LEHIGHTON, Pa. — Two months ago when Zach Lenardo won his first 602 Crate Modified feature at Mahoning Valley Speedway, he was the benefactor of then-leader Nick Baer misfortune of being bumped out of the front spot with six laps to go and inheriting the lead.
Fast forward 90 days and Lenardo was again behind Bear only this time he proved himself not by luck but talent. Lenardo started third and was quickly tucked in behind Bear at the outset while never letting the leader get any distance on him.
Lenardo was able to pull even with Baer by the seventh lap and two laps later took over the lead. But the next time by it went right back to the No. 41. Not about to give in Lenardo returned the favor on Baer on the ensuing circuit and was able to pull away after solidifying the lead.
He was on cruise control the rest of the way, going unchallenged on his way to a second win.
“It was fantastic to get this win and I was just so focused,” said the 16-year old Lenardo. “We worked on the car all week to get ready for tonight. We knew it would be tough with the competition we have in this class but all the hard work and hours paid off.”
Although this is only his second time in victory lane with a stock car, winning is nothing new for Lenardo who comes out of Quarter Midgets with a plethora of victories. The close action between Lenardo and Baer carried him back to those days.
“That really brought me back to how we raced in Quarter Midgets battling like that back and forth almost every lap. You have to have respect and we do but there’s a limit too,” he noted.
“In the heat race we put an older tire (left rear) on and it really didn’t work out and then for the feature we changed it and it really settled down for us and it stuck great to the track.”
“This 602 class is so tough and there’s a lot of good drivers and when you have that you need to keep on your game. This was great too to win again here at Mahoning Valley, it’s where I started my stock car career and this is my home track.”
Baer was able to hold on for second in the closing laps as a trio of cars came upon him with Bobby Jones racing side-by-side with Brody George and tucked in closely with them was Greyson Ahner.
Mark Hudson won the late model feature with Austin Santee winning the make-up street stock feature from July. Randy Ahner Jr. went on to win the regularly scheduled street stock event.
Cody Boehm won the DTS Hobby Stock feature with Gabrielle Steigerwalt winning the 15-lap futures event.
Josh Paterson reigned in ECTQM competition while Jay Smith won the Modified Micro Stock event.
Feature Finish (25 Laps)
1. Zach Lenardo, 2. Nick Baer, 3. Bobby Jones, 4. Brody George, 5. Greyson Ahner, 6. Avery Arthofer, 7. Branden Sullivan, 8. Nick Schaeffer, 9. Deegen Underwood, 10. Makayla Kohler, 11. Paul French Jr.