TUSCUMBIA, Ala. — Derek Hagar is red hot after winning his fourth straight United Sprint Car Series Speedweek 25-lap feature Thursday night at North Alabama Speedway driving the Ameripanel Special.Â
Hagar held off a hard charging Dale Howard after a late-race caution flag to take the win.
Following Hagar and Howard under the checkered flag in third was the defending and 14-time USCS National Champion Terry Gray. The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee is also the USCS National point leader in quest of his 15th title.Â
Fourth went to Brad Bowden, while Hayden Martin romped from 12th to finish fifth.
Hagar took the lead at the drop of the green flag followed by outside front row starter Gray, Dale Howard, Bowden and Chase Howard. The first of four caution flags came out on lap four, as Hagar gave up a 2.193-second lead over Gray.Â
When the green flag came out, Bowden got by Dale Howard for the third spot on lap five.
A caution flag on lap seven erased a 2.642-second lead for Hagar over Gray. Hagar led the field down for the restart and Dale Howard reclaimed the third spot, dropping Bowden back to fourth. Dale Howard was on the move, as he raced around Gray for the second spot on lap ten and then set his sights on Hagar, 2.470 seconds ahead.
By lap 15, Dale Howard had shaved off a second and a half, as he began to close on Hagar. A lap 16 caution flag bunched the field up for the final nine laps of the race. Hagar opened up a 1.310 second lead by lap 20, and Martin passed Chase Howard on lap 21 to move up to the fifth spot after starting 12th.
The final caution flag came out on lap 22 to set up a three-lap dash to the finish with Hagar leading Dale Howard, Gray, Bowden, and Martin. Dale Howard stayed right with Hagar when the green flag came out. Â
Dale Howard drew to within three tenths of a second of Hagar when the white flag came out, but Hagar was able to hang on to take a .210 second margin of victory under the checkered flag for his fourth straight win in the 18th Annual USCS Speedweek.Â
The finish:
Feature (25 Laps):Â 1. Derek Hagar, Marion, AR; 2. Dale Howard, Byhalia, MS; 3. Terry Gray, Bartlett, TN; 4. Brad Bowden, Hernando, MS; 5. Hayden Martin, Olive Branch, MS; 6. Chase Howard, Nesbit, MS; 7. Koty Adams, Haughton, LA; 8. Lance Moss, Cherryville, NC; 9. Ronny Howard, Nesbit, MS; 10. Marshall Skinner, Marion, AR; 11. Cody Howard, Byhalia, MS; 12. Jeff Willingham, Ripley, MS; 13. Dewayne White, Byhalia, MS; 14. Terry Witherspoon, Jacksonville, FL; 15. Todd Bradford, Arlington, TN; 16. Ryan Roberts, Aurora, NE; 17. Wade Buttrey, Fairview, TN; 18. Spencer Meredith, Hernando, MS; 19. Kenny Coke, Olive Branch, MS DNS.