For more information:
Linda Mansfield, Restart Communications
E-mail: LKMRestart@gmail.com
Cell: (317) 201-0729

 

Seavey Wins USAC Indiana Sprint Week Feature;
Naida Tops Non-Wing 600cc Micro-Sprints
At Gas City I-69 Speedway Monday Night

GAS CITY, Ind., July 27 – After rain postponed Friday night’s show following sprint car time trials, Logan Seavey of Sutter, Calif. won an ultra-competitive 30-lap USAC NOS Energy Drink Indiana Sprint Week feature for the USAC AMSOIL national non-wing sprint cars at Gas City I-69 Speedway Monday night.

Fourteen-year-old Darin Naida of Adrian, Mich. served notice on the national stage that he’s one to watch when he took the lead on the white-flag lap to win the companion 15-lap non-wing 600cc micro-sprint feature before a packed house.

Sprint Cars

Jake Swanson of Anaheim, Calif. started second and led the first lap of the sprint car feature before Seavey, who started fourth, took the lead from him in Turn 2 and led the next 29 laps. But it wasn’t nearly as cut and dry as that sounds, as positions changed throughout the field behind Seavey the entire race, and several competitors came on strong at the end.

Seavey had a 4.438-second lead over Swanson on lap 10. Brady Bacon, of Winchester, Ind., by way of Broken Arrow, Okla., had just passed Swanson for second after starting eighth when the race’s only caution flag flew with 11 laps down. It was necessary after Chase Jones of Greenwood, Ind. got caught in a tractor tire rimming the track low between Turns 3 and 4 while running ninth.

On the restart on lap 12 Seavey and Bacon scooted away while Swanson, Tye Mihocko of Phoenix, Ariz., and Jason McDougal of Broken Arrow, Okla., crossed the start-finish line under a blanket battling for third.

Three laps later at the halfway point Seavey had a 1.659-second lead over Bacon, who was trying everything he could think of to close the gap. Swanson was still third, but on that lap Tanner Thorson of Minden, Nev. passed both Kyle Cummins of Princeton, Ind. and Mihocko to rise from sixth to fourth.

Cummins passed Mihocko for fifth on lap 16 and Thorson for fourth on lap 18. Meanwhile, up ahead Seavey still led over Bacon and Swanson, but he was finding the going tougher due to lapped traffic.

Bacon got as close as 0.381 of a second to Seavey on lap 24 due to the lapped traffic, but no matter what he tried he couldn’t find a way by. Seavey made no mistakes and took the checkered flag with a 0.788-second margin of victory over Bacon. Cummins, who had started 12th, passed Swanson on the last lap to grab the final podium position and the hard-charger honors. Swanson finished fourth. McDougal passed Thorson on the last lap to round out the top five.

Seavey’s winning car was the Baldwin-Fox Racing/Fox Paving-Claxton Engines No. 5, which is a DRC chassis with a Claxton Chevy. Bacon was in the Dynamics, Inc./Fatheadz Eyewear/Elliott’s Custom Trailers and Carts/Telstar No. 69, which is a Triple X chassis with a Rider Chevy. Cummins drove the Rock Steady Racing/Mid-America Safety Solutions/Project Oversight No. 3R, which is Mach-1 chassis with a Cummins Chevy.

Micro-Sprints

Naida dipped under Kole Kirkman of Kokomo, Ind. in Turn 3 on the white-flag lap and went on to win another very competitive race, the 15-lap 600cc micro-sprint feature, after starting fourth in the Slusarski Excavating and Paving No. 7N.

Polesitter Easton Ashbrooke of Marion, Ind. led the first two laps. Kirkman got around him to the outside on the frontstretch right before Levi Winget of Wabash, Ind. brought out a red flag when he flipped between three and four. Luckily he wasn’t hurt.

Mike Landis of Logansport, Ind., who had started fifth, dove under Kirkman on the backstretch and Ashbrooke on the frontstretch to lead lap three before Kirkman took command on lap four. Kirkman led through lap seven with Landis either beside him or right behind him, and on lap eight Landis’s hard work paid off when he retook the lead.

Kirkman was having none of it, however, and he retook the lead by diving under Landis in Turn 4 two laps later. Landis got him back in Turn 2 but Kirkman was able to maintain his lead at the start-finish line through lap 12. At that point Landis biked and came down on all four wheels in Turn 2 to bring out a yellow, and had to go to the rear for the restart.

While all this had been going on Naida had been watching from third place, which he had taken from Ashbrooke on lap five. He was ready on the restart with 13 laps complete, and dove under Kirkman in Turn 3 to take command and go to win by 0.427 of a second over Kirkman’s Factor1 No. 51.

