By Gary Jacob
Gallup, NM -- The SCOA winged 410 sprint cars raced for the first time since the July 4th weekend and Marty Wilcox opened a two-race New Mexico swing by racing to victory in the Friday night main event at Gallup Speedway. He entered the night one point behind point leader Calvin Landis, but the win propelled him into first. Wilcox came from 10th starting to take the lead on lap 10 and win in his Klein Engines, Royal Purple Motor Oil sponsored Maxim. Scott Box finished second ahead of Landis and Jeff Slinkard.
The 23 car field was led through time trials by Wilcox's new track record run of 14.22 seconds. His time was more than 1/2 second faster than the old mark held by Landis. Wilcox then won the dash ahead of female star Kaylene Verville. Heat winners were Box, Slinkard and Verville. The Gallup track had received heavy monsoon rain showers during the week and the winged sprint cars raced on very tacky track conditions.
Patrick Sallaway led early in the main event, but the race was redflagged on lap 1 when Ricky Hood and Jeff Branaman tangled. On the restart, Sallaway again led over Box, Slinkard and Zeke Ziska. Wilcox took the lead from Box on lap 10 and Landis moved up to challenge Box for second. Wilcox's bid for a clean sweep was only marred by the second place heat finish behind Box. Wilcox, Box and Landis were trailed in the main event by Slinkard, Ziska, Bobby Marcum, Steve Martin and Buddy Ray Earle.
Summary Fast Time-Marty Wilcox 14.22 NTR Dash-Wilcox, Kaylene Verville, Calvin Landis. Heat 1-Butch Box, Wilcox, John Harris, Robert Hall, Ben Cheever. Heat 2-Jeff Slinkard, Rob Davis, Buddy Ray Earle, Patrick Sallaway, Bobby Marcum. Heat 3-Verville, Ricky Hood, Steve Lohn, Ty Brooks, Steve Martin. Main-Wilcox, Box, Landis, Slinkard, Zeke Ziska, Marcum, Martin, Earle, Davis, Hall, Sallaway, Steve Dunn, Wheeler, Steve Cushman, Cheever, Tom Saenz, Brooks, Steve Stone, Lohn, Harris, Hood, Jeff Branaman, Verville.