By Brian Walker
Oklahoma Prodigy Wins Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout Opener by 7.406-Seconds
It was about 4:00pm on Friday when Ryan Timms first laid eyes on The World’s Fastest Half-Mile; Roughly five hours later, the 16-year-old native of Oklahoma City, OK was standing in Volusia Speedway Park Victory Lane.
Producing one of the most dominant victories in recent memory at the Barberville, FL 1/2-mile, Timms lapped up to eighth place and crossed the finish line with an incredible 7.406-second margin of victory. That came after he slid from third-to-first in the opening corner and cruised through traffic like a seasoned veteran.
“I love this place,” Timms said with a smile after taking the $3,000 score. “It’s not like what I thought it would be – in a good way – and it’s such a blast to race. I already can’t wait to be back here and race on this track against the [World of] Outlaws during DIRTcar Nationals.”
After an 11-win campaign last year, the teenage prodigy has quickly put the world on notice that his 2023 season has the potential to be bigger and better yet. He’ll be back at VSP tomorrow for the $5,000-to-win finale of the Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout with the USCS 360 Sprint Cars.
In two weeks, Timms will have another shot at history when he returns to Volusia for the 52nd annual Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. Competing with the All Star Circuit of Champions on Tuesday & Wednesday, February 7-8 and then World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series on Thursday-Saturday, February 9-11, Timms is trying to become the youngest winner with both sanctions.
Following the CITGARD Engine Oil, Western Flyer Xpress, CITGO #5T to the checkered flag was Scotland, Ontario native Dylan Westbrook in second. It’s his third runner-up effort with USCS, a trend the Canadian hopes to snap tomorrow as he still chases his first Series win aboard the Hill’s Racing Team #47X.
Rounding out the podium after a sensational race-long battle with Anthony Macri was NASCAR Cup Series star Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in third place. An impressive night for the NOS Energy Drink #17 entry with his father Ricky Stenhouse Sr. on the wrenches.
Closing out the top-10 on Friday was Pennsylvania’s Anthony Macri, Iowa’s Chris Martin, Florida’s Tyler Clem, New York’s Paulie Colagiovanni, Washington’s Devon Borden, North Carolina’s Eric Riggins Jr, and Ontario’s Jacob Dykstra.
The United Sprint Car Series will be back at Volusia Speedway Park tomorrow, Saturday, January 28 for the $5,000-to-win finale of the inaugural Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout.
For fans unable to make it to Barberville, you can watch every lap live on DIRTVision.com.