By: Elijah Jones
Points Race #3 at the Cycleland Speedway drew our largest kart count of the new season so far. 189 entries signed into the pit area for the nights event. We had one extra class competing, as the Caged Clone class made their 2021 debut at the Speedway.
In the Open Class it was the Tri-C Machine #3C of Casey Schmitz who would grab the win for his second of the season and 20th of his career at Cycleland. Early in the race Ryan Foster looked like the kart to beat, until late in the running on a restart his kart did not get up to speed and he eventually would pull off with a mechanical failure. That turned the lead over to Garrett Brown, but he had problems of his own in his #2 entry. The left side wing panel had torn off of his kart and he hung onto the lead as long as he could before Schmitz was able to track him down with five laps remaining. Once out front, Schmitz was able to drive away from the field, securing the victory. Garrett Brown would finish 2nd, followed by Tanner Pettit in third subbing for John-Michael Bunch in the #11VS. Last week’s winner, Kaiden Butler would finish in the fourth spot in his #22K entry. Alex Fowler earned his first top five finish with a fifth place effort in the #24.
The Box Stock Main Events were just as spectacular as they have been all season so far. We have seen some incredible races using this new dual feature format. Some like it, some don’t but one thing that can’t be argued is the incredibly close finishes we’ve seen so far this season. In the first of the two Main Events, Logan Reeves picked up his second career win in his #25 entry. Reeves was the class of the field and at one point had a nearly 10 second advantage over second place. A late yellow would negate that however and put Logan Pike on his bumper for the restart. Pike was able to hang close to Reeves but was unable to get around him and had to settle for second in his #229 entry. The #0 entry of Blake Scovel earned the final podium spot in third, a vast improvement from his Consi win the week prior. The second Main Event of the evening saw one of, if not the closest finish we have ever seen at Cycleland. The margin of victory for Jaxon Hall was .001 seconds over Bentley Nelson. Nelson literally led all but the final 2-3 feet of the race. The final lap saw Jaxon Hall get a great run off the top of turn four and out raced Nelson to the line by a matter of mere inches to earn his second win in a row. It was a bittersweet second place finish for Bentley Nelson. Maclane Lourenco took the final podium postion in that one with a third place effort in his #27L machine.
The 250 Intermediate Main Event saw Rookie contender Jake Nuxoll jump out to the early lead in his #57 entry. Nuxoll impressed throughout the race as he maintained the top spot in an effort to secure his first win in the 250 class. Jett Yantis though was storming his way through the field and was able to snag the lead away with just four laps remaining. The Bakersfield, CA driver was then able to pull away and secure the victory in his #4 entry. Chevy Schroer continued his string of podium finishes with a second place run in the #29. Brax Dietz came home third in his #18. While the top five was rounded out by early leader Jake Nuxoll in the #57 in fourth and the #10 of Jennifer Osborne in the fifth position.
In the Open Intermediate Class it was Jett Yantis picking up his second win of the night! After also winning the 250 Main Event, Jett was able to put together his best run of the season in the Open Intermediate Class as well picking up the win in his #4 entry. Chance Grasty finished second in the Risch Family #1 entry. Grasty tried to get close enough to make something happen late in the running but ultimately had to settle for second. Tyler Matheny kept his podium streak alive in his #27T entry. The winner of the opening two rounds, Matheny came home third in Points Race #3. The balance of the top five included the #2B of Eric Botelho in fourth and the #88 of Blake Burgess in the fifth spot.
In the Sportsman Class, Jason Throop was able to break a winless drought of nearly five years in his #16J entry. Throop has been fast so far to start the season but had bad luck in each of the first two rounds. He was able to get it all put together this weekend and led all 20 laps en route to his third career win. James Grant made him earn it though as he nearly stole the win on the final lap, coming up just .020 short of victory in second in his #33 entry. Kody Hunderman piloted his #8K to a podium finish in third. The balance of the top five included the #1M of Mallorie McGahan in the fourth position and the #44 of Eric Mostin finishing fifth.
The Caged Clone class saw some exciting action on the racetrack as well. Unfortunately, the outcome of this one was decided off the track. Sarah Kavert had one of the top karts all race long and actually took the Checkered Flag in first. Officials convened post-race however and penalized her two positions for not “Exiting the preferred line in the corners”. In the Caged Clone class the leader is required to move up at least three grooves from the racing line in the corners and that was what changed the outcome of the race. That turned the victory over to the #74 of Mark Ohlinger. He got the win in front of the #69X of Johnny Terry. Kavert would be scored with a third place finish in her #2 entry. While Stephanie Skaggs and Jerry Green rounded out the top five in fourth and fifth.
We are back in action this Saturday night, April 24th with Points Race #4 on deck. This is the final race before we take a two week break. Thank you all for your continued support of the Cycleland Speedway and we look forward to seeing you out at the track!