Rabbit Ears Propel Tyler To Easter Eve Victory

Brian Tyler of Parma , Michigan led all 150-laps Saturday night as the Premier Racing Association launched its second season at South Georgia Motorsports Park . Tyler, who was fastest qualifier, drew the number one starting spot in the PRA’s unique way of determining the first six starting spots.

In keeping with the Easter Holiday spirit the fastest six qualifiers selected a brightly colored plastic Easter egg with numbers one through six inside. When the eggs were opened Tyler found the number one, putting him on the pole for the 150-lap contest around SGMP’s half mile oval. 10-year old Kaylee Stone held the Easter basket containing the eggs, and was wearing a pair of pink rabbit ears.

After the draw had been made Tyler borrowed the ears, taped them to his helmet and they stayed on the entire race. “When I needed weight in the right rear”, Tyler joked, “I would just lay my head back and it would put a little more bite in the car.” Brian was driving the #4 Contos Racing Pink Ford/Beast, the same car that Eric Gordon drove to victory at Illiana Speedway in Schererville, Indiana to begin the 2006 Big Car Series.
Wayne Reutimann, Junior passed A.J. Fike on the final lap to take the runner-up position. Eric Gordon wound up fourth and Nascar Nextel Cup star Ryan Newman rounded out the top five.

Reigning PRA Big Car Champion Chet Fillip suffered a severe setback in his defense of the title when he dropped out with mechanical problems after just 16 circuits bringing out the first caution of the chilly evening. The only other yellow waved when Alex Pruett and Mike Lichty crashed in turn two but were uninjured.

The 16-car field contained a 17 year old, an 18 year old and a 19 year old. The 18-year old, Ryan Smith from Kunkletown, Pennsylvania had the best evening of the trio starting last after failing to take a qualifying run but finishing 8th. Kody Swanson, who turned 19 on March 3rd, started 10th and finished 9th, while 17year old Jacob Wilson from Crawfordsville , IN drove from 14th to 10th.

The Big Cars will return to South Georgia Motorsports Park on December 1st. Next up is O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis on the evening of May 16th.

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