TWIN FALLS, Idaho -- Pepsi treated the Magic Valley to a taste of open wheel excitement this Thursday evening when they brought in the USAC Sprint Cars. Twenty-five cars showed up for the Dwayne Starr Classic. The qualifying field was tight but Boise, Idaho driver Kenny Hamilton led the way with a 13.64 second run. Brian McLish started from the pole with the six-car invert and used that advantage to lead all fifty laps. It was his first victory with the group. He was challenged all the way by Todd Ellison who started forth and quickly moved to the runner-up spot. Chad Nichols, Danny Lyons and Tim Barber rounded out the top five. Fast qualifier Hamilton experience handling problems and did not finish.
The NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Mountain Dew Modified feature division ran its fifty-lap feature without a caution flag. T. J. Woodhall came from the outside front row to pass Harold Wartluft on lap six and take over the lead for good. It was his second win of the season. Wartluft then experienced mechanical problems and retired from the event. Tom Powell ran a strong second holding off a hard charging Steve Jones the season point leader. Rob Vest and Dana Pruett rounded out the top five. The finishing order in the heat race was Wartluft, Bruce Quale and Woodhall. Jones was quickest in McDonalds time trials.
Budweiser Grand National action saw Dale Miles take his fifth win of the 2002 season. Curt Kaneaster, Norm Hatke, Dan Doan and Randy Price trailed him at the finish. The order of finish in the heat race was Edward Keyes, Kaneaster and Mike Buddenhagen.
