David Smith, Jr.
NCRA Press and Contingencies
(405) 740-4769
[email protected]
Blochlinger NCRA Modified Belleville Master!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Belleville, Kansas – September 4, 2011 - Just as he did Labor Day weekend one year ago, Brandon Blochlinger took the lead near the races midway point and lead the rest of the way to victory, this time claiming his second career National Championship Racing Association of Park City, Kansas presented by Smiley's Racing Products modified feature triumph at the Belleville High Banks in Belleville, Kansas on Sunday night.
Dan Powers and Darrick Klima started on the front row for the fifteen lap feature with Powers taking the lead at the start.
The Wichita driver, in his sophomore season on the tour, would quickly open up a half straightaway lead before the first and only caution of the event fell on lap two when Daniel Richey slowed to a stop at the bottom of turn two.
The restart once again saw Powers jump out front while behind him, eighth starting Blochlinger, who had worked himself up to fourth before the caution flag waved, passed Justin Moler and Klima to take over the runner up position and set his sights on the leader.
It looked as though Powers, who came into the night tied for third in the point standings, would be on his way to his first career series victory as he once again opened close to a full straightaway lead. However, Powers would experience engine woes at the races midway point and would exit the field to end his night with a disappointing thirteenth place finish.
With the race still under green flag conditions, Blochlinger was now the leader and a position he would never be threatened for and would go on to claim his second career series victory, both coming atop the High Banks.
"Here you just got to go," said Blochlinger, driving the #9 JR Motorsports powered BMS chassis. "If you're not careful cars can get strung out and it is hard to make up any ground. That caution gave us a chance to get into second and I kept looking for the fastest line to where I could get up there and challenge Dan. I don't think we could have had anything for him, he was fast."
Klima would finish second while sixth starting Marc Hurd, who won here back over the Fourth of July weekend, came home third. Tyler Davis started tenth and worked his way up to a fourth place finish and with series points leader Bill Siemers finishing eighth, would unofficially take over the points lead with one race remaining. Moler would round out the top five.
The eight lap heat races for the twenty-one car field were won by Moler, Klima and Powers.
The final race on the 2011 schedule for the NCRA modified division will take place on Saturday night, October 1st at 81 Speedway in Park City.
1st Heat: 1) Justin Moler 2) Marc Hurd 3) Brian Blochlinger 4) Bill Siemers 5) Don Hodge 6) Scott Styskai 7) Marlin Farr
2nd Heat: 1) Darrick Klima 2) Tanner Mullins 3) Danny McFadden 4) Ross Shipman 5) Daniel Richey DNS: Austin Allen, Mike Jarvis
3rd Heat: 1) Dan Powers 2) Brett Behrends 3) Tyler Davis 4) Josh Lanterman 5) Kirk Coleman 6) Dustin Huehl DNS: Jon Thompson
A Feature: 1) Brian Blochlinger 2) Derrick Klima 3) Marc Hurd 4) Tyler Davis 5) Justin Moler 6) Scott Styskai 7) Ross Shipman 8) Bill Siemers 9) Danny McFadden 10) Don Hodge 11) Marlin Farr 12) Daniel Richey 13) Dan Powers 14) Brett Behrends 15) Tanner Mullins 16) Kirk Coleman 17) Josh Lanterman 18) Austin Allen 19) Dustin Huehl 20) Mike Jarvis 21) Jon Thompson
