IRWINDALE, CA – An estimated 2,000 fans watched the King Taco Super Trucks and Auto Club Late Model series
Mike Johnson leading easily. By Anne Cypress
points race get tighter as Rod Johnson Jr and Mike Johnson continued their winning ways.
Streaks were also on the line as Dallas Montes managed to win his third-straight Legends race and Johnson was victorious fourth-straight AAA Late Model race.
The only racing series that saw a extension on the points lead was Ryan Reed’s Legend lead as Brandon Toy became the unlucky victim of a wreck.
SOUTH WEST TRUCK TOUR – 40 LAPS
Dalton Kuhn was able to get by hard-luck loser Christian Copley with two laps to go and won the South West Truck Tour for the fourth time in five times this year.
Copley appeared to be the winner as he was holding off Kuhn for 38 laps before a blown-right tire ruined a very good night.
Kuhn and Copley battle. Photo by Anne Cypress.
Copley was still able to limp home in second position and held off the hard-charging Jeff Williams.
The race was run caution free and only saw Dan Coburn not finish with handling problems with 32 laps finished.
With his second place finish Copley extended his South West Truck Tour series lead.
LEGEND CARS – 35 LAPS
Dallas Montes took the lead on lap 34 at the stripe and held off Brent Scheidemantle and Ryan Reed to win his third straight victory.
Brent Scheidemantle took the lead on a third lap re-start, when he passed Kenny Maler Jr on the fourth lap.
The caution was thrown on lap three, when Michael Smith spun and collected Austin Reed and Brandon Toy.
Montes was able to get under Scheidemantle on lap 33 and past him out of turn four to come to the white-flag first. Scheidemantle then had to hold off a fast-charging Ryan Reed.
With his second place finish, Ryan Reed was able to extend his points lead in the series when Toy finished 14 points behind him.
KING TACO SUPER TRUCKS – 40 LAPS
A crazy finish involving second place, overshadowed a powerful victory for Rod Johnson Jr.
Johnson was able to get the from Grant Hebner on the eighth lap and never looked back. Johnson was able to withstand a re-start on lap 13 after Robbie Ragains, Ryan Fortier and Andrew Anderson were all involved in a huge wreck.
Rod Johnson impressively pulling away. Photo by Anne Cypress.
With Johnson running away with the race, it was the battle for second that all eyes were on as Jeff Peterson and Hebner were bumping and banging for the last seven laps.
With two laps to go, Hebner was moved up along the track by Peterson which allowed Peterson to get forward momentum and take the lead on the white flag lap. As the two were going into to turn three of the final lap, Hebner repaid the favor to Peterson and both got loose and locked each other up allowing Ryan Partridge to get by on the low-line and second place.
Peterson was able to hold on to third.
With the dust-up at the end, Pat Mintey Jr was able to salvage a fourth place finish that helped him keep the King Taco Super Trucks point lead by six points heading into the next race. Johnson moved into second place with his sixth victory of the year.
AUTO CLUB LATE MODEL – 50 LAPS
For the fourth consecutive-time Mike Johnson won the Main Event at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale.
Johnson was able to rebound after a disastrous beginning when he was spun prior to getting the first lap.
The points battle took on a new meaning during the first lap incident as Tim Huddleston was involved with Travis Irving on the backstretch, that saw Huddleston’s championship aspirations take a huge hit.
On the other end of the spectrum, Johnson is surging and now has the crosshairs set on series leader Nick Joanides who is only 26 points better heading into September 19th’s 50-lap twin-races. Joanides managed to scrape out a sixth-place finish, while Huddleston limped home in 14th, four laps down.
Following Johnson was Travis Motley with a career-best second place finish. Motley also was the only other leader of the race, as he led the first-two laps of the race.
Beau DeBard was able to get the best of fellow Reno, Nv resident Dallas Colodny for third place.
TOYOTA SPEEDWAY AT IRWINDALE REPORT – Is on every Tuesday from 9 p.m to 10 p.m. at www.midvalleysports.com. This week is King Taco Super Truck night.
RESULTS –
SOUTH WEST TRUCK TOUR – 40 LAPS
1. Dalton Kuhn
2. Christian Copley
3. Jeff Williams
LEGENDS – 35 LAPS
1. Dallas Montes – R
2. Brent Scheidemantle
3. Ryan Reed
KING TACO SUPER TRUCKS – 40 LAPS
1. Rod Johnson Jr
2. Ryan Partridge
3. Jeff Peterson
AUTO CLUB LATE MODEL – 50 LAPS
1. Mike Johnson
2. Travis Motley
3. Beau DeBard – R
4. Dallas Colodny – R
5. Travis Irving
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