Pevely, MO – Brad Loyet of Sunset Hills, Missouri captured his 34th career POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series feature victory on the opening night of the Ironman weekend, dubbed the “Prelude to the Ironman.” A former champion with the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series, Loyet’s win at I-55, a track in his backyard, thrilled fans and gave Loyet momentum for tomorrow night’s Ironman 55 finale at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55.
Starting on the pole of the 30 lap main, Loyet clipped the infield wall on the opening lap, falling back multiple positions and relinquishing the lead to Zach Daum. With six laps down, Daum looped it around in turn one, ultimately getting clipped by another car, ending his night. Inheriting the lead, Grady Chandler followed by Jake Neuman, Tucker Klaasmeyer, and Loyet took back to green flag racing.
As laps wound down, a blanket could be thrown over the top four, with Klaasmeyer and Loyet moving past Neuman and Chandler. With a handful of laps left, Loyet began tossing sliders at Klaasmeyer for the top position, only for Klaasmeyer to deny his charge. Killing momentum, Loyet fell victim to Chandler for the second position. On lap 25, the red flag would come out as Matt Ponder flipped in turn one, collecting leader Klaasmeyer, ending his night.
Returning to racing, Chandler led Loyet with five laps remaining. Coming off turn four, Loyet took the lead from Chandler, as Chandler’s machine faded with engine issues. Loyet was followed by Garrett Aitken who charged from the 17th position. Jake Neuman finished third, while Justin Peck took fourth. Austin Brown rounded out the top five.
“Just messed up on the start there,” said Brad Loyet. “Car was hooked up and I got in the good stuff down there and popped a wheelie and it headed towards the infield wall so I had to bail and I thought I really did myself in there. Just had to hunker down and start trucking again. I think I was the first to start really running the top and that’s where I really made up some ground. ”
“Started in the back and had to go where no one else was,” Garrett Aitken stated. “I started on the bottom and this is a momentum type track so I went up top and passed a couple cars. The caution came out and we were getting in the middle good, entering the corner lower instead of running the cushion. My dad’s been doing a great job. We’ve needed these top three finishes.”
“We were fast,” Jake Neuman said. “We brought this car out for the heat and the feature because the other one was starting to let go. I just couldn’t do it without the guys, my family, and my sponsors.”
Midgets
Speedway Motors Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: 5D - ZACH DAUM, Heat 2: 72 - GRADY CHANDLER, Heat 3: 3N - JAKE NEUMAN
Great Clips Feature Winner: 05 - BRAD LOYET
POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series Feature Results (30 laps):
- 05 - BRAD LOYET 2. 32 - GARRETT AITKEN 3. 3N - JAKE NEUMAN 4. 5X - JUSTIN PECK 5. 7 - AUSTIN BROWN 6. 5B - KYLE JONES 7. 50 - DANIEL ADLER 8. 22 - ANDY MALPOCKER 9. 10C - DALTON CAMFIELD 10. 23 - HANNAH ADAIR 11. 72 - GRADY CHANDLER 12. 27 - TUCKER KLAASMEYER 13. 5H - MATT PONDER 14. 11A - ANDREW FELKER 15. 6C - DEVIN CAMFIELD 16. 82M - STEVEN SHEBESTER 17. 5 - DANNY FRYE 18. 5D - ZACH DAUM 19. 16 - DAVE CAMFIELD JR 20. 9K - KYLE SCHUETT 21. 25 - ANTON HERNANDEZ 22. 17E - BLAKE EDWARDS 23. 11AG - DAVE DARLAND
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