OKLAHOMA CITY — Yet another new face graced O’Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National series victory lane on Friday night, as Nebraska’s Jack Dover wired the field to top the opening leg of the Red River Shootout at State Fair Speedway.
The 18 year old gunned into the lead at the outset and led all 25 laps en route to his first-career ASCS National Tour triumph aboard Mark and Lori Dover’s Eckley-powered 3D Auto Transport No. 53 Eagle. Dover is the 10th different winner in 12 races this season.
“There’s that feature win we’ve been looking for,” Dover said.
Scheduled to start third, Dover’s first big break came when polesitter Eric Baldaccini was forced to the work area with driveline issues before the green flag.
Dover gunned into the lead at the wave of the green flag and never looked back. Andy Shouse and third-runner Jason Johnson closed in on Dover as lapped traffic began to play a factor, only to have a caution flag wave.
After the race’s final interruption set up an eight-lap dash to the checkered flag, Dover cruised to the checkered flag unabated to deliver the perfect birthday gift to crew chief Wayne Priddy as well as an early graduation present to himself.
Set for his high school graduation on Sunday, Dover took the checkered flag a half dozen car lengths ahead of Shouse, with Johnson third.
Zach Chappell and Garry Lee Maier rounded out the top five.
The finish:
Jack Dover, Andy Shouse, Jason Johnson, Zach Chappell, Garry Lee Maier, Wayne Johnson, Danny Jennings, Travis Rilat, Kevin Ramey, Gary Wright, Mike Peters, Eric Baldaccini, Gary Taylor, Koby Barksdale, Donnie Ray Crawford, Kenneth Walker, Nick Smith, Jason Sides, Chris Tarrant, Kathryne Minter, Aaron Berryhill, Joe Wood, Jr., Chris Lloyd.