Sprint win by Reed highlights night of firsts at Cotton Bowl

Joined by his mother Roxanne in victory lane, Willy Reed became a first-time Southern United Sprints feature winner when the IMCA RaceSaver series traveled to Cotton Bowl Speedway Saturday night. (Photo by Rachel Plant)

PAIGE, Texas (June 13) – On a night of firsts at Cotton Bowl Speedway, Willy Reed won his first Southern United Sprints feature in his first visit to the Paige speedplant. 

And his mother Roxanne got to watch the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car excitement unfold from the grandstand. 

“This was my first win in a Sprint Car. My mother had never seen me race before in the class and I didn’t even know she was there,” said Reed. “I was pretty excited about it. She was pretty excited, too.” 

Reed made a couple RaceSaver starts last season and ran third in the series opener last week at Cleveland. He started fourth in the Cotton Bowl show, had the led when lap two was scored and then checked out. 

“Cotton Bowl is a really nice facility and we set the car up for a slick track,” said Reed, who had called Brad Benic at Momentum Racing Suspensions for some race-night help. “I could see (Trey) Schmidt moving up the leader board and I know he’s won a lot.”

Schmidt ended in second, with Johnny Brown, Kent Lewis and Dustyn Herger next across the stripe. 

“Winning was a crazy feeling. A lot of people called to congratulate me and that was really cool,” Reed said. “I know racing is a humbling sport and it’s not going to be anything that goes to my head. Hopefully more wins will come.” 

Feature results – 1. Willy Reed; 2. Trey Schmidt; 3. Johnny Brown; 4. Kent Lewis; 5. Dustyn Welch; 6. Billy Cramer; 7. Michael Oliver; 8. Rod Craddock; 9. Daniel King; 10. Mark Harris; 11. Curtis Gabriel; 12. Mike Gabriel; 13. Steve Leggio; 14. Aiden Welch; 15. Gordon Taylor; 16. Theresa Waller; 17. Steve Holland; 18. Les Leaton.