OSKALOSSA, IA, AUGUST 6, 2002 - The "Texas Tornado", Travis Rilat, came from
the 16th starting spot to win the opening round of the Non-Winged World Championship (NWWC) tour at Southern Iowa Speedway and was rewarded with the $30,000 first prize that accompanied his non-winged "Ultimate Challenge" victory.

Even though Rilat isn't exactly a household name on the NAPA Auto Parts /Auto Trader Magazines SCRA sprint car scene, his victory Tuesday will undoubtedly open a few eyes on the West Coast.  At the tender age of 24, Rilat has already won main events in All Star, ASCS and NCRA competition. His drive to NWWC glory comes in just his second non-winged start and his first career SCRA start. 

JE Pistons Dash winner Damion Gardner took the lead on lap six and was hounded throughout the race by Sander Engineering Fast Qualifier J.J. Yeley and Kasey Kahne.  Working his way forward on the bottom of the racing surface, Rilat had moved into the top-five when the red flag flew on lap 24 for Troy Rutherford, who flipped in turn one.  Rutherford was not hurt, but the same could not be say for his Cory Witherill owned sprinter.

Shortly after the restart, Rilat drove under Gardner and Yeley in turn two and took the lead with a spectacular three-wide pass.  After the race, it was learned that Rilat had lost his brakes and one of his cylinders due to a rocker arm problem.  In addition to the biggest payday in SCRA history, Rilat also earned the KSE Hard Charger Award.

Gardner held back Kahne, Boston Reid and Yeley to finish second.  Terry Pletch, who earned a ninth place finish with the SCRA at Terre Haute in 1999, can added a sixth place run to his SCRA resume after putting together a fine drive from the eleventh starting spot.  Pletch's teammate for the evening, Jac Haudenschild, had an incident in his heat race with Cory Kruseman and was unable to make the call for the B-Main.  Despite flipping in the incident, Kruseman transferred from the B-Main and went on to finish ninth in the A-Main behind Levi Jones.  Defending NWWC Champion, Richard Griffin was finished seven. 
 
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SCRA RACE #22 - SOUTHERN IOWA SPEEDWAY, OSKALOSSA, IA
Date of Race: 8/6/02

*UNOFFICAL RESULTS

SANDER ENGINEERING FAST TIME AWARD: J.J. Yeley, 19.866

HEDMAN HEDDERS HEAT 1
1. Dickie Gaines, 2. Charles Davis Jr., 3. JJ Yeley, 4. Levi Jones, 5. Rickie Gaunt, 6. Troy Rutherford, 7. Bobby Graham, 8. Mike Spencer, 9. Casey Alexander, 10. Jack DeArmond Jr

SHAVER ENGINES HEAT 2
1. John Scott, 2. Terry Pletch, 3. Tony Elliott, 4. Kasey Kahne, 5. Tracy Hines, 6. Bud Kaeding, 7. Adam Mitchell, 8. Miles Grein, 9. Robert Bell

SPIN TECH MUFFLERS HEAT 3
1. Mike Kirby, 2. Boston Reid, 3. Damion Gardner, 4. Rip Williams, 5. Tony Jones, 6. Justin Marvel, 7. Ryan Jamison, 8. Lance Gremett, 9. Howie Gleason

STINGER CHASSIS HEAT 4
1. Richard Griffin, 2. Mike English, 3. Travis Rilat, 4. Rodney Argo, 5. Keith Hutton, 6. Terry Thorson, 7. Bobby Cody, 8. Cory Kruseman, 9. Jac Haudenschild

JE PISTONS DASH
1. Damion Gardner, 2. Richard Griffin, 3. Kasey Kahne, 4. JJ Yeley, 5. Boston Reid, 6. Tony Elliott, 7.  Levi Jones, 8. Mike English

B FEATURE
1. Tony Jones, 2. Cory Kruseman, 3. Troy Rutherford, 4. Justin Marvel, 5. Ryan Jamison, 6. Rickie Gaunt, 7. Bud Kaeding, 8. Tracy Hines, 9. Bobby Graham, 10. Adam Mitchell, 11. Miles Grein, 12. Howie Gleason, 13. Mike Spencer, 14. Keith Hutton, 15. Jack DeArmond Jr., 16. Stacy Alexander, 17. Lance Gremett, 18. Robert Bell, 19. Terry Thorson

A FEATURE (30 Laps)
1. Travis Rilat, 2. Damion Gardner, 3. Kasey Kahne, 4. Boston Reid, 5. J.J. Yeley, 6. Terry Pletch, 7. Richard Griffin, 8. Levi Jones, 9. Cory Kruseman, 10. Dickie Gaines, 11. Tony Elliott, 12. Rickie Gaunt, 13. Ryan Jamison, 14. Mike English, 15. Justin Marvel, 16. John Scott, 17. Mike Kirby, 18. Tony Jones, 19. Rodney Argo, 20. Rip Williams, 21. Troy Rutherford, 22. Charles Davis Jr.