Brad Best gets first ASCS Gulf South win @ HRP

[rebelracewriter]

Brad is Best in ASCS Gulf South Go at Houston Raceway Park

 

Lonnie Wheatley, BAYTOWN, Tex. (August 19, 2006) Tulsa's Brad Best notched his first career feature win by topping Saturday night's 25-lap American Sprint Car Series Gulf South Region feature at Houston Raceway Park.

 

 

Best became the race's fourth and final leader when Jason Johnson tangled with a lapped car on the 21st round and led the final five laps to secure the win aboard Allen Murray's Wells-powered No. 35 J&J.

 

 

Starting from the pole, Gary Watson jumped into the early lead and paced the opening seven rounds before defending series champion Ray Allen Kulhanek took the point on lap eight.

 

 

Kulhanek paced the field for a handful of laps before Johnson charged by in search of his 16th overall ASCS win of the year. But as Johnson held a half-dozen car-length lead in the latter stages, he was unable to avoid the spinning mount of Lane Whittington on the 21st lap and made hard contact. While there were no injuries, both were done for the night.

 

Best assumed the lead on the restart and raced to the checkered flag in front of Kulhanek, Watson, Ty Johnson and A.J. Weaver. Skip Wilson was sixth, with Brandon Berryman, Michael Herrington, Tommy Bryant and Jamie Will completing the top ten.

 

 

Kulhanek, Johnson and Wilson each captured heat race wins.

 

 

ASCS Gulf South Region Results:

 

 

First Heat: 1. 41-Ray Allen Kulhanek, 2. 21T-Kent Lewis, Jr., 3. 55-A.J. Weaver, 4. 49-Ty Johnson, 5. 4J-Jamie Will, 6. 22-Koby Barksdale, 7. 51-Jimmy Brooks, 8. 17c-Greg Coleman.

 

 

Second Heat: 1. 11-Jason Johnson, 2. 35-Brad Best, 3. 31-Brandon Berryman, 4. 36-Lane Whittington, 5. 7-Michael Herrington, 6. 69-Larry Howery, 7. 35-Greg Rilat, 8. 10-Larry Hartwell.

 

 

Third Heat: 1. 65-Skip Wilson, 2. 3-Gary Watson, 3. 88-Scottie McDonald, 4. 12m-Tommy Bryant, 5. 20-Richard Holt, 6. 15-Brad Stokes, 7. 96-Rachel Craddock, 8. 1n-Bruce Crockett.

 

 

"A" Feature (25 Laps): 1. 35-Brad Best, 2. 41-Ray Allen Kulhanek, 3. 3-Gary Watson, 4. 49-Ty Johnson, 5. 55-A.J. Weaver, 6. 65-Skip Wilson, 7. 31-Brandon Berryman, 8. 7-Michael Herrington, 9. 12m-Tommy Bryant, 10. 4J-Jamie Will, 11. 21T-Kent Lewis, Jr., 12. 22-Koby Barksdale, 13. 15-Brad Stokes, 14. 20-Richard Holt, 15. 51-Jimmy Brooks, 16. 10-Larry Hartwell, 17. 35-Greg Rilat, 18. 69-Larry Howery, 19. 11-Jason Johnson, 20. 36-Lane Whittington, 21. 96-Rachel Craddock, 22. 88-Scottie McDonald, 23. 1n-Bruce Crockett, 24. 17c-Greg Coleman.

 

 

ASCS Gulf South Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Gary Watson 1,918, 2. Greg Rilat 1,916, 3. Ray Allen Kulhanek 1,847, 4. Lane Whittington 1,734, 5. Larry Hartwell 1,638, 6. Richard Holt 1,532, 7. Kent Lewis, Jr. 1,420, 8. Jason Johnson 1,272, 9. Chris Sweeney 1,177, 10. Ty Johnson 1,144.