LIMA, Ohio – Jared Horstman picked up his fifth K&L Ready Mix NRA Sprint Invader victory of the season on a hot night Friday at Limaland Motorsports Park.
Adding some additional incentive to the feature, NRA promoter and Tim Hogan Carpet of Lima owner Ron Hammons offered a $1,000 bonus to the front row starters if they elected to start from the tail and could win the feature.
Both Tim Allison and Hud Horton passed on the chance, so Hammons offered $500 to the drivers in the second row would take the challenge. Horstman, who was scheduled to start third, told Hammons to make it $1,000 and he would do it. A handshake sealed the deal and the feature was set.
Allison and Horton led the field to green with Allison grabbing the early point. Allison, Horton and Randy Hannagan battled for the lead for the first two laps before Horton would grab the point followed by Hannagan.
All eyes were on Horstman as he picked his way through the field, moving to sixth by lap six, then fifth on lap eight. On lap 15, Horstman would find himself in the third position with nearly a full straightaway separating him from the two leaders.
Horstman caught a huge break on lap 16 when teammate Max Stambaugh rolled to a stop on the backstretch, bringing out the yellow flag and bunching the leaders up.
On the restart, Hannagan would get by Horton in turns three and four and seemed to be pulling away, but Horstman would clear Horton and as he closed on the leader, Hannagan spun in turn two and nearly collected Horstman, and ended in the infield, clear of the racing groove, so the green flag stayed out.
Horstman would power to the checkered flag over Horton, Allison, Todd Heuerman and Jimmy Stinson.
In other action, Jerry Bowersock grabbed his first Limaland victory of the season in the Northwest Physical Therapy UMP Modifieds and Jordan Conover picked up his third Bud Thunderstock win of the season.