[Chris Nunn]

This is just a view of tonights events as seen from my perch atop the video tower. Feel free to share your thoughts on tonights event as well
As per the usual, Kokomo Speedway knocked one out of the park tonight for night number one of the USAC Kokomo Speedway Smackdown.

QUALIFYING
Qualifying was amazing, nothing is better than watching one car on the track at once going all out to get a quick lap. It all started with Clauson laying down the lap to beat as he was the fifth car out to qualify laying down a 13.007 second lap. Three cars later, the sentimental favorite "The Peoples Champion" Dave Darland went out and set fast time on his first lap (13.004) but then wowed the crowd to their feet one more time on his second lap which was the first lap under 13 seconds of the night (12.899). Racing with a heavy heart due to the loss of his mother earlier this week, Chase Stockon rolled out of the chute in the lucky 13th qualifying position and put himself into the top spot with a lap of 12.851 seconds, drawing a nice response from the Kokomo Speedway crowd. Thomas Meseraull showed his mettle as he made a career altering decision by taking the ride in the Hoffman #69, therefore losing his ride in the #41 machine. When you get the chance of a lifetime, you take it, and that he did as he laid down at the time, the second quick lap with a time of 12.871 seconds. Just four cars later, Justin Grant rolled out and brought the Frolic crowd to a frenzy, as he knocked Stockon off the top spot with a lap of 12.842 seconds. The ever so wily veteran in the 71P machine, Jerry Coons, Jr. showed he still belongs in the spotlight, taking the top spot with a lap of 12.835 seconds. Just three cars later, jaws were dropped as Daron Clayton ran the quickest FIRST lap of the night with a time of 12.922 seconds. As he powered his yellow #92 machine into turn three, we knew something was about to happen. He DESTROYED fast time and almost set a new USAC track record with a time of 12.628 seconds. Just to show how great the track conditions were, the 42nd and 43rd qualifiers respectively qualified second and third quick. Damion Gardner timed in second with a 12.795 second lap to take second, while Shane Cottle turned a 12.833 second lap to nab the third quick time.

HEATS
Heat race one was alone worth the price of admission, as Clayton made a late race charge to almost take the win away from Kevin Thomas, Jr. Clayton used the high side to roll around Clauson at the stripe for second, while knocking the wall with his right rear. (Transfers: Thomas, Clayton, Clauson, Darland)

Heat race two saw current USAC points leader Jon Stanbrough control the event leading the entire way for the win. Levi Jones was running in the top four before his right rear tire gave way, relegating him to a sixth place finish. (Transfers: Stanbrough, Gulick, Shuerenberg, Beauchamp)

Heat race three featured a great battle between Ballou, Cottle, and Larson for the final transfer spot. Unfortunately for Larson, he had started on the outside pole position and slid back lap after lap, as the Foxco #53 just didnt seem to find a rhythm. Jonathan Hendrick continued his mini hot streak, as the Dick Gaines Memorial winner picked up the victory (Transfers: Hendrick, Tracy Hines, Meseraull, Ballou)

Heat four saw Chris Windom extract a bit of a tongue in cheek "this is what you get" slide job on Wes McIntyre (in Windoms former ride) for the lead in the early outset of the race. Chad Boespflug picked his way forward in the STIDA.com #22 machine as he started fifth and finished second. Unfortunately, the race was stopped as Logan Hupp took a scary ride in turn four, ending up in the catch fence. He got out of the car under his own power, but was later transported for further observation. (Transfers: Windom, Boespflug, Coons, Weir)

BMAIN
Gardner used the pole position to his advantage in the BMAIN and led the entire distance to take the top spot. Levi Jones had to scramble from his eighth starting spot to make it into the top six as he finished fourth. Kyle Larson started seventh, and had moved his way into the top six, but unfortunately found himself being passed by Brady Short and a hard charging Casey Shuman, who had started 11th. Shuman maneuvered himself under Larson and snagged the last transfer spot in a three wide finish between Short, Shuman, and Larson. (Transfers: Gardner, Stockon, Cottle, Jones, Short, Shuman)

