Wright ends drought at Oklahoma City

By John Rittenoure

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK. (August 18, 2002) -  Texan Gary Wright would probably like to forget much of the 2002 season. The nine-time defending O'Reilly/NCRA outlaw sprint champion has not won a main event since May 11, when he picked up a win at Tulsa Speedway, and has found himself locked in a points battle for second place.
  Sunday Wright brought his drought to an end with a victory in the All Stars vs. NCRA Thunder Through the Plains A feature at State Fair Speedway.
  Wright battled with Jeff Shepard for second in the early going then passed Shepard for the lead seven laps from the finish to win the final of the six-race series.
  Wright challenged and passed Shepard for second on lap eight after a restart with a move in turn four. However on lap 16 lapped traffic forced Wright high in turn one and Shepard dived low to regain the runner-up position.
 Shepard chased after Kenny Jacob until lap 22 when Jacob suffered mechanical problems and slowed allowing Shepard to take over, but a lap later Wright charged past. On lap 27 Shepard brought out the final yellow with a flat left rear tire. On the restart Wright continued to set the pace the final three laps to win over Travis Whitney. Jacobs held onto third, NCRA point leader Brooke Tatnell picked up fourth and Paul McMahan finished fifth.

  When the 30-lap main got underway Jacobs shot into the lead with Travis Whitney, Paul McMahan and Jeff Shepard in hot pursuit. Jacobs quickly opened up a straight advantage over Whitney while sixth starting Shepard started moving toward the front. Shepard drove past McMahan in turn four of lap three for third then passed Whitney for second two laps later.
  On lap six the yellow waved for Danny Jennings who slowed on the backstretch. Jacobs continued his pace on the restart till lap eight when Jerrod Wilson flipped in turn two to bring out the red.
  Jacobs continued to lead until he slowed on the front stretch with mechanical problems.

  Kelly Kinser shot around Greg Wilson in turn four of lap four and pulled away to win the B main. Wilson finished second with Rodney Duncan third and Jerrod Wilson picking up fourth.
  Brandon Kelley brought out a lap two red when he flipped in turn three. Kelley cllimbed out unhurt.
  Jeff Shepard won the Hallmark dash after Travis Rilat took a wild ride on the opening lap. Rilat drifted high in turn three on the opening lap and slammed into the guardrail. Rilat's car went into a series of violent side-to-side flips as the car spun around like a top. Rilat exited the car unhurt.
  On the restart Shepard led Chad Kemenah and Kenny Jacobs to the checkered.