KUHN OUTRUNS MARFEO IN INEX LEGENDS
Ryan Kuhn dueled, then outran Joe Marfeo to the checkers following a lap-23 restart in a caution-laden 25-lap feature which was part of the Pro Stock Nationals’ Wednesday night feature. Action slowed frequently for the eight cautions which inhibited the drivers’ abilities to generate any sort of rhythm in the race. Kuhn and Marfeo had been part of a five-car cluster which also included Brandon Martinez, Austin Teras and Jesse “The Mop” Jakubajtys. They were the leaders in a snarling mob of Legends competing for INEX but not local championship points.
Kuhn went to the lead on lap 5 after a staccato beginning, erred by cautions on laps 3, 4 and 5. In that early running, last week’s winner, Derek Gluchacki, had taken the lead from the pole and was able to pop out of the starting box into a sudden lead. Kuhn, meantime, had been working his way up from eighth, gaining territory with each restart. At the finish, the cast of characters he had brawled with throughout the feature combined for a final run at the checkers, but Kuhn, after wobbling briefly in turn two after the final restart, recovered and pulled away from Teras down the backstretch. Marfeo and Martinez came from the second row and got under Teras before he could drop in, which he finally was able to do, right in front of Jakubajtys to nab fourth. Kuhn pulled out to a three-car lead and Marfeo, Martinez, Teras and Jakubajtys were the top five, in that order.
Gluchacki seized the lead from the pole as the feature opened up and Marfeo saw Martinez slide in underneath him. Noah Korner then got under Marfeo as Martinez slipped back. Kuhn was skirmishing with Brandon’s sister, Shileigh Martinez as the first caution flew on lap 3. Gluchacki and Brandon lined up again with Trent Goodrow and Marfeo in row two and Teras paired with Shileigh in row three. Gluchacki again burst out of the box with Goodrow working under Brandon. Teras went to Gluchacki’s bumper, but Connor Holderbach spun, bringing a lap four caution.
Gluchacki faced off with Goodrow and again he sizzled away from the pack but Jessica O’Leary spun. Brandon Martinez was on Gluchacki’s shoulder and the latter pulled a half-car past on the green. Now, however, Kuhn was at their backs, navigating from low in row two underneath the two leaders to create a three-wide. Gluchacki pulled back and acquired Teras underneath, while Kuhn was outside Martinez. Kuhn dropped under for some wheel-to-wheel and finally got a nose out ahead at the stripe going into lap eight. He was finally able to take the full lead in turn four and on lap nine had generated a two-car lead over Martinez. Teras kept pace, followed by Gluchacki.
Three laps later, the lead was 10 carlengths. Martinez had Teras on his bumper, who in turn had Marfeo on his. Gluchacki, Sileigh, Jakubajtys and Goodrow kept pace. Teras then worked his way under Martinez and Marfeo followed suit as soon as Teras had cleared. They came three-wide across the stripe. Martinez and Marfeo moved ahead. While they had debated the position, Kuhn worked his way out to a half-straight lead. But O’Leary spun in turn three and made for the pits, as did Adam Avedisian, as he had his rear bumper hanging by one support. He was able to return after repairs.
Kuhn and Marfeo were away at the green but Serydynski spun and they lined up again. Kuhn grabbed the front and Teras ran in under Marfeo for some door-to-door. Goodrow and Martinez pursued. Brandon dropped in under Goodrow. By lap 20, Kuhn was enjoying a three-car lead over Marfeo and Teras had taken third with Goodrow fourth. Martinez and Jakubajtys followed, but Goodrwo then spun in turn four.
Kuhn and Marfeo went at it again. And once more Teras came from row two underneath Marfeo, running on Kuhn’s bumper. But lap 21 saw Joshua Parsons and Teras made contact and spun. Martinez dodged but did not slow and powered back into second. Again Kuhn was away from Marfeo and Teras came in underneath. Martinez again was underneath for third.
Kuhn was out to a seven car lead on lap 22, followed by Martinez and Marfeo. But now Connor Holderback and Andrew Kun were together and spun out of turn one. The lap 23 restart saw Kuhn and Teras door-to-door. Kuhn wobbled but lost no ground then nosed ahead in turn two, taking the full lead going down the backstetch. Another circuit and he had a three-car lead as Marfeo came underneat into second and Martinez followed into third.
Under the checkers, it was Kuhn, followed by Marfeo and Brandon Martinez. Teras was fourth and Jakubajtys rounded out the top five. Sixth went to Shileigh Martinez. Reagan Parent took seventh, followed by Luke LeBrun, Adam Avedisian, Gluchacki and Goodrow.