Just as Justin Peck was about to secure a second consecutive FloRacing All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 victory a mere 100 yards from Virginia Motor Speedway’s flag stand, disaster struck in the form of a flat right rear tire.
That forced the Attica Spring Nationals champion to surrender the point to three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and now six-time All Star main event winner Tony Stewart.
The victory, Stewart’s first with “America’s Series” in 2021 and his first at the Virginia speedway, earned the Columbus native a $12,000 payday, his first Series triumph since his $26,000 Rayce Rudeen Foundation Race score at 34 Raceway in 2019. The event held in Jamaica, Virginia, was April 15.
Stewart, who started eighth on the feature grid by way of heat race victory and an eventual eighth-place dash finish, not only took advantage of Peck’s misfortune by being in the right place at the right time, but the pilot of the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing No. 14 sprint car also survived a 30-lap battle with tire wear, as an abrasive racing surface made navigating Virginia Motor Speedway’s high-paced oval plenty risky.
Adding to the drama, the final lap of the race was conducted in green-checkered fashion, as a caution on the final circuit forced the field to restack for a final lunge toward the finish.
Kerry Madsen, who started 12th, followed Stewart by Peck to secure the runner-up spot just before the flag stand. Peck ultimately limped across the line to finish third, blown tire still intact, followed by Chase Dietz and Paul McMahan, who each advanced 12 positions over the 30-lap contest.
“We weren’t the fastest car by any means. We kind of figured out early that it was going to be a tricky surface and ultimately a challenge for tires. I just tried to run my car straighter than those guys ahead of me,” said Stewart, who now owns All Star victories at six different facilities.
“We could see that (Justin Peck’s) tire was getting pretty worn,” he said. “I could see the cords, so I told myself if he can run the car that hard and make it work, good for him. Being second while trying to save tires was going to be a good night for us.”
Columbus go-kart results
Columbus Speedway Go-Kart Racing, which holds event at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds, hosted its first event of the 2021 racing season April 17.
The division winners were R.T. Lowe (clone 420), Cali Lucas (box stock), Lyle Aldrich (clone 340), Colton Aldridge (rwyb), Colton Lucas (f/h 360), Jentry Cash (jr. 1), Evan Shatto (clone 380), Elijah Knoke (jr. 2), Bentley McCann (rookie) and Grant Hiler (jr. 3).
The next scheduled event in Columbus will be May 14 and 15.
Brownstown race results
Another good field of P3 Graphix Indiana Late Model Series Pro Late Models was on hand for the third race of the season April 17 at Brownstown Speedway.
Steve Peeden would end Tyler Neal’s two race win streak for the year in P3 Graphix ILMS Pro Late Models by getting his first feature win this year.
Peeden was followed by Shelby Miles, Tyler Neal, Josh Boller and Alan Magner. The remaining top 10 were Zack Burton, Austin Burton, Jesse Tunny, Keaton Streeval and Alan Edsall.
Jordan Wever went back-to-back in Backwoods Express Modified features for 2021. He got his second win of the year ahead of Brayden Watson, Tim Prince, Matthew Morris and Zachary Stalker.
Dalton Roark visited Brownstown victory lane for the first time, winning the All in 1 Pools Pure Stock event. Roark would lead Tommy Fleenor, Sheldon Oberle, Josh Hayes and Conner Mertens at the finish.
Jacob Owens remained undefeated in Hornet division action. Following Owens to his second win of the year were Gabe Caudill, Jason Graham, John Graham and Brandon Crockett.
The Crown Vics made their first appearance of 2021, and Michael Cranmer led the pack at the finish. Phillip Boudreaux, Jeff Roberts, Billy Heil and Derek Smith rounded out the top five.
Tonight, Brownstown will host a regular program of super late models, modifieds, super stocks, crown vics and hornets. For information, visit brownstownspeedway.com.
Twin Cities season opener results
Twin Cities Raceway Park in Vernon opened its 2021 racing season April 17.
Feature winners were Tory Collins of North Vernon in the crate late model division, Jerry Adams of Elizabethtown in the pure stock class, Doug McCullough of Greencastle in the super stocks, Trent Green of Milton, Kentucky, in the modifieds and Jamie Laufer of Madison in the hornets.
Tonight, Twin Cities will be back in action with a full slate of crate models, modifieds, super stocks, pure stocks, hornets and crown vics. For information, visit twincitiestrack.com.
This week in racing history
From 50 years ago tonight at Brownstown, Kenny Simpson won the late model feature over Russ Petro, Don Hobbs, Jack Owens and Larry Wilcox.
Also from 1971, Tommy Day won his second straight feature at Twin Cities.
In 1971 at Bloomington Speedway, Sheldon Kinser won his second straight sprint car feature over Bob Kinser, Mike Johnson, Buzz Gregory and Larry Curtis.
From 40 years ago in 1981 at Brownstown, Russ Petro won the late model feature over Ray Godsey, Paul Crockett, Dick Phillips and Kenny Simpson. Petro’s nephew, Ernie Niemoeller, won the modified street stock feature over Troy Burton, Darrell Barnett, Gregg Lyle and Bob Johnson.
Also from 1981 at Twin Cities, Lee Fleetwood won the late model feature over Dennis Noppert, John Mitchell, Pierce Foster and Bud Seymour. Willie Sallee won his third straight street stock feature over Randy Spry, Ted Pfeiffer Jr., R.C. Calton and Earl Plessinger.
From 30 years ago in 1991 at Brownstown, Lee Fleetwood won the late model feature over Doug McCammon, Mike Jewell, Scott Graham and Garry Mahoney. Scott McKeand won the street stock feature over Mark Barber, Scott Patman, Earl Plessinger and Darin George. Roger Bense took the bomber feature over Bob Johnson, John Finn, Rusty Smiley and Ray Hughes.
From 20 years ago in 2001 at Brownstown, Dick Phillips won the late model feature over Steven Godsey, Mark Barber, Brett Davis and Gary Burton. Matt Bex took the bomber feature over Robert Walters, Charlie Stevens Jr., Kevin Applegate and Ray Godsey Jr. Brad Cummings was victorious in the super stock main event over Gregg O’Neill, Tim Clark, Rick Hines and Greg Kendall. Adam Sasser won the modified feature over Earl Plessinger, Levi Godsey, Rusty Smiley and Matt Boknecht.