Angola, Ind. (May 3, 2002) - One of wildest endings in series history, saw J.R. Roahrig come from fourth to first in winning the Budweiser 150 at Angola Motor Speedway on Friday, May 3. After first, second and third place got together with two laps remaining, Roahrig slipped through and grabbed the first position. Roahrig survived a final restart to hold off series veterans Jim Crabtree Jr. and Bull Baker to win his first Sunoco Super Series event. Driving the Gaerte Engines Dodge, Roahrig, pocketed $3,740 for his first series victory.

"They all spun out in front of me and I just drove around them," said J.R. Roahrig in victory lane, referring to the lap 248 accident involving the top three cars. "I was having problems on the restarts with the clutch slipping, so I saw the accident happen; that was easy."

At the drop of the green flag, Peter Cozzolino filling in for the injured Brent Downey, grabbed the point with Jeff Lane close behind. On the second trip around, Lane utilizing the lower groove worked around the 1999 rookie of the year. In the early stages, Aaron Hulings, Scott Hantz and Matt Hagans were all following closely behind the leader.

2000 series champion and rookie of the year Scott Hantz began charging to the front, passing Hulings on lap 20 and then Cozzolino three laps later. He then began catching Lane. On lap 27, Hantz completed the pass and went into the lead for the initial time.

Over the next stretch of green flag racing, several competitors began advancing to the front, highlighted by J.R. Roahrig, who was searching for his initial series victory. Also on the charge were Junior Hanley, Bull Baker and Evan Jackson.

On lap 77, while in lapped traffic, Jeff Lane got by Hantz for the lead and Hulings was able to slide Hantz back to the third position. Even though he was shuffled back, it appeared Hantz continued to have one of the best machines in the field.

On lap 85, Hantz muscled his way past Hulings for second and then began catching the number 11 of Jeff Lane. After waiting, Hantz then drove around Lane on lap 100 to capture the lead for the second time of the event.

The final 50 laps proved to be extremely exciting for the Northern Indiana fans that were in attendance. On the 121st circuit, the second -place runner of Lane went spinning in the second corner, which advanced Hulings to second spot.

When racing resumed, Hulings started to pressure Hantz. After a couple brief caution periods, series flagman Keith Ousley waved the green flag with 12 laps remaining. Hulings was glued to Hantz's number 72 EMF Corporation Chevrolet.

The two raced nearly nose-to-tail for the next ten laps. With two laps to go, Hulings pushed his Ford hard into turn three and got underneath Hantz. The two touched in the middle of three and four and both went spinning. Matt Hagans couldn't avoid the two sideways machines and was also collected. Fourth-place Roahrig of South Bend, Ind., weaved through the spinning cars and was scored as the race leader with Crabtree Jr. and Baker completing the top three.

The final restart came out with a green, white, checkered finish. Roahrig's Dodge slowly came to speed because of clutch problems. Crabtree Jr. dove on the outside of him as they raced side-by-side. Baker, Hantz and Parsley all got in the mix. Coming to the checkered flag, Roahrig had a one-car length advantage over Crabtree Jr., who barely edged out Baker at the stripe. Hantz recovered to finish fourth, with Parsley taking fifth.

Joel Kauffman was the fastest of 29 competitors and earned the Tobacco Depot Fast Qualifier Award with a lap of 14.420 seconds / 93.620 mph. Roahrig was the winner of the Lane Automotive/K&N Performance Filters Hard Charger, finishing first position after starting in 16th spot. Tim Phillips was the Hubler Group/Blake Carburetion Rookie of the Race. Roahrig and Evan Jackson were the winners of the Goodyear Performance Awards. Scott Hantz led on two ocassions for 100 laps and was awarded the Everidge Motor Sales Lap Leader Bonus. The Rug Doctor Rents Clean Sweep wasn't claimed and will be worth $1,400 at Anderson on May 11.