FEATURE
The 30 lap main event saw Darland immediately bolt out to the advantage on the green with Clayton moving from sixth to second in just one lap. Clayton, however lost his momentum on the cushion, slapping the wall and fell out of the top five just one lap later. The first caution of the event flew on lap five, as Chad Boespflug looped his mount in turn four. Darland continued his assault on the field at the point until the caution flew again on lap ten, this time for points leader Stanbrough who slowed to a stop on lap ten. Before the caution had flown, Bryan Clauson had already made his way into the top five from his 12th starting position. Clauson continued his march towards the front as he moved into the third spot on lap 15, then got around Coons just two laps later on lap 17. On lap 18, Clauson maneuvered his way around Darland for the lead. The race was halted on lap 20, as Clayton rode the wall into turn three, and took a scary end over end ride, completely ripping the fuel cell off the car. After a couple of minutes, Clayton made his way out of the car, and returned to the pits. When racing resumed it became a cat and mouse game between Clauson and Darland, with Clauson using two different grooves to try to keep Darland at his whim. Behind the lead battle, Coons, who was running third spun his machine in turn two to bring out the caution on lap 23. The final seven laps would see Clauson move up to the high side to keep Darland from attempting a slider, just as he did during Sprint Week only a month ago. Darland seemed to be faster on the topside, but unfortunately for him, he bounced his right rear off the wall coming out of turn four, therefore allowing Clauson to open up his lead. Clauson took the checkers ahead of Darland, Stockon, Gardner, and Tracy Hines completing the top five.

FEATURE FINISH COURTESY OF USACRACING.COM
FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Bryan Clauson, 2. Dave Darland, 3. Chase Stockon, 4. Damion Gardner, 5. Tracy Hines, 6. Hunter Schuerenberg, 7. Casey Shuman, 8. Shane Cottle, 9. Coleman Gulick, 10. Scotty Weir, 11. Levi Jones, 12. Jon Stanbrough, 13. Brent Beauchamp, 14. Jonathan Hendrick, 15. Chris Windom, 16. Thomas Meseraull, 17. Chad Boespflug, 18. Jerry Coons, Jr., 19. Robert Ballou, 20. C.J. Leary, 21. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 22. Daron Clayton, 23. Brady Short. NT

[AustinSprinter]

Nice job Chris!!....thanks.......
______________
Brucer'

[Jerry Spencer]

Josh passed a lot of cars in the B-main but was just short of time. Track was good top, middle and the bottom. Great fans supporting us all night. Thank you.

Jerry #66j
stida.com

[JarrettFarms73]

Awesome post Chris! Anybody else keep an eye on CG14 on the top side!? The cajones it takes to stay up there at let people slide at you coming off 4 is unfathomable. Especially considering the luck Team CGR has had this year. My dear Lord were they racing hard and by "they" I mean everybody. I came home so jacked I couldn't get to sleep until about 2am (was home by 11:30pm) Hope i get better sleep tonight but i'm not holding my breath. I'll save that for the track action! Cheers!!

[Danny Burton]

Thanks, Chris. A bit of love for the Shu, 21st to seventh.

[Dannypollock24]

Chris perfect run down on what happened.


Danny 24

[cwfan08]

The Track was amazing last night..that race for the final transfer spot out of the bmain was intense..gulick all but took down the wall last night..its going to be hard to top last night but it can be done..here's to night 2.

Posted via Mobile Device

[Dannypollock24]

Good Luck to all teams tonight sadly I couldn't make it tonight.

Danny 24

[Stevensville Mike]

Excellent write-up, Chris. An excellent night of action packed racing. I even got to shake hands with the track owner!

Hope Logan Hupp gets on the mend real soon. A nasty one it was.

I'm going to have to miss Night 2, but I'll be back for Night 3.