VADO, N.M. – Anton Hernandez refused to quit on Friday at Vado Speedway Park.
Hernandez clipped an infield tire with three laps to go in the Griffin’s Propane Non-Wing feature, lost the lead, then got the lead back on the final lap as his left-front tire dangled in the wind to claim victory on night one of the Turkey Bowl.
“I guess I just needed to give myself a challenge,” said Hernandez with a laugh. “I can’t thank everyone enough for getting me here to race this weekend. I still don’t know how I held on to it, much less finished, but that was a crazy finish.”
Trailing the lead the opening laps, Hernandez pulled even with early race leader Kyle McCutcheon several times, but was not able to take the point. Dropping to third on Lap 5, Don Grable took over the runner-up spot in traffic and began closing on McCutcheon for the lead. Caution on Lap 8, the restart saw Grable shoot to the lead as McCutcheon swapped his line.
Short-lived, however, Grable snagged a rut in the fourth turn, giving Anton Hernandez the run and the lead. Surviving numerous cautions, and finally, the busted front axle, the race for the lead was three deep with Charles Davis Jr. nearly getting by Hernandez and Grable with Grable holding onto second by inches at the line. Charing forward 14 positions, Rick Ziehl grabbed fourth with Josh Hodges in fifth.
In other action, Johnny Herrera was the winner of the 305 winged sprint car feature.