July 18, 2008 - Crossville, TN - Six-time O'Reilly USCS National Champion, Terry Gray from Bartlett, Tennessee won the first of the twin 20-lap O'Reilly USCS Southern Thunder feature races during the O'Reilly USCS sanctioned winged sprint car "Night of Thunder" at Crossville Raceway on Friday night.
Gray started outside the front row and beat K&N Filters Pole Award recipient and the evening's fastest qualifier, Steven Lines from Melbourne, Australia to the first corner and streaked to victory lane in the evening's first feature. Gray survived two cautions that brought the field to his rear bumper on laps four and thirteen. Ronnie Blair from Dayton, Ohio passed Lines on lap eleven for the runner-up spot. Lines followed home in third place. Sixteen year-old Memphis, Tennessee rookie Jon Stinson who qualified sixth fastest raced home in the fourth position. Three-time 2008 O'Reilly USCS Southern Thunder feature winner, Johnny Bridges from Cherryville, North Carolina rounded out the top five finishers.
Steven Lines set fast time of 11.906 around the high-banked 1/3 mile oval. Terry Gray won the Lucas Oil Power Dash that features the top six cars from the previous event. Garry Bell from Cordova, Tennessee won the six lap Bar's Leaks Dash that lined up off points for those drivers. Aussie, Steven Lines garnered ther Hoosier Tire Young Gun off the race for the top driver under 25 years-old. Teenager Jon Stinson received the Rookie of the Race Award. The series moves on to the 4/10 mile Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tennessee on Saturday night when more entries will join the field. For info on Volunteer Speedway visit www.volunteerspeedway.com