Kuzma Honors Tradition With Win!!!

Week 6 at Langley Speedway saw 12 cars in the pit area with Andre Beaudoin and Don Labyer making their first starts of the year. Charlie Kuzma was hoping to keep his winning streak alive and this week he has special incentive as his #113 carried the paint scheme of his Grandfathers former modified to do battle once again and make 90 year old Charlie proud.

Happy Hour saw Kuzma take fast time with a lap of 14.882 but Beaudoin was quickly back to his familiar spot near the front of the field and staked his claim to the 2nd fastest lap of 14.841. Qualifying saw Kuzma claim pole position with a lap of 14.819 while Eric Nordhoff claimed the outside of the front row with a lap of 14.922.

As the field came to green Kuzma was a moment late getting on the power and Nordhoff almost had him cleared but decided to play it safe and it turned out to be the right call as lap 2 saw big contact mid pack as the #4 of Shane Gross and the #44 of defending series champion Jay Harned got together sending the #55 of TJ Christ hard into the wall and also causing minor damage to the #73 of Mike Journeaux, the #404 of John Gablinske and the #804 of Russell Duquette although all would continue.

On the lap 7 restart Kuzma was on his game and took command of the field while Nordhoff struggled to find grip on the outside and fell like a rock as Labyer, Michael Allen and Clifton Cockrell moved underneath for position. On lap 16 contact between Christ and Beaudoin sent the #31 into the infield grass and ending his night. Gross took his #4 into the grass to avoid contact and kept rolling.

Kuzma maintained his lead and worked lapped traffic with ease while Cockrell kept his #29 in position to take advantage of any mistakes. On lap 84 Christ while running in the 3rd position made a critical mistake and over corrected his car and slapped the outside wall hard ending his night. In the skirmish Nordhoff got into Harned's #44 and sent him spinning and to pit road for repairs. Kuzma and Cockrell opted to stay out on old rubber while Gross and Nordhoff hit pit road. Gross made a brilliant strategy move and took 2 tires and got out of the pit first.

On the restart Kuzma scooted ahead of Cockrell and left him to battle with Gross and his 2 fresh tires. It took Gross a few laps to execute a clean pass for 2nd place but by that time Kuzma was gone. Gross would drive his heart out and would chip away at the lead but he ran out of time. At the checkered flag in was Kuzma making Grandpa proud and putting the Springsteel Fabrication Special back in Victory Lane

1. #113 Charlie Kuzma

2. #4 Shane Gross

3. #29 Clifton Cockrell

4. #22 Eric Nordhoff

5. #59 Michael Allen

Next week is week #7 for the Sure Fire Racing League Langley Track Championship. Come on out and enjoy the fun and some great short track racing!!!