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Gardner Untouchable In USAC Sprint Action At East Bay
- Updated: February 8, 2010
Gibsonton, Fla. – Damion Gardner was untouchable at East Bay Raceway Park in the opening round of action on the lightning-fast 1/3-mile dirt track.
The race marked the opening round of the “Bubba Army Sprint Nationals,” the first event in 2010 for the Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series. For USAC, it was making its return to Florida for the first time in 23 years. Rich Vogler won at the nearby Florida State Fairgrounds at that time.
Driving the Pace Lighting/Eagle Shaver, Gardner shot into the lead from his fourth-place starting position after the front-row starters spun out on the opening lap. Thereafter, the Californian wasn’t headed as he quickly opened a sizable gap over the rest of the 24-car field.
“We were good all night,” Gardner said. “We were worried about being a little free, so the guys rolled the dice with the right set-up. I have enough side bite and had them covered.”
Bryan Clauson came from fifth to second and fast-qualifier Brady Short took the show position.
Said Clauson of his ride, “We missed a couple of wrecks early on and got up there. But we dialed ourselves out for the feature and I didn’t help it from the cockpit. Damion (Gardner) was the class of the field tonight, but we weren’t bad for the first night out.”
Shane Cottle and Casey Riggs were fourth and fifth.
2009 USAC sprint champion Levi Jones was sixth followed by Robert Ballou, Dave Darland, Shane Hmiel and Tracy Hines.
Thirty-two cars signed in with Short, the last car to qualifying, accelerating the fastest lap of 15.027 seconds.
Heat races went to Hmiel, Henry Clarke, Justin Grant and Hunter Schuerenberg. Riggs took the semi-feature.