TULSA, Okla. — Daison Pursley captured his eighth POWRi National Midget League feature victory on the opening night of the Turnpike Challenge at Port City Raceway on Saturday.
Setting the field of top-notch competitors of competition would find high-point qualifier Mitchell Davis battling front-row counterpart Kyle Jones into the first pair of corners on the opening lap with Mitchell Davis flying to the initial racing advantage as Jace Park, Kyle Jones, Chance Crum and Jonathan Beason chased.
Leading the field for the first three revolutions, Davis would clip an infield tractor tire to relinquish the lead to Crum as Park and Jones followed suit in passing the one-time leading Mitchell Davis.
Sticking to the fastest lane out front, Crum appeared to be the dominant entry to beat while establishing a comfortable lead for 27 laps with Park and Pursley using the extreme high line.
Flying through the field would witness Park, Pursley and Crum battle three for the prized position for several laps.
Entering into the end of feature picture with Crum guarding the lead would see Park apply strategy by using the newly implemented commitment cone to battle into the lead after a caution with Pursley following behind.
Late race dramatics would reveal on the final corner of the final lap with Pursley pulling off the feature victory over Park in a drag race to the finish line.
“This is the kind of racing that Port City provides, this track was phenomenal tonight. I had a really good battle with Chance and Jace late and I knew I could bide my time. I’m really proud of this team and it’s an awesome opportunity,” Pursley said. “The choose cone added even more excitement with strategy coming into play late.”
Park clinched a solid runner-up showing with Zach Daum holding steady into completing the feature’s final podium placement. Crum and Beason completed the top five.
The finish:
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 19A-Daison Pursley[13]; 2. 40-Jace Park[6]; 3. 5U-Zach Daum[7]; 4. 26-Chance Crum[3]; 5. 8L-Jonathan Beason[9]; 6. 26R-Corbin Rueschenberg[10]; 7. 3N-Jake Neuman[8]; 8. 7U-Kyle Jones[2]; 9. 71-Jade Avedisian[18]; 10. 28-Ace McCarthy[20]; 11. 68-Mitchel Moles[15]; 12. 5-Gavan Boschele[22]; 13. 21K-Karter Sarff[12]; 14. 97-Gavin Miller[11]; 15. 51B-Joe B Miller[5]; 16. 56-Mitchell Davis[1]; 17. 25K-Taylor Reimer[4]; 18. 21-Emilio Hoover[24]; 19. 97K-Cooper Williams[23]; 20. 08-Cannon McIntosh[17]; 21. 15D-Andrew Deal[19]; 22. 85-Jerry Coons Jr[21]; 23. 00-Talin Turner[16]; 24. 7D-Michelle Decker[14].