PARK CITY, Kan. — It was a good night Wednesday for Jake O’Neil at the 81 Speedway Wednesday as the driver from Tucson, Ariz., collected his eighth main event victory of the campaign and padded his points lead in the Summit USMTS National Championship fueled by Casey’s.
It was a good night for the fans in attendance at the Park City, Kan., dirt oval. They witnessed a stellar 40-lap main event with six lead changes among three drivers during the feature race of the inaugural USMTS Keeper of the Plains powered by T-Mobile.
Sybesma Graphics Pole Award winner Jake Timm paced the first quarter4 of the race before hometown racer Tanner Mullens grabbed the spot for a couple of laps before handing the lead back to Timm, who led four circuits until Mullens regained control on lap 17.
Meanwhile, ninth-starting O’Neil entered the fray and wrestled the top spot away from Mullens with 24 laps in the books, but Mullens fought back again to steal the lead away from O’Neil on the 28th laps.
With less than five laps remaining, O’Neil took command again — and this time for good as he raced his way to a $5,000 payday and his 18th career USMTS triumph.
Mullens and Timm held on for second and third while four-time USMTS national champ Rodney Sanders finished fifth to keep his title hopes alive. Lucas Schott, Dustin Sorensen, Brooks Strength, Tyler Wolff, Darron Fuqua and Dillon McCowan rounded out the top 10.
O’Neil’s closest competitor for the USMTS points crown, Dereck Ramirez was forced to use a provisional starting spot to take the green flag in the feature. He rolled off 23rd on the gird and was the 11th driver to see the checkered flag.
The finish:
Jake O’Neil, Tanner Mullens, Jake Timm, Rodney Sanders, Lucas Schott, Dustin Sorensen, Brooks Strength, Tyler Wolff, Darron Fuqua, Dillon McCowan, Derek Ramirez, Dan Ebert, Jason Hughes, Zack VanderBeek, Tyler Davis, Austin Siebert, Lance Mari, Curt Myers, Carlos Ahumada Jr., Nathan Smith, Chris Kratzer, Cole Traugott, Brendon Gemmill, Joe Duvall, Terry Phillips.