Jakeb Boxwell of Zanesville, Ohio took the final podium position followed by Ashbrooke. Adam Walker of Indianapolis celebrated his 22nd birthday by finishing fifth.

Red Flags

In addition to Winget’s flip in the micro-sprint feature, three sprint car drivers got upside down during the evening.

Chase Johnson of Penngrove, Calif. flipped between Turns 3 and 4 at the start of the first sprint heat.

Paul Nienhiser of Chapin, Ill. flipped in the same spot with two laps down in the semi feature while running third.

Anthony D’Alessio of Gas City by way of Apollo Beach, Fla., flipped between Turns 1 and 2 with one lap left in the semi while running ninth.

All crawled out of their damaged cars under their own power.

What’s Next?

With last Friday night’s show being pushed to Monday due to rain, Gas City I-69 Speedway hosts two events this week.

This Friday night, July 30, the action focuses on stock cars with Gas City’s “Summer Thunder” show. Crate late models are on the card, with the feature paying $1,000 to win. The modified feature winner will also earn $1,000, while everyone who starts the modified feature will get at least $150. USAC SpeeD2 Midwest Thunder midgets, street stocks and hornets are also included in the five-division special event.

The pit gate will open at 3 p.m. and the grandstands at 5 p.m. Hot laps are at 6:30 p.m. and the racing starts at 7:30 p.m.

An adult general admission is only $15 and kids 12 and under are free. A pit pass costs $30.

The complete 2021 schedule and more information are on the track’s website at GasCityI69Speedway.com. Fans and competitors can also follow it on Twitter: @GasCitySpeedway; Instagram: @GasCitySpeedway and Facebook: GasCitySpeedwayOnTheGas.

Gas City I-69 Speedway is located on State Road 22, approximately a half-mile west of I-69, exit 259. The quarter-mile dirt oval is about halfway between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, and attracts drivers and fans from all over the Midwest.

The results from Friday, July 26:

Fatheadz Eyewear Qualifying Flight 1: 1. Jake Swanson, 21AZ, Team AZ-11.937; 2. Brady Bacon, 69, Dynamics-11.961; 3. Jason McDougal, 5m, KO-12.027; 4. Scotty Weir, 4p, Pedersen-12.065; 5. Chase Stockon, 5s, KO-12.133; 6. Cole Bodine, 39BC, Clauson Marshall Newman-12.158; 7. Jordan Kinser, 17G, On The Gass-12.166; 8. Evan Mosley, 27, Mosley-12.169; 9. Sterling Cling, 34, Cling-12.223; 10. Eddie Tafoya Jr., 51T, Tafoya-12.241; 11. Stevie Sussex, 77s, Sturgeon-12.272; 12. Robert Ballou, 12, Ballou-12.275; 13. Cannon McIntosh, 71p, Daigh/Phillips-12.283; 14. Braydon Cromwell, 4x, Cromwell-12.334; 15. Tye Mihocko, 47, Eades-12.367; 16. Garrett Aitken, 32, Aitken-12.396; 17. Tyler Hewitt, 57, Hazen-12.404; 18. Korbyn Hayslett, 1H, Hayslett-12.422; 19. Chase Jones, 81G, Gray-12.439; 20. Max Guilford, 79BT, Goodnight-12.472; 21. Chris Gansen, 4G, Gansen-12.519; 22. Kyle Edwards, 39E, Edwards-12.576; 23. Alex Banales, 5x, Baldwin/Fox-12.725; 24. Ryan Bond, 7R, Bond-12.750; 25. Matt McDonald, 5mc, McDonald-12.784.

Fatheadz Eyewear Qualifying Flight 2: 1. Brayden Fox, 53, Fox-11.916; 2. Logan Seavey, 5, Baldwin-11.940; 3. Kyle Cummins, 3R, Rock Steady-11.969; 4. Tanner Thorson, 19AZ, Reinbold/Underwood-11.970; 5. Chris Windom, 19, Hayward-11.997; 6. Justin Grant, 4, TOPP-12.037; 7. Kevin Thomas Jr., 9K, KT-12.038; 8. Jadon Rogers, 14, Rogers-12.043; 9. C.J. Leary, 77m, Michael-12.068; 10. Shane Cottle, 74x, Hodges-12.113; 11. Anthony D'Alessio, 01, D'Alessio-12.192; 12. Brady Short, 61m, Edwards-12.203; 13. Brent Beauchamp, 29, LB-12.214; 14. Zack Pretorius, 9z, Pretorius-12.236; 15. Matt Goodnight, 39, Goodnight-12.239; 16. Paul Nienhiser, 5N, KO-12.242; 17. Brandon Mattox, 28, Mattox-12.266; 18. Tyler Kendall, 20, Kendall-12.305; 19. Chase Johnson, 22, Goodnight-12.466; 20. Thomas Meseraull, 2, Yeley-12.507; 21. Charles Davis Jr., 47D, Davis-12.551; 22. Ryan Barr, 21B, Barr-12.702; 23. Jack James, 99, James-12.748; 24. Gabriel Gilbert, 10G, Gilbert-12.836; 25. Dustin Clark, 75, Clark-13.008.

