In an unusually small field, but a respectable SOF of around 2450, six cars rolled off the grid to run 165 blazing fast laps at Richmond. This week Team ALDI Star Fox Miller Lite had a third driver in Kevin, making his 2nd start of the season.
Zach qualified 2nd, with Tim and Kevin in 4th and 5th. The opening laps were very clean as the field quickly got spread out with the leader driving off to a six second lead over Zach. Kevin struggled for speed but kept his nose clean after a near miss with another car.
The leader caught Tim close to the pit window and could not pass in his dirty air, Zach was able to drive up to within one second before the leader pitted, handing Zach the lead and keeping Tim on the lead lap. The leader pulled ahead after Zach's pit stop, again by around six seconds.
Once again, he caught up to Tim but was unable to find running room to pass him. Obviously frustrated, the leader had several close calls with the wall, but Zach was hard at work running him down. As the race wound down past twenty to go, it appeared the leader backed off Tim to try and keep Zach in dirty air while giving himself clean air.
This strategy backfired, as Zach ran a wider line through the corner to make up enough time to get a run and pass the leader. With ten to go, Zach took the lead and drove away by almost ten seconds by the time the checkered flag flew.
Tim brought it home in 3rd place, with Kevin in 4th, both running a very clean race in the caution free event.
Zach: 125pts Start 2nd, Finish 1st, Led 15, +69iR, -.-- SR (4.99 A)
Tim: 75pts Start 4th, Finish 3rd, +18iR, +0.34 SR (4.70 A)
Kevin: 50pts Start 6th, Finish 4th, +23iR, +0.44 SR (3.92 A)
