Camargo, IL (8-1-09) – By Kelly Brown –Public Relations Director – Sometimes it feels like the world is against you and on other nights it seems like the stars align and even with your mistakes you come out on top. It was one of those nights for Scott Winters who collected his first O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions victory on the fourth night of Thunder through the Plains racing action at Husets Speedway in Brandon, SD.

If it hadn’t been for the misfortune of another, Winters may have not ended his night celebrating in Victory Lane. As the result of the 16 of Jake Peters withdrawing from the main event because of engine troubles, Winters took his place in the pick six and inherited the outside pole from Peters.

At the drop of the Green Flag Winter’s got the jump over pole sitter Gary Wright and jetted out into the early lead. Wright, Tim Shaffer, and Tim Kaeding would fall in line. Just as Kaeding had executed a pass on Shaffer to take over the third position misfortune struck. On Lap 4 the Yellow Flag came out when Kaeding came to a stop on the backstretch. Seeing that his driveline was broke the Red Flag came out quickly to assess Kaeding’s condition.

When race action resumed Winters got a jump on Wright and continued to pull out a sizable lead over the rest of the field. The Yellow Flag would fly again on Lap 15 when Brandon Wimmer encountered trouble when the suspension broke on the right rear. This would end the Rookie-of-the-Year hopeful’s night.

When the Green Flag was unfurled again Winters picked up where he left off in the lead. The battle at this point of the event was for the fourth position. Shaffer had it and Sam Hafertepe Jr. was on his bumper. Hafertepe would jump to his inside to pick up the four spot.

With 12 laps to go the 9x of Wright would catch up to Winters to challenge for the lead, but Winters would hold on. Wright would size up Winters again, but just as it appeared Wright had the position a lapped car would get out of shape. Wright and Winters would get off the throttle to avoid the car that almost looped it around, but saved it. This would allow Winters to hold on to the lead and drive off to the win.

At the finish line it was Winters picking up his first O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions victory with a commanding lead. Wright would go on to finish second with Hafertepe, Bruce and Shaffer rounding out the Top-5. There were a couple hard chargers on a track that was difficult to pass on. Rookie-of-the-Year contender Daron Clayton was able to pick up eleven spots from his starting position to finish sixth. Robby Wolfgang was also on the move starting 23rd and finishing one spot outside of the top-10 when the Checkered Flag flew.

The final night of Thunder through the Plains takes the Checkered Flag tomorrow night for a second evening of race action at Husets Speedway. Sunday night August 2nd racing will start at 7:00 pm. At the gate tickets will run $25 for adults, with $5 tickets for children 8-14 years old, and kids 7 and under are free. For more information call the track at (605) 582-3536 or visit www.husets-speedway.com. 

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