KENNEDALE, Texas — Travis Rilat recorded his first victory of 2008 as the American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region opened the season at Cowtown Speedway.
Rilat assumed the lead on the fourth lap of the evening’s 30-lap headliner when early leader Kevin Ramey suffered engine problems, and held off a late bid from defending series champion Brian McClelland.
The race’s final caution, which flew after 27 laps when Andy Shouse spun to a stop against the turn-three barrier after slugging his way from 18th to third, gave McClelland one last shot to take the win away from Rilat.
But Rilat held on for his eighth-career Sooner region victory.
McClelland settled for runner-up honors, with Marvin Lough advancing from eighth to claim third.  Kolt Walker charged from 17th to finish fourth, with Claud Estes fifth.
The finish:
Travis Rilat, Brian McClelland, Marvin Lough, Kolt Walker, Claud Estes, Ryan Hall, Matt Covington, J.P. Bailey, Don Grable, Billy Melton, Landon Brown, Andy Shouse, John Ricketts, Kevin Ramey, Brian Parker, Kathryne Minter, Scott Reneau, Justin Melton, Michael Brown, Skip Wilson.