South Island Midget Champion Jeremy Webb will start on the front row of a twin D-Main on Saturday Night with plenty of work to do after mixed results and luck on his preliminary night.
Webb raced well and had good luck in his heat race with points awarded after others crashed out. However, the recipient of contact in his prelim night costing him valuable spots for Saturday.
The 28-year-old was selected as the Tony Elliott Foundation Scholarship recipient. The foundation offering support for American and New Zealand drivers to race offshore.
Canton Illinois driver Chris Windom received support from the foundation to compete in the International Midget Series in New Zealand during Christmas and New Year’s.
Webb’s drive is with the potent Clauson Marshall Racing team where he is joined by teammates Tyler Courtney, Cole Bodine and NASCAR drivers Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Ryan Newman.
A record-setting third consecutive New Zealand Three Quarter Midget Championship now secured his Midget racing has taken precedence with a Midget National Title at his local track, Ruapuna Speedway, the week of his return from Tulsa.
The no. 17BC Spike chassis– SR11 MOPAR started eighth in the heat race and gained several spots after cars ahead collided and stopped finishing third awarded a good swag of passing points.
In his qualifier race, Webb started in fifth and finished one spot ahead giving him a sixth starting spot for the 30-Lap Night two prelim.
NASCAR star Kyle Larson had top-scored and started on pole with Jonathan Beason, Larry Wright, Mike Hess, and TJ Smith also starting ahead of Webb.
When racing got underway Webb showed enough pace to hold his own but soon found himself receiving contact from another car and stopping. This sent him to the rear of the field where he once again was tangled in others misfortune.
Webb bringing the car home in 15th which means he has serious work to do to make the 24 car, 55-Lap Saturday A-Main.
Webb must finish in the top five cars of his D-Main to join the back five grids in one of two 20 car, 15-Lap C-Mains.
He needs to then pass enough cars to finish in the top five of his C-Main to then advance to the back five rows of the last two races; A pair of 20-Lap B-Mains who’s top seven finishers are added to the 10 drivers locked in from the preliminary nights for the final race.
While a tough ask NASCAR regular and former USAC Silver Crown, Sprintcar and Midget Champion once passed 55 cars in Saturday competition showing that advancement is not impossible.
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