[Jerry Shaw]

The human race has advanced exponentially, along many fronts, since the beginning of it's existence. We started out as hunter-gatherer-scavenger species and have evolved into the heated, air-conditioned, electrified and worldwide web-connected herd of individuals that we find ourselves as, today. We don't even have to find or go get our own food, in these modern times, if we don't want to. We can pick up one of science's innovations, call another person and have them bring it to us. But, in all our infinite wisdom, the one thing that still have no control over are the elements or the forces of nature. While we can prepare for something like a thunderstorm, a tornado or a hurricane, in the end, if we're in it's path, there's nothing we can do about it. We're at it's mercy. The best we can do is pray.

As has been the case all week, Mother Nature was kind to us, on this night. Sunny and not overly hot. It was a perfect night for racing. At the perfect place to converse and mingle with your extended racing family. The track got progressively faster as the qualifying session went along. Passing wasn't terribly easy during the heats, although Thomas Meseraull would make a late surge to take an exciting win in the 3rd heat. And that drew a big reaction from the crowd. But we would have a B-Main the looked like a feature, including the likes of Tyler Courtney, Carson Macedo, Shane Golobic, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Dave Darland and the so far other-worldly Kyle Larson. Courtney would win that one, with Larson finishing third and Rico grabbing the final transfer.

Come feature time, when you looked at the lineup, you knew this one was destined to be a great race. You had rising star Cannon McIntosh on the pole, alongside Zach Daum, last year's race Hard Charger and winner Tanner Thorson in the second row, Chris Windom in the third row, TMez on the inside of the fourth row, reigning champion Tyler Courtney in the fifth and Kyle Larson looming in the 15th starting position!

Right off the bat, McIntosh grabbed the lead and held it for the first third of the race, although he was under intense pressure from Thorson, after Tanner passed Daum early. Larson's march through the field was already underway. Thorson would eventually pass Cannon and would become the new leader, but not without a great fight from Cannon. About half the drivers that had started in front of Larson, had seen the back of his tail tank, by this point. Meseraull was also starting to make his move. Shortly after the lead change, Larson executes this big, perfect slider in turn four on Daum and Kofoid and, just like that, he's in the top 3! So, after a red, you had Kyle sitting in 3rd, with half of the race still left! And even though nothing is guaranteed in this sport and things rarely go exactly as you would expect, this had a feel of inevitability about it. There just were just too many laps left to hold off this irresistible force that's buckled into the 86 car. But it wasn't easy, because McIntosh never goes down without a fight and he didn't in this case, either. Kyle passed him, but Cannon slid him right back, before getting overtaken again. And made one more run at him, before Kyle was solidly in second. And shortly after that, an equally intense battle for the lead broke out between Kyle and Tanner, as they threw haymakers at each other for several laps. And at some point during their battle, Cannon McIntosh tried to slide both of them, nearly running off the top of turn 4! And after that, if you got too fixated on Larson and Thorson you would have missed what may have been the best battle of the race (I know, that's hard to believe), when a slice and dice fest that started with McIntosh, Meseraull and Daum, sliding each other coming out of turn four and coming to the flagstand 3-wide and ended with a multi-lap battle between Cannon and TMez. Late in the race, with only a few laps left, TMez pulled off with a flat tire. I couldn't help but think what a letdown it was to see him get bit by bad luck, yet again. And how lucky we are to have had this guy move out here from the West Coast, to race week in and week out. Because he never backs down, never leaves anything on the table and shows up to race, every single time. And in the short time Cannon McIntosh has been in this racing scene, I have seen him in so many memorable battles. He's way beyond his years in talent and skills. So, Thorson didn't go away and at times, gained on Larson down the stretch, but in the end, it was Young Money's night, again. What a race, though!! Wow, are we ever lucky to be in this part of the country and to get to see this high level stuff, the way that we do? And some say they don't make racers like they used to. I don't think too many left LPS last night thinking that.

Kyle Larson is a force of nature, right now. Most of the night he may have been well disguised as a mile mannered Tropical Storm, but that green flag for the feature may as well have been a Hurricane Flag. Because the upgrades came quickly after that.

Jerry

[dirtnonwingfan]

Classic Jerry Shaw!! I love it!

[mc/rider]

Jerry Shaw and Richie Murry .Thank you

[Blackduce]

Some body please revise
Speed Age and Speed Sport news. This guy is ready!
Great job for sure.

Ĺynn