Everything is bigger in Texas, including the repeat winners list. Ryan Zima and Jeff Ward both found Victory Lane for a second time since September, joining Colton Salek as multi-race winners in Season 6.
RACE 1 RECAP:
Jeff Ward set the pace as the sun rose over Texas Motor Speedway, topping the charts in both practice and qualifying. A four-lap average of 28.893 seconds (186.9 mph) earned the driver of the #9 Chevrolet the Mahan Speed Laboratories Pole Award. A caution on lap 6 slowed the field, and most competitors stayed on track, teams feeling they were outside both the fuel and tire windows. Making up for the race he missed in Las Vegas, Ryan Zima made an aggressive gamble, coming down pit road to top off on fuel and falling to last place in the process. The roll of the dice paid off. The race ran green to the end, and the #4 team only had to pit once more compared to the two stops of its rivals. Zima cruised to the checkers, ending Colton Salek’s winning streak at four weeks. Salek and Ward rounded out the podium.
RACE 2 RECAP:
Race 2 got underway with all-time poles leader Isaiah Dupre pacing the field. The #86 machine traded the top spot with Rooster Rodden and Drew White, before the Breast Cancer Awareness Month Pontiac of Brian Yaczik assumed the point. Yaczik appeared to have the race under control, but his call to pit was received over the wrong channel, resulting in contact out of Turn 4. The ensuing caution handed the lead over to Jeff Ward, who then battled for the victory against Mike Rasimas. Another yellow that flew during the final pit cycle trapped Rasimas on the tail end of the lead lap, and allowed Ward to maintain his track position and run away for his second win of the season. Brian Yaczik recovered from his spin to finish second, while Ricky Hardin rounded out the podium.
POINTS IMPLICATIONS:
Disappointing finishes of 10th and 18th saw Johnathon Caddell’s points lead over Michael Chrobok fall by more than half. The #69 now leads the #72 by just 35 points.
AROUND THE TURN
PGRL heads to Bristol Motor Speedway for the Julesburg Farms Berry Bash on October 17th. Catch all the action from The Last Great Colosseum on the Virtual Grip Network LIVE at 8:50pm Eastern.
FULL RACE REPLAY – MARSS PROPERTIES VACATION RENTALS TEXAS TWO STEP