USAC’s Bacon goes back-to-back at Grandview

BECHTELSVILLE » Second verse same as the first. Brady Bacon, of Broken Arrow, Okla., scored his second consecutive NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series win on Thursday night when the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series invaded Grandview Speedway for the kick-off of the 2018 Eastern Storm swing of events.

Bacon took home a $6,000 prize for the Jesse Hockett Classic win in front of a capacity crowd at the Berks County dirt track.

“The Ringoes Rocket” Ryan Godown won the 358 Modified feature event aboard the Searock Fabrications No. 26 machine. The win marked Godown’s second NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill victory – and first since 2012.

Outside front row starter Chad Boespflug blasted to the early lead aboard the AMSOIL-sponsored No. 98 machine charging ahead of Bacon and defending USAC Champion, Chris Windom. Not letting Boespflug gain an advantage, the lead trio soared in tandem around the one-third mile.

Lapped traffic would prove to be Boespflug’s demise as he shot to the outside and Bacon shot to the inside of a slower machine. Bacon, using the lapper to his advantage overtook the top spot.

A three-wide battle for third on the 12th circuit saw current USAC Series point leader, Kevin Thomas, Jr. slip into the third position.

The red flew on lap 16 when Justin Grant got upside down on the front stretch ending his night.

Bacon pulled back to the lead on the restart with KTJ challenging for the top spot. The laps clicked off until the 27 circuit when Trevor Kobylarz spun out.

Kevin Thomas Jr. pulled to the top spot with 10 laps remaining and charged away from Bacon – but Bacon charged back with two to go and to win the opening event of the Eastern Storm. Thomas finished second, Windom in third, Tyler Courtney in fourth and Jarret Andretti rounding out the top-five.

Current weekly Grandview Speedway point leader Brett Kressley started on the pole in the modified feature and dominated the early portion of the event. Eighteen laps clicked off without a hitch before the first caution of the night flew on lap 18 and again on lap 21.

Godown moved to the lead on the restart and went on to score the victory. Brett Kressley finished in second, Duane Howard in third, Jeff Strunk in fourth, and Frank Cozze in the fifth position.

For more information about the NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series visit www.thunderonthehillracingseries. com USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series

RICK KEPNER - FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Brady Bacon, second from left, poses in victory lane with the rest of the top 3 after winning the USAC Sprint series race at Grandview Speedway on June 14.

RICK KEPNER - FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Eric Daum goes airborne as Brady Bacon speeds past during a preliminary of the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series races at Grandview Speedway on June 14.

RICK KEPNER - FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Ryan Watt (14) and Billy Pauch Jr. (1) battle during the modified feature at the Thunder on the Hill event at Grandview Speedway on June 14.