| |
LIMA, Ohio – Brad Kuhn simply survived Friday’s “Buckeye Nationals” midget opener at Limaland Motorsports Park.
The Avon, Ind. native led 24 laps, including the final two – inheriting the lead after a spin involving leader Jay Drake – for his first career USAC National Midget Car Series feature victory.
Kuhn, who started on the outside of the front row, drove the No. 74 Westin Homes/Magnum Axle Company Stealth/Stanton Mopar over the 30-lap distance, which was halted on multiple occasions following spins, stops and flips.
“We’ve been after this victory for a year and a half now, and to finally get it with all of our new sponsors, this is great,” he said.
Kuhn fought with polesitter Jerry Coons Jr. over the early stages of the event, the two battling side-by-side over the first two laps. Wise took second from Coons on Lap 6, only to have the pass negated by a flip by Tom Hessert.
Wise retook second on Lap 7, and shadowed Kuhn for 11 of the next 12 laps. Wise inched past Kuhn as the two completed Lap 15, but Kuhn returned to the front in Turn 1 on Lap 16. Kuhn increased the margin over the next two laps, as Wise bobbled twice in Turn 2.
Another yellow flag came out on Lap 20, involving a spin by Darren Hagen, allowing Drake and Coons to catch Wise. Drake and Coons split Wise on the restart on the backstretch, with Drake taking second in pursuit of Kuhn.
It didn’t take long for Drake to pass Kuhn, as he drove top shelf on Lap 23 to take the advantage. Over the next six laps, Drake stretched the lead, which reached nearly nine car lengths by Lap 28.
On the white flag lap, however, Drake spun in Turn 2. Kuhn and Wise split him.
Kuhn strayed away on the restart, only to have the red flag return on the restart. Teddy Beach flipped in Turn 4 after a chain reaction involving four cars. During the stoppage, Wise pulled into the pits. He returned to the track at the back of the track.
Although another caution period followed on the next restart, Dave Darland – who moved to second following Wise’s departure from the track – had nothing for Kuhn. Kuhn finished nearly three car lengths ahead of the “Buckeye Nationals” midget master Darland. Coons, defending Western Midget Car Series champion Johnny Rodriguez, and Australian Michael Pickens rounded out the Top 5.
Until Drake spun, Kuhn thought he was running for second. When he returned to the lead after Drake spun, he said there was no way he was going to give the top spot up again.
“It was back in our hands after that,” Kuhn said. “Luckily for us, we didn’t mess up.”
He was especially happy to the event two days before Father’s Day.
“My dad was here tonight, and he had never seen me win a midget race, so this is pretty cool,” Kuhn said.
In addition to Kuhn, Coons and Pickens, Ron Gregory won a 10-lap heat. Hagen won the 10-lap semifeature.
Frank Polimeda also flipped during the semifeature.
Wise now leads Gregory by 59 points heading into Saturday's series finale at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.
|
|
