Christ Rebounds In Week 2!!!
A week after a being involved in 2 separate incidents not of his making that resulted in his #55 being put on the trailer early TJ Christ drove a masterful race to take home the checkers at Langley.
14 drivers checked into the pit area on a warm evening in Virginia to take on 125 laps at this tough .40 mile bullring. Clifton Cockrell led practice with a time of 14.978 in his #29 machine followed by Eric Nordhoff with a time of 14.986. Qualifying saw Nordhoff put his #22 on pole with a lap of 14.989 while Christ locked out the front row with a time of 15.075.
At the drop of the green flag Nordhoff assumed the point followed by Christ and Michael Allen while the rest of the field sorted things out and found their rhythm. The #88 of Jeff Dotson was battling an ill handling car and clipped the wall as he let the leaders by but the flagman was satisfied he was out of the racing groove and kept the field under green.
The lap 30 leaderboard showed the top 5 as Nordhoff, Christ, Allen, the #804 of new comer Russell Duquette, and Cockrell. Canadian driver Mike Journeaux was running well and picking his way through the field when he lost connection and lost several laps but would rejoin the race.
Lap 51 saw the races only yellow when the #13 of Carson Poe got into Duquette and sent him for a spin against the outside wall casing minimal damage. Race leader Nordhoff opted to stay out while the rest of the lead lap cars hit pit road which would prove to be a huge mistake in strategy.
The lap 57 restart saw the #22 hold the lead as Christ and Cockrell battled for 2nd. Cockrell got a better start and was able to put the #29 into 2nd briefly but Christ was soon able to get back around and go in search of the lead. It would not take him long for his fresh tires to close the gap and take over the race lead on lap 62 bringing Cockrell with him. the top 2 battled for the lead as Cockrell took several looks under Christ but could not make a move stick and waited for his opportunity. On lap 73 Allen moved around Nordhoff for 3rd and hunted down the top 2. On lap 109 Allen was able to get under Cockrell for 2nd and made a charge at Christ but the laps were winding down and not enough time to mount a sustained pressure. Christ led the final 63 laps and was under pressure for most of them but failed to make a single mistake and give up the top spot.
Top 5:
1. #55 TJ Christ
2. #59 Michael Allen
3. #29 Clifton Cockrell
4. #22 Eric Nordhoff
5. #44 Jay Harned
I want to thank all drivers for making this a great race, obviously very clean racing with a lot of give and take. I'm looking forward to more of the same next week.
Race you there!
