Chris Windom broke the 8 race win streak of team mate Kyle Larson, winning round 4 of the NOS Energy Drink National USAC Indiana Midget Week at Lincoln Park Speedway. He also took home an extra thousand dollars for beating his teammate.
In qualifying the track looked to emulate the previous night with more grip than needed. Larson was fastest qualifier of the 45 cars on hand in a time of 13.039 seconds ahead of Ricky Stenhouse Jnr. by less than a tenth of a second. Tyler Courtney, Tanner Thorson and Chase Johnson in the top five. Johnson setting his time on his 1st lap. On his second lap he took a wild ride tumbling over but climbing out under his own power.
The 10-Lap heat races provided plenty of passing and the track proved less technical than the previous night but only just. Heat race winners were Larson from grid 6, Windom from grid 5, Justin Grant from pole and Thorson from 6th.
Brody Roa claimed the 13 car C-Main. The 10-Lap race taking the top 4 cars to the rear of the Semi Main. Thomas Meseraull used the highline to pass into 2nd from 7th with Andrew Layser and Jake Swanson also transferring.
Former New Zealand Sprintcar Champion Michael ‘Buddy’ Kofoid and Former USAC National Sprint Car Champion Windom paced the front row. Thorson, Courtney, Grant and Johnson occupying the next two rows.
Windom led from the beginning until yellow flags waived for Daison Pursley early on who found themself stationary in turn 2.
Now single file for the restart Windom went low and Kofoid high marking them equal at the line and into a classic slide job battle. The lead exchanged 7 times in 3 laps. Kofoid edged ahead as Courtney lost momentum on the high side leaving a close following Larson nowhere to go. Larson spinning the tail of the Clauson-Marshal Racing #7BC to a stop and driving away. Courtney restarting at the rear of the field with 24 laps remaining.
As Kofoid restarted the pack, Larson was now 4th with Thorson attempting to lay waste to Tanner Carrick in 5th from his 10th starting position. With cars utilising all lines on the track the Larson Thorson show caught Stenhouse Jnr. in 3rd, whilst he worked Windom over for 2nd.
Stenhouse Jnr. bobbled as Thorson and Larson passed him low. Windom caught the leader and slid him in turn 2. Kofoid responded in turn 4 regaining the lead. Kofoid then got tight on the cushion and Windom stayed low and snuck away.
At the same time Larson made a move and passed Thorson as the pair gathered in 2nd place Kofoid. Larson briefly 3rd. Thorson and Kofoid exchanging minor podiums as Larson lay a car length behind in 4th.
With 8 laps to go Kofoid and Thorson had swapped 2nd place over a dozen times with Larson also interjecting on occasion.
This long green flag period coupled with the heated fight for 2nd afforded the Tucker-Boat Motorsport #89 of Windom to take the chequered and make it 4 form 4 for car owners Cory Tucker and Chad Boat. Larson and Kofoid on the podium with Stenhouse Jnr. and Carrick top five. McIntosh, Thorson (who’s car slowed on the final lap), Clinton Boyles, Grant and Meseraull finishing in the top ten.
“The rack was ‘giddy up’ and once I got to the lead I knew I could maintain speed so long as I didn’t make any mistakes throu [turns] 3 & 4” Said Windom of his win.
The Series now heads to the wide high banked 3/8’s mile of Lawrenceburg Speedway for round 5 June 20th (June 21st NZ Time).
Current Indiana Midget Week Top 10 In Points after round 4 of 6:
Kyle Larson 308
Tanner Thorson 280
Chris Windom 258
Buddy Kofoid 258
Tanner Carrick 225
Justin Grant 223
Tyler Courtney 221
Ricky Stenhouse 198
Cannon McIntosh 193
Zach Daum 180
In non-wing Sprint Car results Auckland’s Max Guilford finished 4th in his heat and his Semi-Feature in the #79BT Goodnight Racing Maxim-Claxton Chevy.
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