|
Stratton Tops POWRi/Badger Opener
By Bryan Gapinski
Lincoln, Ill., April 22-California's Danny Stratton avoided trouble and worked
his way through the field to win the 25-lap O'Reilly-POWRi & Badger Midget
Series co-sanctioned event at Lincoln Speedway on Saturday Night.
After two false starts for spun cars, Ricky Steinhouse moved under polesitter
Jimi Quin to lead the opening laps before the first caution appeared on lap
five for Harley Slotten's stalled car on the backstretch. On the restart
Steinhouse led Brad Loyet and Brad Kuhn.
After starting ninth Stratton moved in the top five for the first time on the
eighth lap, and then into fourth place after a Teddy Beach spin one lap later.
Stratton passed Kuhn on the restart for third place, while Steinhouse making
only his third career midget start held off a determined Loyet for the lead.
On the 16th lap Steinhouse clipped the infield burm entering turn one,
allowing Loyet to take the lead with Stratton and Kuhn closely following. Two
laps later Stratton got a charge off of turn two to pass Loyet for the lead.
The events final caution appeared one lap later, bunching up the field. On the
restart Stratton easily pulled away from Loyet and Kuhn who waged a torrid
battle for second the remainder of the event.
Stratton driving the Han Lein Spike-Esslinger finished 1.82 seconds ahead of
Loyet, Kuhn, Steinhouse and ARDC Midget Champion Ray Bull. The victory was
worth $2,000 to Stratton. A total of 47 cars participated in the event. Steve
Knepper and Jason Dull escaped injury in a double-flip during the first heat
race.
SUMMARY
25-lap Feature: 1. Danny Stratton; 2. Brad Loyet; 3. Brad Kuhn; 4. Ricky
Steinhouse Jr.; 5. Ray Bull; 6. Nick Lundgreen; 7. Hud Cone; 8. Ric Forbes; 9.
Mike Hess; 10. Jimi Quin; 11.Brady Bacon; 12. Donnie Lehman; 12. Chad
DeSelle; 13. Daniel Adler; 14. Kevin Olson; 15. Davey Ray; 16.Jimmy
Light; 17. Teddy Beach; 18. Brandon Waelti; 19. Ryan Durst; 20. Harley
Slotten; 22. David Gough.
12-lap B Feature Winners: Hess, Lundgreen.
8-lap Heat Race Winners: Waelti, Beach, quin, Slotten, Steinhouse
|
|
|
