SPRINGER CAPTURES SALEM 40

06.23.07…Salem IN….

    Hudson, Indiana’s Brad Springer captured his first victory of the 2007 O’Reilly USA Modified Series season, Saturday night at Salem Speedway, Salem Indiana. “It’s great to be back in Victory Lane and to do it here at Historic Salem Speedway is really special!” said Brad “I knew those guys had to be coming…so I ran just as hard as I could.”

    The day started off with threatening skies surrounding the Speedway, but no rain. It rained all around, but never at the track, making for a perfect night of racing. A large crowd was on hand to see USA Modifieds, Late Models, Street stocks, and Sportsman, take on the High Banks at Salem Speedway.

    Hot laps were the first order of the day with several drivers showing fast speeds. Indy’s Tim Taylor would make slight contact with the outside wall coming off of turn four, leaving his crew to make hurried repairs before qualifying began.

    Veteran Rodney Scott would show all who was fast by setting fast time with a lap of 18.010, barley edging out 2006 USA Champ Bob Curry. Tim Taylor was third fast, Scotty Tomasik fourth, Damon Breedlove fifth, Brad Springer, sixth.

    Rodney Scott would take the first checkered flag of the night winning the 6 lap Dash over Tim Taylor and Bob Curry. In heat race action, “Young Gun” Mike Hadley of Indianapolis took the checkered over Michigan’s “Young Gun” Steve Curry, followed by Ft. Wayne’s Tony Dager.

    The draw for the feature line up would find Damon Breedlove on the pole with Scotty Tomasik outside. An unfortunate mishap in pre-race warm ups would side line both cars with neither seeing the green or checkered flag this night. Brad Springer would now start from the pole with Tim Taylor outside, followed by Steve Curry, Mike Hadley, Bob Curry, Rodney Scott, Tony Dager, and Darrin Bowman.

    At the drop of the green Springer would jump to the lead, followed by Taylor, Hadley, Scott and the Curry’s. The first of two yellows would fly on lap 15 when Hadley broke a left front ball joint sending him into the wall. As the race resumed, Bob Curry would get by his son Steve and set out for Rodney Scott. Springer would continue to hold off Taylor for the lead. On lap 27 Mike Thurman’s engine would expire down the front stretch, ending his day. On the re-start Springer would hold off Taylor and Scott to take the checkered.

    Jon Beach would advance nine positions to become the Allstar Performance Hard Charger.

    The O’Reilly USA Modified Series will be in action next at Angola Speedway on July 3^rd and Anderson Speedway on July 7^th. For more info go to www.usamodifieds.com