Talladega looks to be the dark-horse event for all of the non-chase drivers to earn a victory, and clinch their way into the All-Star Race for 2022. For the Big-10, it could be the make-it or break-it event heading towards the half-way point of the final ten races. 45 drivers start, giving any DID-NOT-FINISH the highest penalty possible.
Race Results
Points Standings
Schedule
Pole-sitter Zach Michael comes in 10th in points to lead the first four laps of the event. Alex Crapser led the next six with a three-wide move on the inside. Rick Jackson led the next four.
Tim McDonnell took the lead on lap 15 and held point through lap 49, leading nearly the entire green flag run. He and Rick Jackson were side-by-side for several laps until the first round of green flag pit stops on lap 51.
Lap 80 saw teammates John Battista and Adam Crapser make contact on the backstretch, leading to a five car pileup towards the rear of the field. Bill Werkheiser, Alan Nesfeder and Aaron Cummings were also involved in the accident. After the restart, Zakk Miller and Brian Lowe stirred up and accident involving chase contenders Zach Michael and Tim McDonnell. They would finish 33rd and 27th on the day.
Matt Raboin, Matthew Dominique, Ben Geer, Craig Lee, Glenn Kaufmann, Dave Miller and John Battista would all endure engine failures. Battista dropped to 4th in points, while Lee fell to 7th with only six races left in the season.
Scott Jackson took the lead away from Logan Sheets on lap 125, looking to steal the points lead away from Ryan Heuser, who would go a lap down on fuel strategy later in the going. Jackson led 9 laps before Ryan led his only circuit of the event before having to come in. Mark Guthrie and Dan Johnston took the point before Jackson nabbed it back before the next yellow flag.
Dan Johnston was sandwiched between Ken Pettit and Scott Drake on lap 148, entering turn 4 with all three in a tailspin. Adam Crapser and Dakota Wilkins were catapulted into the outside wall, hindering Wilkins outside the top-25, while Crapser finished 16th with a hoodless racecar. Dakota was involved in the next accident with 27 laps to go. Points leader Ryan Heuser found his kryptonite, slamming into the outside wall on two wheels with Alex Crapser, Michael Henson, Jimmie Stevens and Mark Guthrie also involved. Ryan would finish 20th and drop to second in points to Scott Jackson. Chase contender Crapser was involved in his second crash, finishing 30th.
Bink Lucas led the ensuing restart with 21 laps to go, leading the next six laps before Scott Jackson took the point. Donald Stewart pushed Rick Jackson to the front during the same lap, leading the next three before Stewart and Tony Pizzaro took their turn late. Jackson re-took the lead with nine laps left.
Jackson flew several car-lengths ahead of the pack after navigating lapped traffic. This gave the edge to Tony Long with an unbelievable run entering turn 1 with only five laps to go. He took the lead, and would be surrounded by Race-2-Win teammates during the few waning laps.
Despite the horsepower of the teammates, pre-rookie Bonanza Series regular Bink Lucas flew by the #15 with two laps to go. A heavy push from Mike Carroll on the bottom would prevail the Lucas Racing protegy to the front, hoping to hold off the crowd of competitive Extravaganza regulars behind.
A crash between Logan Sheets and Al
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