The Sun Shines On Anderson Once Again!!!!

The sun shone down without a cloud in the sky on Homestead Miami Speedway, for The Leap Year 100. Fans were settling in to the stands on this beautiful 78 degree weather day after all the family festivities were wrapping up. With only two races left on the season. Thomas Christ led Dennis Brasfield by a mere 20 points. All Christ needed to do, was just concentrate on no mistakes, and the rest would take care of itself. R-n-J Motorsports would sweep the front row with Justin Anderson in his Raybestos Ford Fusion recording a time of 30.709, along with Dennis Brasfield getting his Noritz Chevy SS clocked in with a time of 30.890. Anderson would lead the field to the green which the field was used to this sight all season.

The first 3 laps were uneventful until Terry Walters in his #27 Widow Wax / R-n-J Motorsports Ford Fusion would get it outrageously sideways out of turn 4. Walters would do an amazing job of driving to get it back under control, and only lose 3 spots in the process. Walters has done an amazing job of improving as the season has gone on. Kudos to Walters for never giving up! Try as Brasfield might, Anderson would keep pulling away ever so slightly lap after lap. The rest of the field would settle in with the occasional pass here and there. With 21 laps completed, Anderson was stretching it out to over 5 and a half seconds. Meanwhile, Christ in his #55 Summit Sports / R-n-J Motorsports Ford Fusion, was all over the back of Teammate Brasfield. Christ would complete the pass one lap later to claim the 2nd spot.

Brasfield knew how important tires would be, and decided to pit on lap 32. In doing so however, he forgot to use the access road entering turn 3, and would have to pit again for the penalty. This would cost Brasfield a lap in the process of clearing his penalty. He wouldn’t have to wait long to get his lap back as Jim Whaley Jr would bring out the yellow four laps later. Out of 2 the #46 would get loose and overcorrect and go into the outside wall. Walters would do a masterful job missing Whaley. Michael Palmer would not fare so well. With nowhere to go, Palmer would get into the wall also. These two cars would have extensive damage that needed to be fixed.

The field would take the green once again on lap 41, as a season long familiar scene of Anderson leading the field in to turn 1. It would only last for 5 more laps as the yellow came out once again. The #071 Miller Lite Ford Fusion of Dean Viney came down into the turn as he had been all along. The problem was that Walters had gotten his nose in there. So Viney cut down onto Walters, as the spotter wasn’t quick enough to let him know Walters was there. The field would take the green again on lap 52. Lap 67 would see Brasfield lose control out of 2 trying to maintain his position on Christ. Brasfield would keep it out of harm’s way, spinning into the inside off the racing surface.

The final caution would be on lap 109. Brasfield would bounce off the backstretch wall and lose it into turn 3. This would tighten the field up. Did anyone have anything for Anderson? The short answer would be no, as the driver from Maryland would lead an impressive 111 laps out of a possible 125. Point’s leader Thomas Christ would finish in 2nd, which almost completely locks up the Super Sunday Cup title for the driver from the state up north! Mark Koschik with another impressive run comes home in 3rd. Jim Whaley Jr and Michael Palmer would round up the top 5.

Top: 5

Winner: Justin Anderson

2nd: Thomas Christ

3rd: Mark Koschik

4th: Jim Whaley Jr

5th: Michael Palmer

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Anderson once again dominated the race. Is there anything at all that can stop this driver other than his Raybestos Brakes? Mark Koschik one again has an amazing finish. Another top 5, and 3rd no less. It could be soon that we could see him in victory lane! Christ’s amazing season continues with 2 wins, 9 top 5’s out of 11 races and 10 top 10 finishes. Consistency would be an understatement! Next week is the season finale at Daytona International Speedway! Come check it out to see what story line will come to the forefront at seasons end! As always, see you next week, and race ya there!