Michael Chilton wins in Crossvile
The Ray Cook-promoted Spring Nationals mini-series made its way to the Crossville Raceway for the second time in 2018 on Thursday night. After almost getting the feature race underway on May 24th, rain came and ended the program for the evening. As a result, the series returned to Crossville, Tenn. not only to complete that event but also to put a cap on this year’s edition of the series.
Eric Wells entered the night as the series points leader ahead of Aaron Ridley and Casey Roberts.
The feature lineup had already been established by qualifying and heat races back in May. Based on those results at that time, Casey Roberts would start from the pole with Jason Jameson lined up beside him. Micheal Chilton, Aaron Ridley and Ryan King rounded out the top-5 on the starting grid.
At the start of the 40-lap feature it was Roberts who bolted to the early lead with Jameson, Chilton, Ridley and Wells trailing. But Chilton was not content with staying put for long as he passed by Jameson to grab second on lap 2. Then it would be Wells who would move forward as he went by Ridley to claim fourth just one lap later.
By the fifth circuit, Roberts and Chilton had separated themselves from a tight battle at the back of the top-5 between Jameson, Wells and Ridley. Further back, Zach Leonhardi and Chicky Barton were engaged in their confrontation as they fought over the sixth position.
Chilton continued to apply the pressure to Roberts as the two machines worked their way through slower traffic. Finally on lap 10, it was Chilton who would assume command as he moved around Roberts to seize the top spot. At the same time, Wells and Ridley were caught up in a battle for the fourth position that would continue throughout most of the race.
Chilton passed Roberts on lap 10
Jameson got around Roberts to grab second on lap 15. Shortly afterwards, Roberts would find himself entangled with a slow car that ultimately sent the third place runner spinning to bring out a caution. The race’s pole sitter would then have to restart from the tail.
Chilton got away from his pursuers on the lap 15 restart but the intense battling behind him continued with Wells getting by Ridley to take third place.
A lap 21 caution for the stalled car of Ricky Tinch again reunited the pack. On this restart, however, Chilton would not immediately bolt away as he had earlier. Instead. Jameson, Wells and Ridley remained tightly bunched just behind the leader.
Successive cautions on lap 31 and 32 would provide other opportunities for the rest of the field to make a move on Chilton but he would ultimately hold on even as he and Jameson ran briefly side-by-side just in front of another side-by-side fight between Wells and Ridley.
Finally, however it would be Michael Chilton who would win the race to the checkered flag to collect the $4,000 first prize.
Also, Eric Wells walked away as the 2018 Spring Nationals champion.
Eric Wells was corwned as the 2018 Spring Nationals champion
Feature Finish: 1. Michael Chilton, 2. Jason Jameson, 3. Eric Wells, 4. Aaron Ridley, 5. Zach Leonhardi, 6. Jadon Frame, 7. David Payne, 8. Chicky Barton, 9. Casey Roberts, 10. Rusty Ballenger, 11. Jeff Neubert, 12. Kenny Cobble, 13. Craig Greer, 14. Ryan King, 15. Ricky Tinch
