule in 2014 in addition to racing as many of the USCS Southern Thunder tour events that don’t conflict.
Asked what he’s going to do with the big trophy he scored as part of the victory spoils, Moss just grinned and clutched it a little tighter.
“It’s going in my trophy case,” Moss said emphatically. “I do have one, contrary to popular belief. There’s gonna be a real special spot for this one right here.”
Terry Witherspoon kicked off the with a win in the Hoosier Speed Dash, his first dash triumph of the 2014 season. USCS regular Morgan Turpen won the Engler Machine and Tool First Heat, and URC veteran Troy Betts won the Butlerbuilt Second Heat, doubling up on heat race wins for the weekend. Tim Perry advanced the most positions in the A-Main to score the Wilwood Disc Brakes Hard Charger Award for the evening.
The USCS Outlaw Thunder Tour makes their next stop on Friday, April 25th at Anderson Motor Speedway in Anderson, South Carolina for their 2014 paved series opener. For more information on the United Sprint Car Series, including rules, schedules and standings, visit www.uscsracing.com.
The URC Rislone Sprint Series returns north to the Selinsgrove Speedway to kick off their 2014 points schedule on Saturday, April 19th. For more information on the United Racing Company, visit their website at www.urcsprints.com.
RESULTS: USCS vs. URC North/South Shootout “Spring Speed Xplosion”; Lancaster Speedway; April 12, 2014
- #23 – Lance Moss, Cherryville, NC
- #07 – Johnny Bridges, Cherryville, NC
- #89 – Robbie Stillwaggon, Burlington, NJ
- #22 – Troy Betts, Newark, DE
- #10M – Morgan Turpen, Oakland, TN
- #10 – Terry Gray, Bartlett, TN
- #47 – Eric Riggins, Jr., Charlotte, NC
- #43 – Terry Witherspoon, Jacksonville, FL
- #21B – Brandon McLain, Indian Trail, NC
- #12B – Brad Franks, Collegedale, PA
- #36 – Tim Perry, Mooresville, NC
- #33 – Joe Larkin, Suwanee, GA
- #51 – Jay Dunham, Augusta, GA
- #06 – Bill Moore, Mooresville, NC
- #4 – Jason Troutman, Vale, NC
- #83 – Bob Auld, Largo, FL (DNS)
Audio with race winner Lance Moss:
Audio with runner-up Johnny Bridges:
Audio with 3rd-place Robbie Stillwaggon:
Audio with Eric Riggins Jr. post-race:
USCS Outlaw Thunder Tour presented by K&N Filters Race Awards:
K&N Filters Pole Award: #23 – Lance Moss
JE Pistons Top Guns Award: #10M – Morgan Turpen
K&N Filters Podium (3rd place) Award: #89 – Robbie Stillwaggon
Wilwood Disc Brakes Hard Charger Award: #36 – Tim Perry
Keizer Aluminum Wheels Top Five Award: #10M – Morgan Turpen
Saldana Racing Products Super Sixth Award: #10 – Terry Gray
Pyrotect Racing Cells Lucky Seven Award: #47 – Eric Riggins, Jr.
DMI/Bulldog Rear Ends Top Ten Award: #36 – Tim Perry