The results from Monday, July 26:

Fatheadz Eyewear Qualifying Flight One: 1. Chase Jones, 81G, Gray-11.835; 2. Logan Seavey, 5, Baldwin-11.929; 3. Zack Pretorius, 9z, Pretorius-11.984; 4. Tye Mihocko, 47, Eades-12.001; 5. Jason McDougal, 5m, KO-12.010; 6. Brayden Fox, 53, Fox-12.041; 7. Justin Grant, 4, TOPP-12.065; 8. C.J. Leary, 77m, Michael-12.086; 9. Chase Johnson, 22, Goodnight-12.095; 10. Robert Ballou, 12, Ballou-12.097; 11. Brandon Mattox, 28, Mattox-12.146; 12. Anthony D'Alessio, 01, D'Alessio-12.176; 13. Clinton Boyles, 57, Boyles-12.207; 14. Eddie Tafoya Jr., 51T, Tafoya-12.217; 15. Cannon McIntosh, 71p, Daigh/Phillips-12.234; 16. Chris Gansen, 4G, Gansen-12.234; 17. Matt Goodnight, 39, Goodnight-12.307; 18. Braydon Cromwell, 4x, Cromwell-12.397; 19. Harley Burns, 16, Burns-12.412; 20. Sterling Cling, 34, Cling-12.417; 21. Ricky Lewis, 11, Lewis-12.427; 22. Shane Cottle, 74x, Hodges-12.457; 23. Alex Banales, 5x, Baldwin/Fox-NT.

Fatheadz Eyewear Qualifying Flight Two: 1. Tanner Thorson, 19AZ, Reinbold/Underwood-11.809; 2. Chris Windom, 19, Hayward-11.853; 3. Kevin Thomas Jr., 9K, KT-11.854; 4. Paul Nienhiser, 5N, KO-11.965; 5. Jake Swanson, 21AZ, Team AZ-11.965; 6. Kyle Cummins, 3R, Rock Steady-11.983; 7. Jadon Rogers, 14, Rogers-12.031; 8. Max Guilford, 79BT, Goodnight-12.044; 9. Thomas Meseraull, 2, Yeley-12.045; 10. Cole Bodine, 39BC, Clauson Marshall Newman-12.112; 11. Stevie Sussex, 77s, Sturgeon-12.173; 12. Brady Bacon, 69, Dynamics-12.210; 13. Shane Cockrum, 17G, On The Gass-12.212; 14. Chase Stockon, 5s, KO-12.220; 15. Scotty Weir, 23s, Simon-12.257; 16. Brayden Clark, 42, Jackson/Clark-12.341; 17. Brent Beauchamp, 29, LB-12.362; 18. Gabriel Gilbert, 10G, Gilbert-12.405; 19. Charles Davis Jr., 47D, Davis-12.489; 20. Jack James, 99, James-12.623; 21. Matt McDonald, 5mc, McDonald-12.649; 22. Ryan Barr, 21B, Barr-12.695; 23. Evan Mosley, 27, Mosley-12.757.

Simpson Race Products First Heat (10 laps, top four transfer to the feature): 1. Jason McDougal, 2. Cannon McIntosh, 3. Justin Grant, 4. Chase Jones, 5. Brandon Mattox, 6. Clinton Boyles, 7. Harley Burns, 8. Ricky Lewis, 9. Matt Goodnight, 10. Alex Banales, 11. Chase Johnson, 12. Zack Pretorius. NT Competition Suspension Second Heat (10 laps, top four transfer to the feature): 1. Robert Ballou, 2. C.J. Leary, 3. Logan Seavey, 4. Tye Mihocko, 5. Brayden Fox, 6. Shane Cottle, 7. Eddie Tafoya Jr., 8. Sterling Cling, 9. Anthony D’Alessio, 10. Chris Gansen, 11. Braydon Cromwell. NT

