Bobby Pierce took the FloRacing win
Bobby Pierce made a move for the lead passing Brandon Sheppard on lap 18 then fighting back a challenge from Devin Moran to take a FloRacing Night in America victory on Wednesday night at Atomic Speedway.
The Bob Pierce Race Cars driver from Oakwood, Illinois earned $22,022 for his efforts in a race held on the 3/8 mile track located in Alma, Ohio and shown live by FloRacing.com.
A total of 28 cars were signed in for competition
Qualifying Results: 1. Brandon Sheppard(13.053), 2. Kyle Larson, 3. Bobby Pierce, 4. Devin Moran, 5. Josh Richards, 6. Doug Drown, 7. Boom Briggs, 8. Ricky Thornton Jr., 9. Mike Marlar, 10. Camaron Marlar
Heat 1 Results: 1. Brandon Sheppard, 2. Boom Briggs, 3. Camaron Marlar, 4. Tyler Erb, 5. Devin Moran, 6. Steve Casebolt
Heat 2 Results: 1. Ricky Thornton Jr., 2. Kyle Larson, 3. Garrett Alberson, 4. Josh Richards, 5. Colten Burdette, 6. Rod Conley
Heat 3 Results: 1. Bobby Pierce, 2. R.J. Conley, 3. Garrett Smith, 4. Kyle Strickler, 5. Brent Larson, 6. Doug Drown
B-main 1 Finish: 1. Tyler Carpenter, 2. Freddie Carpenter, 3. Clint Keenan, 4. Michael Brown
Feature Re-cap: The 50-lap feature got underway with Sheppard leading Thornton, Pierce, Briggs, Larson and Alberson. On lap 3, Thornton and Pierce began a fight for second which was interrupted one lap later when Richards slowed on the front stretch.Â
After the restart, Sheppard continued to show the way with Pierce, Thornton, Conley and Smith trailing. Smith passed by Conley for fourth on lap 9. Larson broke into the top-5 on lap 12 as he took to the high side of the track. Smith took third away from Thornton on lap 15.
Sheppard began to encounter slower traffic as Pierce closed in to challenge for the race lead on lap 16. Contact between Pierce and Sheppard on lap 18 gave Pierce the lead and sent Sheppard into a half spin which he was able to recover from.
Contact between Thornton and Camaron Marlar as they fought for fourth caused both to spin handing that position to Larson. On the ensuing restart, Smith jumped up to second while Moran quickly began to rise through the top-5. Strickler also began to climb through the field, taking fourth just after halfway.
A caution with 18 laps remaining when Casebolt spun erased Pierce’s advantage as Pierce led Moran, Brent Larson, Strickler and Drown.
Over the closing laps, Pierce pulled away from Moran while both Larsons(Brent & Kyle) rose through the top-5. However, a lap 45 caution for the slowing car of Kyle Larson after he cut a right rear tire.
Moran offered a challenge when green flag action resumed but Pierce was able to hold the lead of the race. Ultimately, Pierce would sail under the checkered flag for the victory.
Feature Results: 1. Bobby Pierce, 2. Devin Moran, 3. Brent Larson, 4. Doug Drown, 5. Tyler Erb, 6. Kyle Strickler, 7. Rod Conley, 8. Garrett Alberson, 9. Garrett Smith, 10. Brandon Sheppard, 11. R.J. Conley, 12. Boom Briggs, 13. Michael Brown, 14. Kyle Larson, 15. Clint Keenan, 16. Steve Casebolt, 17. Freddie Carpenter, 18. Ricky Thornton Jr., 19. Camaron Marlar, 20. Josh Richards, 21. Colten Burdette, 22. Tyler Carpenter
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