Bell Doubles Down, Takes Night Two
of the Turnpike Challenge
Monday, March 24th 2014
Tulsa, OK - Utilizing the same high-side line that fans saw the night before, Chris Bell took the lead from early race leader Chris Andrews and went unchallenged for the remainder of the 40 lap feature to take home his 6th career POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget win. Bell had a standout 2013 season and proved that he will continue to make winning a habit in 2014 with a clean sweep of the Turnpike Challenge, dominating Saturday's POWRi season opener and then repeating on Sunday.
At the drop of the green, pole-sitter Andrews took the early lead and looked comfortable on the bottom. But it would be Bell rim-riding the 1/8th mile Port City Raceway who would overtake Andrews for the lead. With fellow Keith Kunz Motorsports teammate in tow, Bell and Tanner Thorson began their terror on lap traffic as a fierce battle for third ensued behind them until the caution was brought out for the broken car of Austin Brown.
When green flag racing resumed, Bell switched lines to the bottom in his Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports' Bullet-Toyota and continued to relentlessly pick-off lap traffic until he took the checkers. "We had a really good night," explained Bell. "We had a little bit better luck at the pill draw, drew a little bit further back and were able to get some passing points. We ended up winning our heat race and that put us up front for the feature."
Following his fellow Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports teammate through lap traffic, Thorson claimed his first podium of the 2014 season. "We started third, just held on and followed Bell for a few laps and then got into lap traffic," explained Thorson. "I wanted to get a podium. I can't thank my sponsors enough for all that they do."
Coming from the 11th place starting spot, Brady Bacon would round out the top three for the 40 lap main event. "11th to 3rd is pretty good," explained a slightly deflated Bacon. "I wish we would have started a little more to the front and had a chance to win." Bacon, driving Scott Ronk's Esslinger-powered Spike, worked his way from mid-pack up to third, utilizing the bottom line. Bacon led the opening laps of Saturday night's feature before falling out with a flat left rear tire.
The reigning POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget champion Zach Daum, driving his Toyota-powered Eagle, finished fourth and rounding out the top-five was reigning World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car champion, Daryn Pittman.
POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series feature results (40 laps): 1. Chris Bell, 2. Tanner Thorson, 3. Brady Bacon, 4. Zach Daum, 5. Daryn Pittman, 6. Rico Abreu, 7. Chris Andrews, 8. Matt Sherrell, 9. Colten Cottle, 10. Tyler Thomas, 11. Alex Sewell, 12. Spencer Bayston, 13. Darren Hagen, 14. Jonathan Beason, 15. Ty Hulsey, 16. Cody Wood, 17. Daniel Robinson, 18. Justin Peck, 19. Parker Price-Miller, 20. Jacob Patton, 21. Cody Brewer, 22. Austin Brown.
For more information, visit
www.powri.com.
