David Gravel won a drag race to the checkered flag, edging Spencer Bayston by .021 seconds in a photo finish for an $83,000 payday in the Dennis Roth Classic at Tulare Thunderbowl on Saturday night.

Gravel, of Watertown, Connecticut, drew boos from a majority of the fans at the packed raceway while standing on the winner’s podium.

Upon hearing a smattering of boos, the defending World of Outlaws series champion told the crowd to “suck it” before adding that he liked the Tulare track and the region’s strong support of sprint car racing.

“It was the race of the year. Hopefully everybody liked that. … I always have fun coming here,” Gravel said. “You can boo me. You can cheer for me. Thank you for the support. Sprint car racing is awesome.”

Some of the negative reaction to Gravel’s victor

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