(Photo Courtesy of Mike Howard) 
David Smith, Jr.
OKTidbits/PR
(405) 740-4769
Carney Cruises to SSO Victory at SOS!
Ardmore, Oklahoma – April 15, 2016 - John Carney II took the lead at the start and never looked back as the Lubbock, Texas driver cruised to his third Sprint Series of Oklahoma IMCA Racesaver victory of the season as the tour made their first of five appearances of the season at Southern Oklahoma Speedway in Ardmore, Oklahoma as part of the tracks “Fast Friday Series” events.
Carney and Sterling Hoff started on the front row for the twenty lap feature with Carney taking the lead as the green flag fell. Third starting Joe Wood, Jr. quacking moved into second from his third starting position while Gary Kelley, Hoff and Loyd Clevenger the top five after lap one.
Carney had built a four car length lead over Wood before the first and only caution of the feature fell when Ty Williams and Clevenger tangled in turn four.
On the final restart, Carney once again bolted out into the lead with Wood on his rear bumper. Andy Shouse, who had a bad start at the beginning of the feature after starting fourth, had worked his way up to the third position before the caution and would begin a race long battle with Wood for the runner-up position that lasted the balance of the feature. Shouse would take second from Wood and the restart while Carney began pulling away from the rest of the field.
Slower cars first came into play on lap nine yet Carney worked the top side of the three-eighths mile oval to perfection and threaded his way through the back of the field with no problems.
Meanwhile, Wood and Shouse continued their battle for second with Shouse maintaining the position on lap twelve as Carney had opened a half stretch lead.
Still working his way through the field, slower cars still didn’t slow the leaders pace and Carney, aboard the John James owned #4j, would go on to claim the victory in his first ever appearance at the track. “I really like this place, very racy,” said Carney in victory lane. “I want to thank John for giving me the opportunity to drive this thing as the car worked perfectly. We will definitely come back here again.”
While Carney took the half straightaway victory, eyes were on the continued battle for the runner-up position with Wood finally gaining control with three laps to go and would finish second. Shouse settled for third while ninth starting Brandon Long, aboard his Triple X chassis, Kelly Propane/TNT Signs and Graphics/Davis Co/KPE Racing/Falls Truck Wash sponsored sprinter, came home fourth. Eleventh starting Jake Martens rounded out the top five.
The three, eight lap heat races for the twenty car field were won by Carney, Wood and Hoff.
The next event for the Sprint Series of Oklahoma IMCA Racesaver Series will be held next Saturday night, April 23, at Brill Motor Speedway in Meeker, Oklahoma.
Sprint Series of Oklahoma
Southern Oklahoma Speedway/Ardmore, Oklahoma
04/15/16
20 Cars
1st Heat: 1) John Carney, 2) Gary Kelley, 3) Ty Williams, 4) Jake Martens, 5) Blake Dacus, 6) Chad Koch, 7) Blake Scott
2nd Heat: 1) Joe Wood, Jr., 2) Andy Shouse, 3) Loyd Clevenger, 4) Shayla Waddell, 5) Chuck Bellefeville, 6) Gary Owens, 7) Bryson Oeschger
3rd Heat: 1) Sterling Hoff, 2) Chris Kelly, 3) Brandon Long, 4) Zach Blurton, 5) Cody Whitworth, 6) Jerry Jumper
A Feature: 1) John Carney, 2) Joe Wood, Jr., 3) Andy Shouse, 4) Brandon Long, 5) Jake Martens, 6) Chris Kelly, 7) Zach Blurton, 8) Gary Owens, 9) Gary Kelly, 10) Blake Dacus, 11) Shayla Waddell, 12) Cody Whitworth, 13) Chad Koch, 14) Jerry Jumper, 15) Sterling Hoff, 16) Chuck Bellefeville, 17) Blake Scott, 18) Loyd Clevenger, 19) Ty Williams, DNS: Bryson Oeschger
Lap Leaders: Carney 1-20
David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com
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