DUQUOIN, Ill. — Thomas Meseraull waited until the perfect on-track timing to win the Jr. Knepper 55 POWRi National Midget League feature Saturday night inside the Southern Illinois Center.
It was his seventh career POWRi triumph.
Starting the feature saw high-point qualifier Broc Elliott, in just his second midget start, leading the field as the green flag waved with Matt Westfall gaining the initial advantage on the opening lap with Elliott, Zach Daum, Joe B. Miller and Meseraull circling inside the top five.
Hindered by caution on the initial start the field would be bunched together as Westfall continued to set the pace as Daum and Miller maintained momentum inside the early podium placements with Meseraull and Ryan Timms raced within striking distance.
Keeping the leading pace for thirty-four revolutions, Westfall would appear to be in winning form until lap traffic would alter his plans as Daum would overtake the lead just past the mid-race point with Meseraull following into the lead pack with Cannon McIntosh also racing into winning contention.
Striking late, Meseraull moved into the lead with eight laps remaining and hold the front through all sorts of challenges for the front of the field to capture his second feature victory of 2023 with McIntosh taking the runner-up spot coming out of the final corners as Daum finished a close third.
“MF1 BABY, we moved rides and it was kind of a struggle but we put in the work and this thing is a rocket,” said Meseraull. “I was almost out of midget racing but Tim Engler just doesn’t give up. I knew if this thing wheelied straight it would be gold and I can tell you that this is what dreams are made of to build our wins.”
Staying in the hunt all event, Westfall finished fourth with Miller rounding out the top five.
The finish:
Feature (55 Laps): 1. 7X-Thomas Meseraull[5]; 2. 08-Cannon McIntosh[8]; 3. 91-Zach Daum[4]; 4. 54W-Matt Westfall[2]; 5. 51B-Joe B Miller[3]; 6. 32-Trey Marcham[20]; 7. 00-Ryan Timms[6]; 8. 14J-Chase Stockon[22]; 9. 3N-Jake Neuman[7]; 10. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[11]; 11. 41-Howard Moore[21]; 12. 7-Cody Beard[16]; 13. 00DP-Broc Elliott[1]; 14. 57R-Daniel Robinson[10]; 15. 63-Frankie Guerrini[19]; 16. 15-RJ Corson[14]; 17. 36-Chris Baue[17]; 18. 83M-Rylan Gray[9]; 19. 86-Shane Cottle[12]; 20. 43-Gunnar Setser[13]; 21. 21S-Karter Sarff[18]; 22. 26-Corbin Rueschenberg[15].