Published: July 26, 2008 12:08 am            

Hooters race returns

After a one-year absence, the United Speed Alliance Racing (USAR) Hooters Pro Cup Series returns to Jennerstown Speedway.

The Hooters 250 presented by Eaton Electrical is set for 7 tonight at the Laurel Highlands oval, the series’ only appearance in the Keystone State this season. It is the sixth of the eight races on the Hooters Northern Division schedule.

DuBois driver Benny Gordon is looking for his third win of the 2008 season and his third victory at Jennerstown, which he considers to be his home track.

“I have some special memories at Jenners-town,” said Gordon. “I got my first Pro Cup win there. It’s always fun to go there, especially with all the support we get from the fans. Plus, we usually have a bad (fast) car every time we unload.”

In seven starts at Jennerstown, Gordon has two wins, three poles and four top-five finishes. Even with the home-field advantage, Gordon doesn’t expect to waltz to victory. Floyd, Va., driver Jeff Agnew has multiple wins at Jennerstown and has competed in every event run at the facility.

Southern Division regulars Mark McFarland of Winchester, Va., the Southern Division points leader, and Clay Rogers of Mooresville, N.C., will likely make the trip to Jennerstown for an out-of-division skirmish. Rogers won the last Hooters race held at Jennerstown, in the end-of-the-year championship series.

Other contenders on the pre-entry list include: Gary St. Amant of Delaware, Ohio; Brandon Ward of Winston-Salem, N.C.; Mikey Kile of Westlake, La.; Allen Purkhiser of Moore, S.C.; Jay Fogleman of Durham, N.C.; Philipsburg’s Tim Bainey; and Winfield, W.Va.’s Derek Kale.

St. Amant is second in the Northern Division point standings with 624, followed by Kile (615 points), Ward (611), and Kale (608). Bainey is ninth with 550.

“I’m not trying to sound too cocky, but they could be in for a brutal beating,” said Gordon. “I think we’re going to have a really strong piece, and we’re going to go test. We’ve always been fast, and I don’t see that changing. I’m really looking forward to it.”

If Gordon can pick up the victory on Saturday, he may be on the fast track to becoming the first Hooters Pro Cup driver in history to win four divisional titles.

“That’s the plan,” said Gordon, driver of the No. 66n. “Our team is really starting to come together at the right time.”

Gordon picked up his first Northern Division win in the last race out at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va., on July 12, but it wasn’t as though he was slumping.

The DuBois driver started the season with a win in a Southern Division race at USA International Speedway in Lakeland, Fla., finished in the top five in the first four Northern Division races.

Practice opens at 11:30 a.m. with pole qualifying at 4:30 p.m. An autograph session will be held at 5:45 with prerace ceremonies at 6:30.

The Race/Network will stream the race live as a single day pay-per-view event.

The race will be shown tape-delayed on VERSUS at 4 p.m. Aug. 4.

        

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