The North's Brian Hoppe won the Patriot 200 by .018 seconds (less than the length of the nosecone) edging out the South's Ricky Turner.  In an exciting race that saw 8 lead changes with 6 different leaders all looking for the big payoff and a guaranteed ride in the ASA race on Sunday. 

"To win this is awesome!" Stated a jublient Hoppe.  "This is one of the strongest fields I have ever raced in and to win is just awesome."

With the win, Hoppe earned a $6000 payoff and a ride in the ASA BFGoodrich Traction T/A Tires 300.  58 cars were at the Fairgrounds Speedway attempting to make the 40 car field.  Sunoco Super Series regular Junior Hanley had good times in the practice sessions, but lost an engine on the warm-up lap for his qualifying attempt.  Without a backup car Hanley was unable to make the feature, taking out one of the pre-race favorites.

Following Hoppe and Turner the South's Russell Fleeman placed third, The North's Charlie Menard 4th and Sunoco Rookie of the Year Chuck Barnes, Jr. finished 5th.  In a race with mechanical problems taking several cars who were in the lead, the North took 3 of the Top 5 and 7 of the Top 10.

J.R. Norris, who won 6 races in the Southern All Stars Super Late Models in 2003, took the early lead starting on the outside of the first row, he beat fast qualifier Eddie Hoffman into the third turn and started to run away.  During a restart on lap 28 his shifter broke and he was forced to retire.

Erik Darnell inherited the lead on lap 28 and went on to lead 34 of the next 38 laps.  Wayne Willard took over for the next 54 laps picking up the 1/2 way leader award but was forced to drop out due to an engine engine problem allowing Darnell to take the lead again before Eddie Hoffman to took the lead. Despite being very fast all day Darnell later experienced problems when he lost a lap during a pitstop.

Charlie Menard ran down Hoffman and ran out front for a few laps before Brian Hoppe caught him and took the lead on lap 159 running out front by a wide margin at times before Turner worked his way through the field to catch Hoppe. 

Eddie Hoffman grabbed the pole for the North with a fast lap of 19.085 with a speed of 112.423.  J.R. Norris ran second, first for the South at 19.104 seconds for 112.312 mph.  Click Here for complete Qualification Results.

Scott Hantz, Jim Crabtree, Bobby Murany, and Tim Sibila are in the race on provisionals.  Click Here for Last Chance Race 1 or Race 2 Lineups

Junior Hanley, third in 2003 Sunoco Super Series points, lost an engine on his qualification run, did not have a time, and will not be in the race.