Nineteen cars lined up for the thirty-lap finale with J.D. Johnson and Seth Bergman sitting on the front row. On the first start both Dustin Morgan and Kevin Swindell spun in turn two, but Swindell was able to keep his car in motion and was not penalized for the restart as he again started in sixth. Bergman would race to the lead on the next start as series point leader Jason Johnson made a big move up from eighth to fourth on the opening lap.
The field settled into single file formation all running the cushion during the early stages of the event before the caution waved for a spin by Tony Bruce Jr. in turn two. On the restart Bergman led Don Droud Jr., Jason Johnson and Swindell into turn one and Kevin pulled off his second big move of the night as he kicked off the heavy cushion in turn one and then shot to the bottom coming out of turn two flying past Johnson and Droud down the back straightaway. It wasn't long before the leaders were back in traffic and the next ten laps were some of the best that we have seen all year with drivers using all lines around the 3/8-mile paper clip racing in and around lapped traffic. Johnson moved back into second and then he passed Bergman for the lead on lap twenty-one with Swindell right behind him.
When Johnson hesitated for a split second measuring up traffic entering turn one three laps later, Swindell dove low into turn one and then drifted up in front of "The Ragin' Cajun" to close the door in turn two to take the lead on lap twenty-four. With traffic still in play Johnson was ready to return the favor but the caution waved on the next lap as Jake Martens slowed on the back stretch with a flat right rear tire.
With an open track and just five laps to go Swindell looked to have this one in the bag, but the caution waved again following the white when J.D. Johnson drove off the back straightaway. With a green-white-checkered restart Jason Johnson could not get the run he needed to attempt a slider for the lead and Swindell pumped his fist in triumph as he closed out the $3,000 victory. Johnson would extend his point lead as the runner-up, Bergman would come home third, Don Droud Jr. finished fourth and Wayne Johnson slipped by Logan Forler on that final restart to take fifth after starting from the sixth row.
This was my first ever visit to the Salina Speedway and I was very impressed with the facility. Track prep was superb on this night and the local announcers were informative and entertaining during the support action from the Mod Lites and Mini-Stocks. IMCA Modifieds and Sport Mods headline the track's weekly Friday night program and it looks like they draw a pretty solid field.
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| Rolling in the moisture at the Salina Speedway |
The ASCS National Tour continues a three night swing as they head south to the Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, just west of Tulsa on Friday night before heading to Lawton, Oklahoma on Saturday night. Swindell stated that he would be at Creek County on Friday night, but that he would have to skip Saturday "to go big car racing". He then said that he wished he didn't have to do that after tonight!
If you can't get to the track remember that you can always follow the ASCS National Tour action live on Racin' Boys Live.
My August of Sprint Cars will continue on Saturday night from another track that I have never seen before. Check back later here on the Back Stretch to see where that might be!
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