Memphis: Race report, standings

Wise Posts 1ST National Sprint Win At Memphis

Josh Wise of Riverside, Calif. earned his first USAC Valvoline National Sprint Car victory Friday night, leading all 30 laps at Memphis Motorsports Park driving the Keith Kunz Motorsports/Snyder Racing Engines/Bullitt Chassis Chevy. It kicked off a great weekend for Wise, who also won Saturday night's 30-lap USAC Western Midget Car feature at Hanford, Calif.

Wise's Memphis victory came in the opening events of the complex's "Big M Motorfest" as he beat Cory Kruseman, Shane Stewart, Dave Darland and Bud Kaeding to the checkered flag. Wise now ranks sixth in the series standings going into the May 22 "Tony Hulman Classic" at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track.

Jay Drake was 10th at Memphis and holds a 26-point lead over Levi Jones, 16th at Memphis, in the new series standings.

Texan Travis Rilat was the fastest qualifier, while Mike Ward, Boston Reid, Kruseman and Gary Wright won heats. Mat Neely won the "qualifying race" and Shane Stewart won the semi.

Tennessee's Sammy Swindell was involved in a flip during the semi but escaped injury. The race was USAC's first for Sprint cars in the Volunteer State since 1959.

VALVOLINE USAC NATIONAL SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1.-Jay Drake-227
2.-Levi Jones-201
3.-Dave Darland-187
4.-Cory Kruseman-178
5.-Tony Elliott-164
6.-Josh Wise-141
7.-Bud Kaeding-138
8.-Boston Reid-136
9.-Brian Tyler-122
10.-Brian Lee-119

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