PLACERVILLE, Calif. — Justin Grant survived 100 laps and claimed one of the biggest victories of his open-wheel racing career Saturday night at Hangtown Speedway.
Grant banked a whopping $20,000 for winning the second running of the Hangtown 100 for the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship.
“My dad would bring me here and buy me diecast cars in turn one, and we’d sit up there and watch sprint car races,” Grant revealed. “I have a lot of family here and it’s close to home in front of all these fans. It’s just a really special win.”
Grant started seventh and patiently worked his way toward the front after Zeb Wise led the first 20 laps and point leader Buddy Kofoid moved to the point on lap 21.
As the final third of the race developed, Grant made his way to the back of Kofoid’s No. 67 machine and slid under the leader entering turn three to grab the point on lap 87.
Grant led the remainder of the distance for his third series victory of the season and a big pay day for the RMS Racing team.
“The track was really kind of momentum based there,” Grant explained. “You got on a long run, and it was harder and harder to capitalize the more a guy could get in his rhythm. Buddy was killing us on the starts there early but this car really came around late. I kind of figured out in one and two I could enter outside his right rear a little bit and not lose any team and have way better angle up off two and then stay in the moisture down the backstretch.”
Kofoid brought his Kunz/Curb-Agajanian machine home second and extended his point lead to 18 points over reigning series champion Chris Windom, who finished fourth.
Logan Seavey finished third and earned a $12,000 bonus as the overall Hangtown 100 point champion for the three nights of racing.
NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson, who won on Friday night, had rallied from 12th to sixth when he slid over the cushion and flipped on lap 67. Larson returned to the track after repairs and finished 18th.
To see full results, turn to the next page.