- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,171,092
- Reaction score
- 59
Aaron Reutzel of Clute, Texas won the feature race Tuesday night at Grandview Speedway and drove off with a $20,000 payday.
Before a full house at the Berks County racetrack, Reutzel won the 35-lap feature on the one-third mile oval.
A field of 34 sprint cars competed for a purse in excess of $74,000 in the fourth High Limit Sprint Car Series event at Grandview in four years.
“It was a hard race, I got lucky on that win,” Reutzel said in Victory Lane, referencing a late race red flag that handed him the lead back. “I’ll take a win any way we can get it.”
Reutzel said that he lost the lead to Rico Abreu in the late stages of the race only to be spared by a red flag that on the restart, moved Reutzel back into the lead position.
Reutzel started the race from the pole position aboard the Ridge & Sons Racing No. 87 and led all 35 laps, but the victory was anything but easy.
At the drop of the green flag, Reutzel blasted into the lead with Brady Bacon immediately applying pressure while Daison Pursley, Chase Dietz, and Abreu raced inside the top five. By lap six, Reutzel had already reached heavy lapped traffic with Bacon throwing repeated challenges at the leader on both ends of the speedway.
Bacon mounted his strongest challenge on laps seven through nine, repeatedly diving low entering turns one and two while Reutzel maintained momentum around the outside. Pursley joined the fight, two circuits later, making it a thrilling three-car battle for the lead.
Despite navigating slower traffic, Reutzel maintained a narrow advantage through the opening stages while Abreu steadily worked his way forward from his fifth-place starting spot. By lap 12, the St. Helena, California driver had quickly entered the battle at the front.
The event’s first caution flag waved on lap 13 when Kyle Larson spun in turn two while racing inside the top ten.
Reutzel executed a flawless restart over Bacon and Pursley, while Abreu powered into second just one lap later and immediately began chasing down the leader. By lap 18, Abreu had reeled in Reutzel’s No. 87 as the leaders again encountered slower traffic.
Another caution on lap 22 tightened the field when Pursley suffered a flat left rear tire following contact involving Kasey Kahne while running inside the top five. Reutzel led Abreu, Bacon, and Kahne to the restart with 13 laps remaining.
Reutzel maintained command on the restart, as Dietz moved into third while Abreu repeatedly challenged Reutzel for the top spot. With seven laps remaining, Abreu overtook Reutzel exiting turn 2, before a violent red flag incident with Brent Marks, Pursley, and Chase Randall, halted the race.
With the rundown reverting back to the previous lap, Reutzel regained control and made the most of the ensuing restart.
Over the final five circuits, Abreu searched for a way by, repeatedly switching lanes to challenge the leader. Despite heavy pressure all the way to the checkered flag, Reutzel held on to score his fifth Interstate sprint car series victory of the season and secure the Hodnett Cup Perpetual Trophy.
Abreu settled for second at the finish with Dietz completing the podium. Kahne finished fourth with Bacon rounding out the top five.
Gio Scelzi set the fastest time of the night with a lap of 12.454. Heat races were won by Bacon, Danny Sams III, Reutzel, and Abreu. Chase Randall won the B Main.
The Levan Machine & Truck Equipment Thunder on the Hill Racing Series returns to Grandview Speedway on Tuesday, June 16.
Continue reading...
Before a full house at the Berks County racetrack, Reutzel won the 35-lap feature on the one-third mile oval.
A field of 34 sprint cars competed for a purse in excess of $74,000 in the fourth High Limit Sprint Car Series event at Grandview in four years.
“It was a hard race, I got lucky on that win,” Reutzel said in Victory Lane, referencing a late race red flag that handed him the lead back. “I’ll take a win any way we can get it.”
Reutzel said that he lost the lead to Rico Abreu in the late stages of the race only to be spared by a red flag that on the restart, moved Reutzel back into the lead position.
Reutzel started the race from the pole position aboard the Ridge & Sons Racing No. 87 and led all 35 laps, but the victory was anything but easy.
At the drop of the green flag, Reutzel blasted into the lead with Brady Bacon immediately applying pressure while Daison Pursley, Chase Dietz, and Abreu raced inside the top five. By lap six, Reutzel had already reached heavy lapped traffic with Bacon throwing repeated challenges at the leader on both ends of the speedway.
Bacon mounted his strongest challenge on laps seven through nine, repeatedly diving low entering turns one and two while Reutzel maintained momentum around the outside. Pursley joined the fight, two circuits later, making it a thrilling three-car battle for the lead.
Despite navigating slower traffic, Reutzel maintained a narrow advantage through the opening stages while Abreu steadily worked his way forward from his fifth-place starting spot. By lap 12, the St. Helena, California driver had quickly entered the battle at the front.
The event’s first caution flag waved on lap 13 when Kyle Larson spun in turn two while racing inside the top ten.
Reutzel executed a flawless restart over Bacon and Pursley, while Abreu powered into second just one lap later and immediately began chasing down the leader. By lap 18, Abreu had reeled in Reutzel’s No. 87 as the leaders again encountered slower traffic.
Another caution on lap 22 tightened the field when Pursley suffered a flat left rear tire following contact involving Kasey Kahne while running inside the top five. Reutzel led Abreu, Bacon, and Kahne to the restart with 13 laps remaining.
Reutzel maintained command on the restart, as Dietz moved into third while Abreu repeatedly challenged Reutzel for the top spot. With seven laps remaining, Abreu overtook Reutzel exiting turn 2, before a violent red flag incident with Brent Marks, Pursley, and Chase Randall, halted the race.
With the rundown reverting back to the previous lap, Reutzel regained control and made the most of the ensuing restart.
Over the final five circuits, Abreu searched for a way by, repeatedly switching lanes to challenge the leader. Despite heavy pressure all the way to the checkered flag, Reutzel held on to score his fifth Interstate sprint car series victory of the season and secure the Hodnett Cup Perpetual Trophy.
Abreu settled for second at the finish with Dietz completing the podium. Kahne finished fourth with Bacon rounding out the top five.
Gio Scelzi set the fastest time of the night with a lap of 12.454. Heat races were won by Bacon, Danny Sams III, Reutzel, and Abreu. Chase Randall won the B Main.
The Levan Machine & Truck Equipment Thunder on the Hill Racing Series returns to Grandview Speedway on Tuesday, June 16.
Continue reading...