Indy Metal Finishing Third Heat (10 laps, top four transfer to the feature): 1. Jake Swanson, 2. Stevie Sussex, 3. Jadon Rogers, 4. Thomas Meseraull, 5. Tanner Thorson, 6. Shane Cockrum, 7. Brent Beauchamp, 8. Evan Mosley, 9. Matt McDonald, 10. Kevin Thomas Jr., 11. Charles Davis Jr., 12. Scotty Weir. NT Indy Race Parts Fourth Heat (10 laps, top four transfer to the feature): 1. Brady Bacon, 2. Kyle Cummins, 3. Chris Windom, 4. Cole Bodine, 5. Paul Nienhiser, 6. Chase Stockon, 7. Ryan Barr, 8. Brayden Clark, 9. Jack James, 10. Max Guilford, 11. Gabriel Gilbert. NT

C-Main: (10 laps, top four transfer to the semi): 1. Brent Beauchamp, 2. Braydon Cromwell, 3. Shane Cottle, 4. Charles Davis Jr., 5. Matt Goodnight, 6. Brayden Clark, 7. Evan Mosley, 8. Harley Burns, 9. Sterling Cling, 10. Ryan Barr, 11. Jack James, 12. Chris Gansen, 13. Alex Banales, 14. Gabriel Gilbert, 15. Matt McDonald. NT Elliott’s Custom Trailers and Carts Semi (12 laps, top six transfer to the feature): 1. Tanner Thorson, 2. Kevin Thomas Jr., 3. Zack Pretorius, 4. Chase Johnson, 5. Brandon Mattox, 6. Chase Stockon, 7. Scotty Weir, 8. Brayden Fox, 9. Clinton Boyles, 10. Brent Beauchamp, 11. Charles Davis Jr., 12. Max Guilford, 13. Eddie Tafoya Jr., 14. Shane Cockrum, 15. Shane Cottle, 16. Anthony D’Alessio, 17. Paul Nienhiser. NT

Sprint Feature (30 laps, starting positions in parentheses): 1. Logan Seavey (4), 2. Brady Bacon (8), 3. Kyle Cummins (12), 4. Jake Swanson (2), 5. Jason McDougal (1), 6. Tanner Thorson (9), 7. Chris Windom (5), 8. Justin Grant (14), 9. Kevin Thomas Jr. (10), 10. Tye Mihocko (3), 11. Robert Ballou (7), 12. Jadon Rogers (13), 13. Chase Stockon (21), 14. Stevie Sussex (19), 15. C.J. Leary (15), 16. Cannon McIntosh (22), 17. Chase Johnson (17), 18. Brandon Mattox (20), 19. Chase Jones (6), 20. Cole Bodine (18), 21. Zack Pretorius (11), 22. Thomas Meseraull (16). NT Lap leaders: Lap 1, Swanson; laps 2-30, Seavey.

Fastest race lap: Seavey, lap 4, 12.852 seconds

Margin of victory: 0.788 seconds

Micro-Sprint Group 1 Qualifying: 1. Jakeb Boxell, 13.240; 2. Darin Naida, 13.361; 3. Adam Walker, 13.438; 4. Noah Whitehouse, 13.825; 5. Jacob Kincaid, 13.877; 6. Kayla Martin, 14.050.

Micro-Sprint Group 2 Qualifying: 1. Kole Kirkman, 13.509; 2. Mike Landis, 13.633; 3. Easton Ashbrooke, 13.755; 4. Beau Brandon, 13.812; 5. Levi Winget, 14.281; 6. Roger Reece, DNS.

Micro-Sprint Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. Jakeb Boxell, 2. Adam Walker, 3. Darin Naida, 5. Jacob Kincaid, 6. Kayla Martin, 7. Noah Whitehouse.

Micro-Sprint Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. Kole Kirkman, 2. Easton Ashbrooke, 3. Mike Landis, 4. Beau Brandon, 5. Levi Winget, 6. Roger Reece (DNS).

Micro-Sprint Feature (15 laps, with starting position in parenthesis): 1. Darin Naida (4); 2. Kole Kirkman (3); 3. Jakeb Boxell (2); 4. Easton Ashbrooke (1); 5. Adam Walker (6); 6. Jacob Kincaid (7); 7. Noah Whitehouse (11); 8. Beau Brandon (8); 9. Kayla Martin (9); 10. Levi Winget (10); 11. Mike Landis (5); 12. Roger Reece (DNS).

Margin of victory: 0.427 seconds.

Linda Mansfield/Restart Communications
E-mail: LKMRestart@gmail.com
Cell: (317) 201-0729