Kyle Larson’s dominant form continues. From his Sprint Car winning streak and on to include a record setting three USAC Indiana Midget Week wins in a row win. The former NASCAR driver thriving on dirt with and without the wing, four cylinders or eight.
Lincoln Park Speedway’s banked quarter mile baked in the hot Indiana summer sun yet provided traction and grip during hot laps and qualifying. Chris Windom set fast time utilising a lower line than the rest of the field resulting in a 0.2 second difference over Michael ‘Buddy’ Kofoid, Tyler Courtney, Chase Johnson and Cannon McIntosh.
The 46-Cars in attendance were spread over four 10-Lap heat races won by Jason McDougal, Clinton Boyles, Thomas Meseraull and McIntosh. In heat two recent New Zealand visitor and defending Midget Week titlist Logan Seavey crashed hard bringing out the red flag and the ambulance. He was able to climb out to the applause of the crowd.
Larson once again unable to transfer direct from his heat to the Feature and in the Semi-Main.
The 10-Lap C-Main was won by Ethan Mitchell followed by Jake Swanson, Dave Darland and Karter Sarff who all transferred to the rear of the Semi-Main.
Courtney won the Semi-Main beating Carson Macedo in his New Zealand built King chassis, Larson, Johnson, Shane Golobic and Rico Abreu who secured spots in the 24-Car Feature line up.
McIntosh sat on pole with Zach Daum alongside. Jake Neuman and Tanner Thorson in row two with Kofoid and Windom in row three.
When the green dropped McIntosh took the early lead. On lap 2 Thorson looked low in turns 3 and 4 momentarily passing both leader McIntosh and Daum with McIntosh regaining the lead across the line.
The drivey track offering multiple lines making for 3 and 4 wide racing. Larson used this to carve through the field from 15th to be 10th after 5 laps.
Thorson chased and slid McIntosh but was unable to keep the lead as the two slammed into the cushion and lifted their front wheels under acceleration. Thorson eventually quicker on the bottom and hit the lead with 10 laps scored. Larson was now 6th with Daum, Kofoid and Windom directly ahead. Larson dispensed of all three in a single lap to place 3rd.
Then a red light for McDougal upside down in turn three after catching a bad hop on the cushion at the races half way point. Kofoid took his Bullet-Toyota to the work area as the cars re-fired and was forced to start at the rear of the field.
At the restart the running order was Thorson, McIntosh, Larson, Daum, Windom, Meseraull, Neuman and Golobic. In the next two laps Lasron slid 3rd to 1st but was re-passed by Thorson. The pair then overtaken my McIntosh until he lost momentum and into third.
After fending off several clean exchanges and with 9 lap’s remaining, Thorson eventually found himself behind the Tucker-Boat Motorsports #86 of Larson once again.
A caution flag was waived when a 12th running Macedo stopped on the back straight with 3 laps to go the same time as 4th place Meseraull’s right rear tyre ran flat and he was forced to retire.
At the restart Larson opened up a small gap and was aided by McIntosh who slid Thorson in the final laps taking away the pairs relative momentum to winner Larson.
Thorson and McIntosh on the podium. Windom and Golobic also in the top five. Daum, Grant, Johnson, Kofoid and Boyles inside the top ten.
Larson’s wife Kaitlyn adding to the podium celebrations with the familiar ‘shot-gunning’ of a can of beer enjoyed at her husband’s past podiums.
“To come from 15th like that on a super technical race track was very special to me” Said a delighted Larson.
The series remains at Lincoln Park for round 4 June 19th (June 20th NZ Time).
Current Indiana Midget Week Top 10 In Points after round 3 of 6:
Kyle Larson 155
Tanner Thorson 217
Buddy Kofoid 187
Chris Windom 179
Tyler Courtney 176
Justin Grant 169
Tanner Carrick 160
Jake Neuman 138
Zach Daum 134
Rico Abreu 134
Teenage Western Springs Speedway Midget Car driver Max Guilford competed in the non-wing Sprint Car racing in the Goodnight Racing #79BT Maxim-Chevy. He started his heat race from outside the front row and took the lead early, holding it through several restarts and ultimately finished second, qualifying directly to the Feature. Guilford Started 8th in the 25-Lap Feature and finished in the top 15.
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