USAR HOOTERS PRO CUP SERIES

NORTHERN DIVISION

'NATURALLY FRESH 250 Presented by Longhorn' Notebook

   Fairytale Finish - It wasn’t quite the "Miracle on Ice," but Jim Crabtree’s sixth-place finish was a pretty special moment. Not because Crabtree isn’t a competent wheelman, but rather due to the size of his team’s budget and his rookie status.

    "I almost feel as good as if I’d won the race; I’m happy, real happy," said Crabtree, driver of the No. 63 McCreary County Funeral Home Chevrolet. "We weren’t sure we were going to Jennerstown, but I’m pretty sure we’re going now."

    Crabtree added $1,000 to his purse for being the top-finishing rookie and an extra $500 via the Aaron’s Hard Charger Award for advancing 17 positions.

    Walking in the Ohio Rain - The Naturally Fresh 250 was scheduled for an 8 p.m. start on Friday night, but persistent showers forced the race to be run at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The delay marked the second time in the last year that an Ohio race was pushed back a day for precipitation. The Mansfield Motorsport Speedway Championship Series event was pushed back due to rain last October.

    Ominous Ending - Cameron Dodson, driver of the No. 14 Elite Auto Collision Chevrolet, picked up his best finish of the season by coming home 11th in the Naturally Fresh 250 at Kil-Kare Speedway. Everything went well for the rookie driver until he crossed the finish line. Dodson tangled with another car and plowed the water barrels in Turn 1. Regardless, Dodson was still happy with the climactic conclusion.

    "It is exciting for our team to get a solid finish," said Dodson. "I am really proud of everyone on our May’s Motorsports team for working hard to bring us together and keep improving every race. That is a tall order in this series because it is very competitive, but I feel like I am improving as a stock car driver."

    Dodson joined the Hooters Pro Cup Series after winning the Auto Value/Bumper-to-Bumper Super Sprint Series (AVSS) championship and rookie of the year title.

    I Never Left - Seeing A.J. Frank and his No. 11 Lightin’ Fast Chevrolet around the front of the field in the last few weeks has been a welcome sight for fans. But Frank is quick to point out that situations, not performance, put the Bullet Racing team in an early-season hole.

    "The first race we were caught up in a wreck. The second race we had a mechanical failure," said Frank. "We’ve had a top-10 car every week. But, you know, it’s a new team and new guys. Now everybody’s clicking. We had a few growing pains, but we feel good about the progress we’re making, and we hope to keep marching more towards the front."

    Best of the Best - The Hooters Pro Cup Series will be off this weekend, but at Jennerstown Speedway on May 27, the best of the best will likely show up for the Northern Division race. And Benny Gordon knows that.

    "Jennerstown is going to be a championship-type race," Gordon said of the likelihood of Southern Division interlopers joining the field. "It doesn’t count for championship points, but it’s going to count for something. We’re going to be ready for them."

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