Phoenix, AZ -Eric Wilkins was explosive, but Bob Ream Jr. sparkled with victory Saturday in Manzanita Speedway's annual Firecracker 50.

Ream won his fourth feature race of the year, raising the ante in the championship battle with Wilkins and adding 35 points to his lead. "I guess it was our turn this week," Ream said. "We were the first one to win three and now we're the first one to win four."

The crew has been struggling with the car, Ream said, but changed the race setup and now, "We're pretty happy with it."

Wilkins, who won last year's Firecracker 50 and the Salute to Indy in May, had the fastest car of the night, a huge lead and a burning incentive to win his third straight 50-lap feature event. A flat tire put him in the back of the field on Lap 39, and Ream in the lead on Lap 40. Wilkins drove hard to earn a fifth-place finish and stay close in the points chase. Until the flat, it appeared no one could catch Wilkins.

Mike Martin turned in a stellar performance in his seventh race of the year at Manzanita. He started in 18th after transferring into the feature race from the semi main, and he finished a close second after passing Nathan High, who ran third.

Six-time sprint car champion Ricky Johnson stepped out of his car for the feature race and gave the ride to his son R.J., 17, to keep the teenager's championship hopes alive after he failed to transfer to the feature. R.J. Johnson is third in points.

Wilkins won his eighth heat race of the year in 12 starts, finishing a full half-lap ahead of the field.

Article by Richard Gray