GIBSONTON, Fla. — The second night of the final three-night session of the Winternationals ended with a familiar face in victory lane as 2020 King of the 360s Aaron Reutzel picked up the victory in the 25-lap main.
Reutzel started in fourth, but quickly came into the top three before making the winning pass on lap 17.
Dustin Gates jumped into the lead from the pole position he had earned with the most passing points, coming from 10th to second in his heat. His time at the front was brief as Reutzel claimed the point on lap two.
With Reutzel in command, the first caution waved on lap three, bunching the field. Friday winner Mark Smith moved into second on the restart and grabbed the lead on lap eight as the leaders hit lapped traffic.
As Smith was working through the backmarkers, he bobbled off turn two, opening the door for Garrett Green to grab the lead. Smith got back in front two laps later. Reutzel committed to the top and began to chew up the ground to catch the leader. Reutzel slipped past on lap 17 and paced the field to the checkered flag, ahead of Smith and Green.
The top six drivers in the two-night point standings — Mark Smith, Hafertepe, Ryan Smith, Reutzel, Dylan Westbrook and Terry McCarl — are locked into Saturday’s feature.
Randy Giroux captured the Mod Lite 20-lap feature, holding off Doug Williams for the victory.
The finish:
Aaron Reutzel (8), Mark Smith (43), Garrett Green (82), Ryan Smith (10x), Dylan Westbrook (47x), Sam Hafertepe Jr. (15H), Carson McCarl (27), Dale Howard (47), Terry McCarl (24x), Dustin Gates (6), Wayne Johnson (2x), Danny Smith (66), Matt Kurtz (92), Phil Gressman (7c), Danny Martin Jr. (24), Chris Martin (44), Eric Riggins Jr. (47R), Tony Bruce Jr. (12H), Max Stambaugh (5M), Greg Wilson (97W), A.J. Maddox (3A), Ryan Harrison (197), Davey Franek (28F), Paul Colagiovanni Jr. (10)
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