GASTONIA, NC – August 23, 2024 -
Eric Riggins Jr. of Charlotte, NC won the United Sprint Car Series Presented by K&N Filters 25-lap Feature Race Friday night at Carolina Speedway. Riggins came from the third starting spot to take the lead from Lance Moss of Cherryville, NC on lap 12 and led the rest of the way in the caution-free race. It was Riggins 23rd career USCS Victory.
Moss finished second, as Riggins and Moss set such a fast pace, they were the only two cars on the lead lap. Johnny Bridges of Cherryville, NC took the third spot. A pair of National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Inductees finished fourth and fifth.
The 15-time and defending USCS National Champion Terry Gray of Bartlett, TN was fourth, and 2022 USCS National Champion Danny Smith of Chillicothe, OH came home in fifth. Luke Hill of Odessa, FL took the sixth spot, and seventh went to Jake McLain of Hembry Bridge, NC.
Robert Tyler of Mount Pleasant, NC was eighth and Kyle Connery of Vero Beach, FL started 18th and finished ninth to earn the Wilwood Brakes Hard Charger of the Race Award. Brianna Lawson of Jackson Springs, NC rounded out the top ten.
In preliminary action, Moss earned the pole position for the 25-lap Feature Race by winning the six-lap Hoosier Racing Tire Speed Dash. The three eight-lap Heat Races were won by Moss in the Engler Machine & Tool First Heat, Hill in the Butlerbuilt Racing Products Second Heat, and Gray in the Racing Electronics Third Heat.
Moss took the lead at the start of the race followed by Riggins, Hill, Bridges and Gray. Bridges got by Hill for the third spot on lap eight, and Gray passed Hill for fourth on lap ten. Smith moved into the top five by passing Hill for fifth on lap 13 at the halfway point of the race. Smith went a lap down on lap 15, and Riggins put Gray a lap down on lap 19.
Bridges in third was lapped on the 22nd circuit. By the last lap of the race, Riggins sealed the deal, as he put six lapped cars between himself and Moss in the second spot. The victory was the fourth of the 2024 USCS season for Riggins, and his second USCS win of the season at Carolina Speedway.
Riggins will be looking for his fifth USCS win of the 2024 season on Saturday night, when the action moves to Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, SC where Riggins will also be looking for his second win of the season at “The Track Your Mamma Warned You About.”
For more information about USCS, visit their website at uscsracing.com and the series Facebook page.
United Sprint Car Series Marketing Partners are K&N Filters, Engler Machine & Tool, Hoosier Racing Tire, Huggins Cams, Hero Graphics, DMI/Bulldog, J&J Supply of NC, Racing Electronics, JE Pistons, DHR Suspension, Wilwood Disc Brakes, KSE Racing Products, PRO Shocks, Schoenfeld Headers, and Arizona Sport Shirts.
OFFICIAL RESULTS OF THE UNITED SPRINT CAR SERIES PRESENTED BY K&N FILTERS AT CAROLINA SPEEDWAY IN GASTONIA, NC ON 8/23/24:
FEATURE RACE – 25 Laps:
- 47 Eric Riggins Jr., Charlotte, NC (3);
- 23 Lance Moss, Cherryville, NC (1);
- 07 Johnny Bridges, Cherryville, NC (5);
- 10 Terry Gray, Bartlett, TN (4);
- Danny Smith of Chillicothe, OH (6);
- 41 Luke Hill, Odessa, FL (2);
- 67 Jake McLain, Hembry Bridge, NC (9);
- 75 Robert Tyler, Mount Pleasant, NC (13);
- 91 Kyle Connery, Vero Beach, FL (18);
- B5 Brianna Lawson, Jackson Springs, NC (14);
- 87 Brady Allum, Taylorsville, NC (12);
- 28 Jeff Willingham, Ripley, MS (10);
- 9 C.J. Miller, Mooresville, NC (8);
- 21b Brandon McLain, Indian Trail, NC (11);
- 5r Steven Renn, Gastonia, NC (7);
- 30 Brandon Dockery, Gastonia, NC (16);
- 75x Brian Tyler, Parma, MI (15);
- X Kevin Heavner, Charlotte, NC DNS.
HOOSIER RACING TIRE SPEED DASH – 6 Laps:
- Moss; 2. Hill; 3. Riggins; 4. Gray; 5. Bridges; 6. Smith.
HEAT RACES – 8 Laps:
ENGLER MACHINE & TOOL HEAT 1: 1. Moss; 2, Bridges; 3. Renn; 4. B. Tyler; 5. Heavner DNS; 6. Connery DNS.
BUTLERBUILT RACING PRODUCTS HEAT 2: 1. Hill; 2. Riggins; 3. Miller; 4. Willingham; 5. Allum; 6. Lawson.
RACING ELECTRONICS HEAT 3: 1. Gray; 2. Smith; 3. J. McLain; 4. B. McLain; 5. R. Tyler; 6. Dockery.
Submitted by ROBY HELM – Helm Communications – 865-207-4157
United Sprint Car Series News Release: Contact: PETE WALTON – 770-865-6097 or peteuscs@att.net