At
the drop of the green flag, outside front-row starter Andy Ponstein
darted into the early lead, getting the jump on Brent Downey. Series
veteran Matt Hagans, Joel Kauffman and Hanley all chased the number
00 U.S. Pipe Chevrolet.
Hanley
advanced to fourth on lap two around Kauffman and then followed Matt
Hagans past Brent Downey near lap five. On the 13th
circuit, Hanley then took second-place honors from Matt Hagans.
Hanley began to quickly close on the bumper of Ponstein. On lap 15,
Hanley darted by Ponstein after slight contact. Campbell and Hagans
also bypassed Ponstein, who lost his momentum after the contact.
During
the next stretch of laps, 2000 series champion and rookie of the
year Scott Hantz began roaring to the top of the leader board.
Driving the EMF Corporation Ford, Hantz bypassed Evan Jackson and
Ponstein in consecutive laps near the 20th
circuit. Then Hantz passed Hagans and on lap 30, he ducked
underneath Kauffman for third-place honors.
The
initial caution period occurred on lap 31 when Brian Fries and Tom
Hernley Jr. spun on the main straightaway. When racing action
resumed, the top three runners were Hanley, Campbell and Hantz. They
raced nose to tail. On the 34th lap, a scary
accident occurred when Brian Fries got into the outside retaining
wall and then in turn one got upside down. Fries climbed out of his
race car in good condition and waved to the fans in attendance.
When
the green flag returned from series flagman Keith Ousley, the top
three continued to race hard for the top position. On lap 56, Hantz
moved into second, getting by Campbell. Hantz then appeared to have
an edge on Hanley. On lap 62, Hantz slipped coming off turn four and
Campbell retook second position.
The
remainder of the event, Hanley was able to hold off Campbell with
Hantz finishing third. Dave Jackson made a charge from 15th
to finish if fourth place with Joel Kauffman completing the top-five
finishers.
Junior
Hanley was the fastest of 31 competitors to earn the Tobacco Depot
Fast Qualifier Award. Hanley, toured the .500-mile oval in 15.872
seconds / 113.407 mph. Tom Hernley Jr. was the winner of the Lane
Automotive/K&N Performance Filters Hard Charger, finishing in 13th
position after starting in 27th slot. Andy
Ponstein was the Hubler Group/Blake Carburetion Rookie of the Race.
Dave Jackson and Rick Turner were the winners of the Goodyear
Performance Awards. Harold Fair Jr. was the winner of the Sweet Move
the Race.