Macon, IL – In what was an enduring, elbows-up feature event, pole-sitter Austin Schaeffer led all but the opening lap of the 20-lap POWRi Speedway Motors 600cc Outlaw Micro League main event. After taking back the top position from opening-lap leader Gunner Ramey, Schaeffer took off on a torrid pace running away from the field in between each caution.
While drivers jockeyed for second on back, Schaeffer was eventually challenged by Joe B. Miller in the final laps, as Miller climbed to the second position on lap 14. Miller started in the 10th position and charged towards the front, but ultimately came up short in the end. Current POWRi Speedway Motors 600cc Outlaw Micro League point leader, Harley Hollan, worked up to second after starting fifth, but ultimately fell out of the race on lap 17 running in third, suffering from mechanical woes.
Gabe Verardi completed the podium, in what is a career-best in POWRi competition for the driver. Verardi started sixth, advancing three positions onto the podium. Garet Williamson took fourth, while Gunner Ramey rounded out the top five.
“It was treacherous up there,” commented Austin Schaeffer. “It was hard to hit my marks every lap knowing that Joe B. was behind me. It makes you nervous, but glad we finally got this done. Macon and POWRi put on a great show tonight. My crew chief did a great job setting up this car.”
“Congratulations to Austin,” said Joe B. Miller. “He runs our motors, so that’s a good one-two finish here tonight, but I’ve got to thank everyone that helps. I’ve got to thank God, I’ve been very blessed. We were in Arkansas last night, so we busted our butts to get up here tonight and we plan on running Lincoln tomorrow.”
“I’ve got so many people to thank; my family, my sponsors, everyone that helps,” stated Gabe Verardi. “My family and I have been trying so hard and we’ve waited so long for this, it feels nice to finally get a podium.”
Micros
Speedway Motors Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: 28 - GUNNER RAMEY, Heat 2: 71S - AUSTIN SCHAEFFER, Heat 3: 8 - GABE VERARDI, Heat 4: 3J - JORDAN HOWELL, Heat 5: 71 - JAKE CHEATHAM
Toyota Semi Feature Winner: 9T - TYLER DUFF
Mesilla Valley Transportation Feature Winner: 71S - AUSTIN SCHAEFFER
POWRi Speedway Motors 600cc Outlaw Micro League Feature Results (20 laps): 1. 71S - AUSTIN SCHAEFFER 2. 51B - JOE B MILLER 3. 8 - GABE VERARDI 4. 3G - GARET WILLIAMSON 5. 28 - GUNNER RAMEY 6. 3J - JORDAN HOWELL 7. 71 - JAKE CHEATHAM 8. 17 - MOLLY DAY 9. 52 - JASON HARMS 10. 99 - DANIEL ROBINSON 11. 4 - GARRETT DUFF 12. 44 - TREVIN LITTLETON 13. 23 - JEREMY CAMP 14. 84 - TYLER DAY 15. 11 - RILEY GOODNO 16. 46 - KYLE SCHUETT 17. 10 - JACOB TIPTON 18. 65E - CHAD ELLIOTT 19. 28V - LUKE VERARDI 20. M2 - MICHAEL BUSTAMANTE 21. 14H - HARLEY HOLLAN 22. 72X - SAM JOHNSON 23. 9T - TYLER DUFF
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