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THOMAS FIRST AT THE BILL GARDNER SPRINTACULAR
Putnamville, IN - July 1, 2017 - It was one of those race nights
supplied with all the necessary ingredients that makes sprint car
racing an exciting sport to watch. Track conditions changed from hot
laps to race time. There was a lot of action in the heat races and a
battle to the finish in the feature. Kevin Thomas Jr. prevailed to
take the victory in the 30 lap “Bill Gardner Sprintacular” which is
hosted by the Lincoln Park Speedway each season. It was his sixth
career victory in racing with the Hoosier Tire Midwest Sprint Car
Series
A restart in the feature with only seven laps remaining provided the
opportunity Thomas needed to take the lead from Thomas Meseraull.
Thomas had the speed in his 9K sprinter to complete the task while
California driver Ryan Bernal won the ensuing battle for second place
over Meseraull. Meseraull was third in the Briscoe 5 Sprinter. Kody
Swanson finished fourth while Jon Stanbrough claimed fifth in the 21
car field. A.J. Hopkins brought the 4J Motorsports entry home in
sixth. Hopkins led the first 3 laps. The remainder of the top ten
included MSCS Points leader Carson Short, Shane Cottle, Brady Short,
and Chase Stockon.
Accomplishments from the racing were marked by some stupendous
driving through traffic. Ryan Bernal took the 17GP sprint on a ride
up through most of the field. He had started eighteenth and gained
16 positions. The crafty driver was the Keizer Aluminum Wheels Hard
Charger of the Race. Carson Short was in a hurry also in coming
from a 21st and provisional starting position to finish seventh, a
gain of 14 positions. The Wilwood Tuff Brakes Award was given to
Robert Ballou. Ballou finished eleventh despite needing to visit
the work area to replace a flat rear tire. Earlier he was very
competitive and working toward a top five or ten finish.
The forty car field was divided into five preliminary heat races.
Those initial and important victories went to A.J. Hopkins, Kent
Schmidt, Garrett Aitken, Thomas Meseraull, and Kevin Thomas Jr.
Aitken, a rookie with the series, went out to qualify with group
three and was credited with being the top overall qualifier with a
lap of 14.084. Chase Stockon also turned a lap at that speed but was
in group four.
There were two more opportunities for drivers to race. Kyle Robbins
won the C Main over Zach Hampton with the top five transferring to
the B Main. Robert Ballou was the fastest in winning the B Main
with twenty cars participating.
MSCS has no other events schedule during the month of July. The
series will return to action on August 5th. That date is an
important occasion on the schedule for MSCS and Tri-State Speedway.
It will be the running of the Hoosier Sprint Nationals. The winner
will be looking at a $5,000 check. This race continues a Haubstadt
tradition that has continued into a thirteenth season. MSCS will
return to Lincoln Park Speedway for a final 2017 appearance there on
August 12th.
Provided as News and Information for MSCS.
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