HOHENWALD, Tenn. – Story, audio and photo by Managing Editor Jacob Seelman for Speed77 Radio, Race Chaser Online and USCS Racing –
After Friday night’s Tennessee 200 event winner Matt Cooper did not return to the pit area for Saturday night’s finale, there was question as to who would rise to the occasion to claim the second trophy of the weekend.
When the 25-lap feature was complete, however, Campbell, Missouri’s Robert Powers answered that question with a resounding statement.
Powers stormed to the lead from the K&N Filters Pole Position on the opening lap of Saturday’s Tennessee 200 finale for the K&N Filters USCS Outlaw Modified Series and withstood a last-ditch charge from Arlington, Tenn. hotshoe J.C. Waller to grab his first victory in USCS competition at the Tennessee National Raceway.
“I’m very proud of this one,” Powers said in victory lane. “I’m proud that the car was [this] good tonight and I’m just tickled to be back in victory lane. It’s been a while.”
“I knew having that restart was going to bunch us up – I sure didn’t want to see it,” Powers added, referencing the event’s only caution flag which came wih three laps to go for a wayward tire in turn four. “That tire had been there for a while and I was hoping they would just let us go. J.C. was in there tough on the bottom, but we were just a little bit tougher and I held on thankfully.”
Waller had a chance at stealing the win away on the final restart, but didn’t have enough to capitalize and had to settle for second.
“I didn’t get the greatest start to begin with and it took me awhile to get around the third-place car [Eric Hickerson],” Waller said following the event. “From there, it didn’t seem like [Powers] really got away from me – and that caution saved us and let us make another run.”
“I wasn’t going to race anyone dirty though,” Waller emphasized. “I just felt that second tonight was better than wrecking [fighting for the win] and coming home last.”
Hickerson held onto third after being passed by Waller, and the Linden, Tenn. driver rounded out the podium at the checkered flag. Scott Crites, out of Bay, Ark., finished fourth and Mason, Tennessee’s Bobby Allen completed the top five.
Former Tennessee 200 winner Todd Bates led the next group of drivers in sixth, with Keith Hammett, from Brookland, Ark. following in seventh. Monterey, Tennessee’s Dave Jurist finished eighth after a fourth-place run on Friday night, and 2013 series champion Troy Dow was ninth at the finish. Greg Welch, out of Sardis, Tenn., rounded out the top ten.
Waller kicked off the evening’s racing action by grabbing the win in the K&N Filters Power Dash. Powers took the win in the Wilwood Disc Brakes First Heat, and Waller followed up his dash win by grabbing the checkered flag in the Aero Race Wheels Second Heat. Powers then received the K&N Filters Pole Award by virtue of a straight-up start from heat race results.
Sixth-place finisher Bates garnered the Comp Cams Hard Charger Award by virtue of passing the most cars in the main event (three).
The K&N Filters USCS Outlaw Modified Series will be back in action on May 23 at the Jackson Motor Speedway for round one of the 2015 USCS Mid-South Speedweek.
For rules, schedules and more information on the K&N Filters USCS Outlaw Modified Series, please visit www.uscsracing.com or call 770-460-7223 or 770-865-6097.
Audio from race winner Robert Powers:
Audio with runner-up J.C. Waller:
RESULTS: K&N Filters USCS Outlaw Modified Series; Tennessee National Raceway; March 21, 2015:
K&N Filters Power Dash: J.C. Waller, Justin Cross, Robert Powers, Dave Jurist, Eric Hickerson, Troy Dow (DNS).
Wilwood Disc Brakes First Heat: Robert Powers, Eric Hickerson, Scott Crites, Shawn Knuckles, Todd Bates, Troy Dow, Justin Cross.
Aero Race Wheels Second Heat: J.C. Waller, Bobby Allen, Keith Hammett, Dave Jurist, Jamie Williams, Greg Welch (DNS).
K&N Filters USCS Outlaw Modified Series at Tennessee National Raceway Main Event: 25-laps
- #02 – Robert Powers, Campbell, MO
- #7W – J.C. Waller, Arlington, TN
- #M33 – Eric Hickerson, Linden, TN
- #17 – Scott Crites, Bay, AR
- #7JR – Bobby Allen, Mason, TN
- #B25 – Todd Bates, Hurricane Molls, TN
- #29 – Keith Hammett, Brookland, AR
- #47 – Dave Jurist, Monterey, TN
- #21 – Troy Dow, Munford, TN
- #3 – Greg Welch, Sardis, TN
- #14 – Jamie Williams, Hohenwald, TN
- #1S – Shawn Knuckles, Poplar Bluff, MO
- #X – Justin Cross, Centerville, TN (DNS)
K&N Filters USCS Outlaw Modified Series Race Awards:
K&N Filters Power Dash: #7W – J.C. Waller
Wilwood Disc Brakes First Heat Award: #02 – Robert Powers
Aero Race Wheels Second Heat Award: #7W – J.C. Waller
K&N Filters Pole Award: #02 – Robert Powers
Bell Helmets Focus Award: #7W – J.C. Waller
K&N Filters Podium (3rd place) Award: #M33 – Eric Hickerson
Brown and Miller Racing Solutions 4th Place Award: #17 – Scott Crites
Comp Cams Hard Charger Award: #B25 – Todd Bates
Saldana Racing Products Top Five Award: #7JR – Bobby Allen
Pyrotect Racing Cells Lucky Seven Award: #29 – Keith Hammett
DMI/Bulldog Rear Ends Top Ten Award: #3 – Greg Welch
