Kuzma Goes Back To Back!!!
The Southern National Track Championship series arrives at week #8 and the final push for the points title is shaping up. Charlie Kuzma won last week and is looking to take a commanding lead as the weeks wind down. Kuzma paced practice with a fast lap of 13.578 while Daryl Tiezzi put his #16 2nd on the board with a lap of 13.692. The same 2 drivers would set the pace in qualifying with Kuzma taking pole with a lap of 13.572 and Tiezzi posting a lap of 13.710.
Based on field inversion Jay Harned and Mark Koschik lead the field to green and on the drop of the flag it appeared Harned may have spun the tires and allowed Koschik a good run on the topside to keep them even heading to turn #3. Harned was able to hold his ground while Clifton Cockrell and Kuzma were able to move up. On lap #13 Cockrell took a look under Harned but caught the apron and spun his #29 but avoided any contact however the yellow flag waved over the field.
The field would go back under green on lap #18 with Harned showing the way and Kuzma lining up 2nd. On lap #20 Kuzma looked to make a move for the lead but made contact with Harned. Harned was able to save his #44 and hold the lead while the cars behind Kuzma quickly scrambled to avoid any contact, that was accomplished but Kuzma dropped to 5th place. Eric Nordhoff was able to pick up the pace and work toward closing the gap on Harned for the lead. Those efforts would come to naught as Nordhoff slipped and made contact with the wall and lost ground, on lap 50 Kuzma was able to get past him and back to 2nd place. Clifton Cockrell gained on Nordhoff for 3rd and on lap #61 Nordhoff got loose and allowed Cockrell underneath him for the spot but when Cockrell hit the gas he lost the back end and spun but no caution came out. Nordhoff would fix the situation on lap #69 by spinning and leaving Koschik no place to go and the 2 cars made contact sending both to the pits for repairs.
Harned would still be out front on the lap #76 restart. On lap #82 Kuzma made the move under Harned for the race lead but the caution would again fly for Nordhoff as he spun the #22 for the final time. Harned would take advantage of the yellow to hit pit road for service however he would be penalized for passing the pace car and would have to serve a stop and go. The final restart had Kuzma and Cockrell on the front row and after quickly taking the lead he would never look back and sailed to the win.
1. #113 Charlie Kuzma
2. #29 Clifton Cockrell
3. #16 Daryl Tiezzi
4. #22 Eric Nordhoff
5. #44 Jay Harned
