By the end of this race, we would have a new points leader, a two-time Extravaganza Series Champion out of the top-10, and a race winner coming back to form after a recent slump. The event ran quick.......... for some more quickly than others.

Race Results

Current Standings

Schedule

The race was dominated by Ryan Heuser and Tony Pizzaro early on, until race favorite Rick Jackson took the top-spot on 23. He would only lead four laps, as he and John Battista went a lap down early due to unfortunate circumstances. Neither of them would get it back.

After a spin by Dan Johnston and Alan Nesfeder, Pizzaro and Johnny Reed Foley dominated the next run. With both drivers falling out of chase contention, it was a well needed boost of horsepower for the duo.

Alan Nesfeder went fo a wild frontstretch ride on lap 57, caused by contact between John Tharp and Zach Michael. Cristian Torres and Kevin Corbat made hard contact with multiple cars, heading to the garage with Nesfeder. Tharp would go on to finish 5th, with Zach limping a hindered car to a 20th place finish.

It was very hard to match the horsepower of the #18, staying in the top-10 for most of the night and easily keeping up with the #138 and #12 powerhouse. These three, along with Tim McDonnell, looked to be the mid-race favorites to win.

Most of the field came in to pit between lap 116 and 117. Dale Rosendaul used the Old Fart's Racing low-horsepower engine to truck along for two extra laps, before handing Foley, Alex Crapser and Dave Miller the 1-2-3 spots.

The entire field went for a frenzy after a four-wide battle for the lead destroyed almost half of the field. Donald Stewart and Matthew Dominique made contact, spinning the #55 head-first into the outside wall and flipping. Jimmie Stevens and dominator Johnny Reed Foley also went for a tumble, as Dominique would lose the points lead to Tim McDonnell because of the incident. Walt Flowers, Jimmie Stevens and Aaron Cummings were now out.

Through attrition and pure speed, suddenly Tim McDonnell and John Tharp had the two cars that could beat Tony and Ryan. Tharp has been coming from behind all season to win races, and with six laps to go, it looked to happen once again.

Tony Pizzaro got shuffled back late, and made a daring four-wide move to cause the last big crash on lap 155. Brandon Raines, who was having one of the best races of his career, got tagged by the #12 in turn three. Crapser got crunched, Heuser got slammed, and the miracle run of Steven Spears was thrown into the garbage disposal of lost dreams.

One final lap remained after the restart, with Tim McDonnell immediately taking the inside lane underneath leader Tharp. Craig Lee made the obvious choice and went with the #22, as the lapped cars of John Battista and Rick Jackson decide who to help draft.

McDonnell blocked Tharp on the outside lane, giving Lee some room low to sneak in. With Jackson backing off of McDonnell, Battista was able to get to the bumper of Lee and pas him through. To the line, it would be Craig Lee victorious, with McDonnell and Tyler Scott coming out of nowhere to finish third. Congrats to Craig, crew chief Spook Millikan and the entire QuickSilver Motorsports team for an excellent victory!

Coke Zero 400 Video, Part 1

Coke Zero 400 Video, Part 2