A-VERDI Modified Feature Results (30 laps):
- Brett Hearn
- ANDY BACHETTI
- Kyle Sheldon
- Keith Flach
- Kyle Armstrong
Small Block Modified Feature Results (24 laps):
- Kenny Tremont Jr.
- Jason Herrington
- Ryan Charland
- Brett Haas
- ANDY BACHETTI
After a substantial amount of rain flooded part of the infield, Saturday night’s card was doubtful. However, a substantial amount of work went into getting the standing water out. By race time, the track was good to go.
In the Modified feature, Olden Dwyer started from the pole and immediately came under pressure from Andy Bachetti. Less than a mile into the race, Bachetti was able to snatch the lead away. Once out front, Bachetti opened up a good advantage on the field.
Further back, Brett Hearn, who was fastest in hot laps, was quickly moving up the order from the 11th starting spot. By no means was his race easy, though. On lap 10, the right rear shock broke on his No. 20, forcing Hearn to use a straighter enter into the turns. Despite the compromise, Hearn was still one of the fastest cars on the track.
Hearn quickly moved up into the top five and started dispatching those drivers one by one. On Lap 12, Hearn was able to take second away from Olden Dwyer just before Josh Marcus spun in Turn 2 to bring out the first caution of the race.
The yellow wiped out a three-second lead and put Hearn directly alongside. On the restart, Hearn made short work of the Sheffield, Mass. driver to take the lead.
It just didn’t appear to be Marcus’ night on Saturday. Shortly after the restart, Marcus spun again and hit the wall in Turn 3 to draw another caution. Luckily, the No. 42m was not significantly damaged and Marcus was able to continue. He would eventually finish 17th.
After the restart, Hearn was able to put some distance on Bachetti. Here, the broken shock actually changed the race a little bit. Hearn claimed after the race that he was running at roughly 80 percent due to the issues. Trying to keep the broken shock from cutting his right rear tire allowed Bachetti to gain some of the time back.
A spin by Ed Kitchell resulted in a nine-lap shootout. Bachetti tried as hard as he could on the restart to sweep past Hearn, but Hearn fended off Bachetti’s slide. From there, Hearn held on to take his third win of 2018.
The Lap 13 yellow was the lynchpin to the race.
“The timing of the [first] yellow was perfect for what I needed to do,” Hearn said. “I was able to get alongside of [Bachetti] without burning my tires up, which is a key thing here.”
Bachetti was second, followed by Kyle Sheldon. Keith Flach was fourth, followed by Kyle Armstrong.
In the Small Block Modifieds, Chad Pierce started on pole and led early with Kim LaVoy giving chase. The two drivers opened a small gap on the field, then got to battling among themselves.
Unfortunately, that battle ended in tears as the two drivers got together on Lap 5 in Turn 2. Both drivers spun and LaVoy suffered damage that put her out.
Ryan Charland assumed the lead and put up one of his best races, holding onto the lead past halfway. By that point, Jason Herrington was racing him hard for the lead. Kenny Tremont Jr., who started 15th, was right there as well.
Herrington took the lead on Lap 13 and battled hard with Tremont to maintain the advantage. Tremont was finally able to snatch the advantage away with five laps to go. From there, Tremont pulled away to take his fourth win of the year.
Herrington was second, followed by Charland in a season-best third. Brett Haas was fourth, while Bachetti was fifth.