HARKIN TAKES OUTLAWS GREEN TO CHECKERS
Maddie Harkin got her first victory of the season by leading the Bandolero Outlaws field from green to checkers. The race ran caution-free save for a first circuit restart after a three-wide at the tail of the pack sent Mason Tessier pitside.
Harkin had Evan Marchand on her outside for the restart and pulled quickly ahead allowing Connor Souza to steal second. Tyler Tomassi made a brief incursion, getting just past Marchand but Evan came back to register third on lap three.
Harkin was ten cars up on her pursuers on lap three as the field became strung out. By lap 5, Harkin was lapping Wesley Heard. She was ahead by half of a straightaway on lap 7 and most of a straight on lap nine. Behind her, Tomassi went to Marchand’s high side for the pass but pulled back and dropped into the racing groove.
Souza began to close on Harkin, getting it down to a ten-car advantage by lap 11. He had another ten cars on Marchand, who had Tomassi on his bumper, followed by Zachary Martinez and Brittany Campbell.
Souza continued to move in: it was an eight-car lead on lap 12 and six cars on lap 13. But his late speed wasn’t quite enough as Harkin crossed under the checkers five cars ahead. Souza was second, followed by Marchand, Tomassi, Martinez, Campbell and Heard.
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