I continue to be amazed by the transformation that I've seen in this place, as compared to where it once was. Again last night, there were 130 race cars in the pits and a hillside packed with people. And with the LPS deck above the seating area, the fans have a place to interact with one another, more so than just about any other track. That coupled with the quality job Brad does, guiding the race fans through their evening at the track and the overall vibe track management has fostered there and you get a large number of people that look like they're right where they want to be. And you probably see more young fans here, than you do anyplace else. Which is definitely a good thing. That's the future of racing.
When they were rolling out onto the track and you knew who was there, I think most people probably sensed a showdown between Shane Cottle and Chad Boespflug might be in the cards. But AJ Hopkins has kind of assumed the role of "track ringer" and didn't show up to watch Shane and Chad race for the win. Neither did Chase Briscoe or Mitch Wissmiller, who didn't come here to point race, tonight.
Once the green flag flew, Kevin Studley grabbed the lead running a low line, but was immediately under serious pressure from Cottle. His lead would be short lived, that was for sure. Hopkins and Briscoe were up top and on the move from a little further back in the field, as front row starter Chris Babcock faded some early. Cottle took the lead from Kevin and Boespflug would race past Wissmiller to be the next driver to pursue Studley for second. During this time Hopkins was still flying around the top of the track and a few laps later, we would have our battles to determine who would finish where, among the podium finishers. Cottle had opened up a decent lead, as Hopkins badgered Boesplug for the runnerup spot. Several times, it looked like AJ had the momentum to get around Chad on the outside, but he would fight him off each time. Also, at this time, Jeff Bland, who had started well back in the field, had found a line at the very bottom of the track to run and one by one, was picking them off and was in the top 5. Chad would lose Hopkins for good, when late in the race, AJ did a 360 in turn three, even though he would keep going. He would have to work hard to fight off Bland for third, as the laps wound down. There was a yellow late and this would provide Chad with the opportunity he needed to have one last shot at Shane. And he made a great go of it, as he would make an aggressive move after the restart and then make another run for the lead, with a big slider, when they came to the other end of the track. He executed it nicely, but the way Shane countered it was the move of the night. Instead of pausing and then crossing under the driver who had just landed a slider on him, he just gassed it immediately and flew around the outside of Chad, off of the ledge exiting turn four. It was pretty much over after that. There was another yellow and restart, but Shane got a great restart and brought it home, to the checkered. And behind them, there was a great multi car battle that involved Studley (who definitely showed up to race, tonight), Briscoe, Jordan Kinser and often Wissmiller that you might have missed, if you got caught up in what was going on between Shane and Chad, up front.
It was another great night at LPS, with a great view of the racing, hanging out on the deck watching the action with friends. It's so good to see Joe Spiker making that place a great place to go watch a race and the fans and racers reward him for doing it.
Jerry
A man is about as big as the things that make him angry.
Winston Churchill
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jim goerge, kstudley57, mc/rider, oldfan49, Pat O'Connor Fan, pushinthecushin, rachasin, RACrappieman
