COLUMBUS, Miss. — Report by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman — USCS photo —
It took two years for him to make it back to www.rockauto.com USCS Victory Lane, but Friday night at Magnolia Motor Speedway, Alpharetta, Ga. veteran Bob Trapino acted like he had never left.
Trapino took the lead on lap 10 from leading USCS 600 Sprint Car Series rookie contender Remeno Loyal and led the rest of the distance to pick up his second career USCS-sanctioned micro sprint victory and first win of the 2015 season.
Loyal, from Snellville, Ga. hung on for his best-career USCS 600 result, finishing runner-up to Trapino at the checkered flag and extending his championship lead over Trapino, who leapfrogs Mike Magic for second spot in the points with the win.
Columbus, Miss. crew chief-turned-driver Curt Schumacher finished third to round out the podium, after starting on the K&N Filters Pole Position and being overhauled by Loyal and Trapino on the opening lap. Teenage young gun and 2013 series Rookie of the Year Brandon Taylor, out of Cumming, Ga. followed in fourth and Baldwyn, Mississippi’s Kyle Carpenter rounded out the top five.
Multi-time series winner Chris Openshaw, out of Bessemer, Ala. led the next wave of drivers in sixth, followed by Brian Nance, from Mayfield, Ky. in seventh. Corinth, Miss. veteran Darl Parvin rounded out the drivers taking the green flag with his eighth place result.
Two drivers — Castalian Springs, Miss. rookie Michael Barton and all-time series wins leader Bobby Zaiontz, from Columbus, Miss. — were on-hand but had mechanical problems that prevented them from starting Friday night’s feature. Zaiontz was leading the Hoosier Speed Dash but broke coming to the checkered flag, while Barton suffered his woes between the heat race and the main event.
As Zaiontz slowed, Openshaw pounced to claim the win in the five-lap Hoosier Speed Dash. Trapino then claimed the victory in the 10-lap Engler Machine and Tool Heat Race, making him the provisional polesitter on passing points. However, once a four was rolled on the K&N Inversion Die, Curt Schumacher received the K&N Filters Pole Award. Trapino was also the Wilwood Disc Brakes Hard Charger of the Race, advancing three positions in the main event.
The www.rockauto.com USCS 600 Sprint Car Series is scheduled to resume on June 5 at the East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, Ala.
RESULTS: USCS 600 Sprint Car Series; Magnolia Motor Speedway; May 29, 2015
Hoosier Speed Dash: Chris Openshaw, Kyle Carpenter, Brandon Taylor, Bob Trapino, Brian Nance, Bobby Zaiontz
Engler Machine and Tool Heat Race: Bob Trapino, Brandon Taylor, Curt Schumacher, Remeno Loyal, Chris Openshaw, Kyle Carpenter, Brian Nance, Darl Parvin, Michael Barton, Bobby Zaiontz (DNS)
www.rockauto.com USCS 600 Sprint Series @ Magnolia Motor Speedway Main Event (15 laps):
- #98 – Bob Trapino, Alpharetta, GA
- #2X – Remeno Loyal, Snellville, GA
- #83 – Curt Schumacher, Columbus, MS
- #07 – Brandon Taylor, Cumming, GA
- #13 – Kyle Carpenter, Baldwyn, MS
- #17C – Chris Openshaw, Bessemer, AL
- #39 – Brian Nance, Mayfield, KY
- #D14 – Darl Parvin, Corinth, MS
- #21B – Michael Barton, Castalian Springs, MS (DNS)
- #1 – Bobby Zaiontz, Columbus, MS (DNS)
USCS 600 Sprint Race Awards:
Hoosier Tire Speed Dash: #17C – Chris Openshaw
Engler Machine and Tool Heat Race: #98 – Bob Trapino
K&N Filters Pole Award: #83 – Curt Schumacher
Bell Helmets Focus Award: #2X – Remeno Loyal
K&N Filters Podium (3rd place) Award: #83 – Curt Schumacher
Brown and Miller Racing Solutions Fourth Place Award: #07 – Brandon Taylor
Wilwood Disc Brakes Hard Charger Award: #98 – Bob Trapino
Keizer Aluminum Wheels Top Five Award: #13 – Kyle Carpenter
Saldana Racing Products Super Sixth Award: #17C – Chris Openshaw
DMI/Bulldog Rear Ends Top Ten Award: #1 – Bobby Zaiontz
