NORMAN PARK, Ga. — Mark Ruel Jr. bested a 26-car field of some of the nation’s top 360 winged sprint car drivers in the 25-lap USCS Georgia Sprint Car Winter Nationals feature Friday night at Needmore Speedway.
Ruel finished in the runner-up spot in his heat after starting seventh. He then followed that up with a win in the USCS Hoosier Speed Dash placing him on the K&Â Filters Pole for the start of Friday’s main event.
When the green flag waved for the initial start Ruel grabbed point in turn one, then survived restarts after three yellows and two red flags for Sam Hafertepe Jr. with five laps down and the second one for contact between teammates, Dan Nanticoke and Liam Martin.
Over the final five Laps, Ruel held off Canadian Dylan Westbrook, while Terry McCarl, defending USCS champion Dan y Smith and Garet Willamson battled for third place.
McCarl prevailed, with Danny Smith following in fourth place and Williamson rounding the top at the checkers.
Williamson garnered his third Wilwood Disc Brakes Hard Charger Award after starting 15th and finishing fifth.
The finish:
Feature (25 laps): 1. 83-Mark Ruel Jr[1]; 2. 47X-Dylan Westbrook[4]; 3. 24-Terry McCarl[6]; 4. 4-Danny Smith[7]; 5. 24W-Garet Williamson[15]; 6. 28F-Davie Franek[10]; 7. 44-Chris Martin[8]; 8. 10-Terry Gray[13]; 9. 22S-Slater Helt[11]; 10. 2-Ricky Peterson[20]; 11. 20-Brayden Cooley[14]; 12. 07-Johnny Bridges[21]; 13. 13-Chase Howard[18]; 14. 121-Steve Glover[23]; 15. 28-Jeff Willingham[26]; 16. 33-Joe Larkin[25]; 17. 83A-Bob Auld[22]; 18. (DNF) 43M-Mark Smith[5]; 19. (DNF) 11M-Brendan Mullen[16]; 20. (DNF) 9M-Liam Martin[17]; 21. (DNF) 15-Dan Nanticoke[12]; 22. (DNF) 5D-Jacob Dykstra[2]; 23. (DNF) 12-Corbin Gurley[19]; 24. (DNF) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[3]; 25. (DNF) 197-Ryan Harrison[9]; 26. (DNF) 43-Terry Witherspoon[24]
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