Homestead is the final race of the season. Tim McDonnell leads Ryan Heuser by 56 points, meaning that Tim will have to finish 11th or better to clinch his second-straight Championship crown. He will start towards the back of the field in 26th position.

Race Results

Points Standings

Schedule

Zach Michael won his unprecedented 8th pole of the season, leading the first several laps before Bill Werkheiser took over the role. The two would stay 1-2 for the first half of the green flag run before John Battista shook the lineup apart. There was plenty of three-wide racing behind.

Dave Miller and Craig Lee each took turns at the helm, awaiting their teammate to do the same and increase his chances at the Championship. Bill would stay in the fold, with Ryan and Tony Pizzaro still in sight from behind.

Craig re-took the lead from Bill, while Ryan binged through the field to finally lead his first lap. Tony Pizzaro took the lead on the inside lane several laps later. By this point, Tim McDonnell was mired back in traffic, outside of the top-30.

It was the same story during the second green flag run, seeing Bill, Craig, Ryan and Tony all battling for the top-spot. Tim had shortpitted and miraculously ended up inside the top-10, barely hanging on to the draft of any car he could find.

Without any caution flags for the first half of the race, it looked to be a four-man show. John Battista and Zach Michael were still in the loop, but several seconds away from the draft of the lead cars. Pit strategy was sure to play a role in separating the top-cars, with 2.5 seconds of run-off for the tires.

Tim McDonnell had stayed withing 10 seconds of the leaders by drafting. Ryan Heuser had done the complete opposite, staying out until he reached the 3-stop fuel window. This would cause him to lose the lead draft and pray for no yellow flags. Craig, Bill and Tony were still at the forefront at this point.

Tim McDonnell came in for his last pit stop 7 laps ahead of the 3-stop target lap of 200. Ryan Heuser came in a full lap later, indicating that he will surely make it home with droplets left in the gas tank. It would be up to Yogi Arnoux to make the call on when to make his last stop.

Bill Werkheiser and John Battista pulled away from the field after short-pitting. Battista had the superior car, flying by on the outside lane and taking the top-spot back. Craig Lee would round both of them up towards the end of the fuel run, leading the field by the time pit strategy was to come to play. Tim McDonnell came in the earliest of the leaders and ran down the field. He was 2 seconds faster and worked his way into the top-10 by the time most of the cars came in.

With five laps to go, a debris caution flew out just as the leaders came in to pit. McDonnell and many others got their lap back. Dave Miller, Ryan Heuser, Johnny Reed Foley and Alan Nesfeder were the top-4 to stay out on old tires. McDonnell had gained so much time by pitting early, that he ended up 3rd in line on the restart. With the much fresher tires, McDonnell flew by the lapped cars of Ben Geer (who started sputtering), and Zakk Miller. He dove to the inside of turn 1 and passed Ryan Heuser with relative ease, ensuring his Championship. Side-by-side with Dave Miller on the backstretch, he easily cleared the #90 entering turn 3.

McDonnell gained an entire second in the final third of the final lap, cruising to an easy victory and his second straight Championship crown. This would be his third, in arguably his most dominating season to date. Congrats to Tim, crew chief Yogi Arnoux, and the entire Top Geer Motorsports team for an excellent victory and 2020 ... Read more »