CARS: Mangano Captures Inaugural Race
- Published ()
- Computer Auto Racing Series
Charlotte, N.C. - Chris Mangano knows how to avoid wrecks. It's all about going fast and not looking back.
The veteran driver used patience, great pit stops, and consistent laps to win the Coca Cola Family of Racing 300 at Lowes Motor Speedway, the inaugural race of the 2002 CARS series.
If the ten cautions didn't wear the field down, the 300 mile run might have. This was the longest race of the season, and those that didn't knowhow to pace themselves and exercise a little patience paid a heavy price.
But once things settled down Mangano went to work. The To The Front Racing-Groovy Motorsports driver took control late in the race and nearly ran down the entire field. Mangano took the checkers nearly 20 second's in front of second place Joe Castillo, the only other car on the lead lap.
Don Jackson was two laps behind the leaders but still brought home a strong third place finish. Rick Behr and Bryan Edwards rounded out the top five.
Mangano won the series first ever pole position in qualifying. Jason Burns qualified on the outside of the front row, but was not a factor in the race after an accident took him out on lap 52. He finished 12th.
This was the first ever race for the infant CARS on-line racing series. The teams will head east this Thursday night to tackle the Monster Mile at Dover, Delaware.
(Copyright 2002 by Computer Auto Racing Series. All Rights Reserved.)